Anatomy & physiology Flashcards
Alveoli
Sacs enclosed by blood capillaries that allow gases to escape or be absorbed.
Anvil
One of three small bones in the middle ear that transmits sound waves into the cochlea.
Aorta
The main artery from the heart to the rest of the body; carries oxygenated blood.
Arteries
Blood vessels that take blood away from the heart.
Atlas
First vertebra of the spinal column, attached to the skull.
Auditory nerve
Relays sound messages to the brain.
Axis
Second vertebra of the spinal column just below the atlas.
Bile
Fluid made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder; secreted into the duodenum where it breaks down the fat.
Bladder
A sac that serves as a receptacle for liquids.
Blood
Fluid in the body that carries nourishment and oxygen to body cells and waste products away from them.
Bronchi
Larger tubes leading from the trachea and branching within the lungs.
Bronchioles
Small tubes branching from the bronchi that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide through the lungs
Cardiac muscles
Specialized striated muscle found only in the heart.
Caudal
Tail vertebrae.
Cervix
Opening to the uterus; connects vagina and uterus.
Cochlea
Snail-shaped canal that contains the auditory nerve.
Copulation
The mating act of a male and female.
Cornea
Transparent covering of the eye.
Corps lutea
Ovarian follicles after the discharge of ova (eggs).
Crown
Visible part of the tooth.
Delivery
Passage of the kittens from the uterus, through the birth canal, to the outside world.
Dentine
Inner part of the crown.
Dermis
Inner layer of skin
Dorsal
Pertaining to the back.
Duodenum
First section of the small intestine where much digestion takes place.
Dystocia
Obstetrical or birthing problems.
Eardrum
Membrane in the ear that turns sound into sound waves.
Eclampsia
Depletion of blood calcium; a serious condition that can occur during the nursing period.
Enamel
Hard, protective, outer covering of the tooth.
Epidermis
Outer layer of skin.
Epiglottis
Flap that covers trachea while swallowing to prevent food from entering it.
Estrogen
A hormone made in the ovaries by follicles; hormone responsible for female’s breeding behaviors.
Estrous
The cycle of the recurrent pattern of sexual receptivity followed by periods of time without sexual receptivity in the female.
Estrus
The period of the time, during the estrous cycle, when the female is sexually receptive and allows breeding; another term for heat.
Eustachian tube
Connects ear and throat; equalizes pressure.
Extend
To open or make larger the angle of a joint.
False pregnancy
Cat shows all of the physical and mental signs of pregnancy without actually being pregnant.
Fertilization
Union of egg and sperm, necessary for egg to develop into a kitten.
Fetus
The unborn kitten developing in the uterus.
Flex
To close or make the angle of a joint smaller.
Follicle
A small cavity, sac or gland.
Gall bladder
A sac that stores bile.
Gestation
The time from mating to the birth of the kittens.
Hair (fur)
Slender, threadlike outgrowths of an animal’s skin
Hair follicle
A small cavity from which a hair develops.
Hammer
One of three small bones in the middle ear that transmits sound to the cochlea.
Heat
Period during which female can mate and get pregnant; a time when she shows a strong interest in mating with male cats.
Hemoglobin
A complex protein that functions to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Impermeable
Allows nothing to pass through.
Induced ovulation
Ovulation occurs as a result of mating.
Iris
Colored part of the eye, around the pupil, that regulates pupil size.
Joint
The union of two or more bones.
Kidney
Filtering organ of the urinary system.
Large intestine
Last part of the digestive system.
Lens
Crystal-like fibrous tissue behind the pupil that bends light rays to focus on the retina.
Ligament
Connective tissue attached to bones at both ends.
Liver
Largest organ in the body; makes bile and urea, helps regulate sugar utilization.
Lumbar
Vertebrae of the lower back.
Lungs
Respiratory organs located in chest that function to transfer oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood.
Lymph nodes
Islands of tissue in the lymphatic system that filters the lymphatic fluid and produce some white blood cells.
Mandible
Lower jaw.
Maxilla
Upper jaw.
Mouth
Doorway to digestive system.
Neuter
Surgical removal of the males testicles.
Nictitating membrane
Third eye; strong, protective membrane.
Olfactory nerve
Carries odor impulses to the brain.
Optic nerve
Carries images to the brain.
Ova
Eggs produced by the ovaries.
Ovarian follicle
The ovum (egg) and its surrounding cells.
Ovaries
The bodies in the female cat’s reproductive system which form the eggs or ova.
Oviduct
The tube connecting the ovary with the uterus; fertilization of eggs occur here.
Oxygenate
To enrich with oxygen.
Pancreas
Manufactures insulin that functions in sugar utilization; also manufactures many enzymes that aid in the breakdown of nutrients.
Patella
Knee cap.
Pathogenic
Disease causing.
Penis
Male reproductive organ which is used in copulation.
Pharynx
Tube shared by digestive and respiratory systems; located front back of mouth to trachea and esophagus.
Physiological
Pertaining to the functions and processes of living organisms.
Placenta
Lifeline from the mother to the kitten; means by which the kitten feeds while in uterus.
Plasma
The fluid portion of blood.
Pregnancy
Having a fetus or fetuses developing in the uterus.
Progesterone
Hormone made by the corpora lutea within the ovaries that helps maintain pregnancy.
Prostate gland
Produces the seminal fluid.
Psychological
Pertaining to the mind or mental phenomena.
Pulmonary artery
Carries oxygen-depleted blood from the heart to the lungs.
Pulmonary vein
Carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
Pupil
Hole in the center of the eye through which light rays pass.
Pylorus
Muscular valve at the bottom of the stomach; enter ene to the small intestine.
Red blood cells
The blood cells that carry hemoglobin.
Regenerate
Regrow.
Retina
Receives and transmits images to the brain.
Root
Part of the tooth located below the gum line; holds tooth in place.
Sacral
Vertebrae at the pelvis that are fused together.
Salivary gland
Located behind the jaw; moistens food to aid in swallowing and digesting.
Sclera
White, shiny tissue around the cornea.
Scrotum
Saclike structure which holds the testicles.
Sebrum
Oily substance secreted from skin glands that coat cat’s hairs.
Semicircular
Contain fluid; essential to cat’s balance.
Seminal fluid
Fluid produced by prostate gland that transports the sperm; during copulation, seminal fluid is ejaculated through the male’s penis into the female’s vagina.
Sinus
Air-filled pockets within the skull.
Small intestine
Tube into which food passes from the stomach; process of digestion is completed; neutrinos are absorbed into the blood stream.
Smooth muscle
The muscle or organs; it is not controlled voluntarily and it does not have microscopic stripes.
Spay
Surgical removal of the female’s internal reproductive organs.
Sperm
Seed produced by the male, stored in the testicles, that fertilize the ova (eggs).
Spleen
An organ that stores red blood cells, destroys old red blood cells and produces some white blood cells.
Sternum
Breastbone.
Stirrup
One of three small bones in the middle ear that transmits sound to the cochlea.
Striated muscle
The muscle of voluntary movement; microscopically, it has stripes.
Tapetum lucidum
Specialized reflective layer beneath the retina; makes cats’ eye shine in the dark.
Tendon
Connective tissue attached to the bone on one end and muscle on the other.
Testicles
Manufacture and sore sperm; manufacture testosterone.
Testosterone
Hormone produced by the testicles, essential to male’s sexual development and activity.
Thermoregulation
Keeping the body at a correct operating temperature.
Thoracic
Vertebrae of the chest.
Trachea
Tube that connects the throat or pharynx with the lungs.
Ureters
Tubes that connect kidneys and bladder.
Urethra
Tube that connect the urinary bladder to the exterior of the body.
Urinary bladder
A sac that serves as a receptacle and storage place for urine.
Uterus
Female internal reproductive organ where fertilized eggs develop into kittens.
Vagina
Connects outer and inner female reproductive system; passageway for male cat’s penis during copulation; canal through which kittens pass as they are being born.
Veins
Blood vessels that return blood to the heart.
Vena cava
Large veins that carry blood to the heart.
Ventral
Toward the belly surface.
Vertebra
Spinal column bone (plural: vertebrae).
Vulva
External part of the female reproductive organs.
White blood cells
Blood cells responsible for defending the body against disease-causing agents.
