A&P Key Terms Flashcards
Alimentary Canal
The digestive tube that consists of the mouth, the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.
Anatomic Position
The position of the body where the body is erect, the feet are slightly apart, the head is held high, and the palms of the hands are facing forward.
Anterior
View facing forward.
Appendicular Skeleton
The part of the skeleton that includes the girdles and the limbs.
Bolus
A ball of food that is formed after the food is broken down by the teeth and saliva.
Cell
The basic unit of life and the building block of tissues and organs.
Cerebellum
A part of the brain responsible for muscular coordination.
Cerebrum
The part of the brain associated with movement and sensory input.
Chyme
The coupe substance that is created by the stomach churning and mixing the souls food mass.
Dermis
The layer of skin that consists of the underlying layer of connective tissue with blood vessels, nerve endings, and the associated skin structures.
Distal
Term of direction usually used in reference to limbs. Distal refers to further away from the point of attachment.
Epidermis
The layer of skin that consists of the outermost protective layer of dead keratinized epithelial cells.
Erythrocytes
Red blood cells.
Estrogen
Any of several female sex hormones produced primarily by the ovarian follicles of female mammals, capable of inducing estrus, developing and maintaining secondary female sex characteristics, and preparing the uterus for the reception of a fertilized egg.
External Respiration
The exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the blood through the alveoli.
Hemopoiesis
Blood cell formation.
Histology
The study of tissues.
Inferior
View from below.
Infundibulum
The stalk that attaches the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus.
Internal Respiration
The exchange of gases between the blood and the body cells.
Lateral
Away from the midline or toward the sides.
Leukocytes
White blood cells.
Medial
View toward the midline.
Medulla Oblongata
The part of the brain that controls many vital functions such as respiration and heart rate.
Meiosis
The special cell division that takes place in the gonads; reducing chromosomes from 46 to 23, so when the egg and sperm unite in fertilization the zygote will have the correct number of chromosomes.
Mitosis
The process in which the DNA is duplicated and distributed evenly between two daughter cells.
Neuroglia
Connective tissue cells in nerve tissue.
Osteoblasts
The cells that form compact bone.
Platelets
An element of blood that is active in the process of blood clotting.
Posterior
View toward the back.
Progesterone
A hormone secreted by the corpus luteum, which further stimulates development of the endometrium.
Proximal
Term of direction usually used in reference to limbs. Proximal means closer to the point of attachment.
Sarcomeres
Small units that make up myofibrils, which make up each muscle cell.
Superior
View from above
Synergists
Muscles that work in cooperation with the prime mover muscle.
