Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
anatomical position
Standard positioning of the body as standing; feet together ; arms to the side ; with head; eyes, and palms of hands forward.
cells
The basic structural unit of an organism from which living things are created.
cellular functions
Processes that include growth, metabolism, and replication, protein synthesis, and movement
directional terminology
Words used to explain relationships of locations of anatomical elements. ( distal, posterior, medial).
organ systems
Functional groups of organs that work together within the body; circulatory, integumentary, skeletal, reproductive, digestive, urinary, respiratory, endocrine, lymphatic, muscular, nervous.
organelle
A specialized part of a cell that has a specific function.
organ
A self contained part of an organism that performs a specific function.
reference planes
Planes dividing the body to describe locations: sagittal, coronal, and transverse.
tissue
A group of cells with similar structure that function together as a unit, but a lower level than organs.
alveoli
Tiny air sacs in the lungs where exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
asthma
A lung disease characterized by inflamed, narrowed airways and difficulty breathing.
bronchi
The main passageways directly attached to the lungs.
bronchioles
Small passages in the lungs that connect bronchi to alveoli
cystic fibrosis
A genetic disorder that affects the lungs and other organs, characterized by difficulty breathing, coughing up sputum, and lung infections.
perfusion
The passage of fluid to an organ or a tissue
pleura
A membrane around the lungs and inside the chest cavity
surfactant
A fluid secreted by alveoli and found in the lungs
tidal volume
The amount of air breather in a normal inhalation or exhalation
trachea
The windpipe, which connects the larynx to the lungs
ventilation
The movement of air in and out of the body via inhalation and exhalation
arteries
blood vessels that deliver blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
capillary
small blood vessels that connect to venules.
diastole
the portion of the cardiac cycle in which the heart refills with blood.
heart
the muscle that pumps blood throughout the body.
hemoglobin
the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
leukocyte
white blood cells, which protect the body against disease.
lymph
clear fluid that moves throughout the lymphatic system to fight disease.
lymphocyte
a subtype of white blood cell found in the lymph.
plasma
the pale yellow component of blood that carries red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets throughout the body.
systole
the portion of the cardiac cycle in which the heart expels blood.
vein
blood vessels that carry blood to the heart.
anus
the opening of the rectum from which solid waste is expelled.
bolus
a mass of food that has been chewed and swallowed.
chyme
the semifluid mass of partly digested food that moves from the stomach to the small intestine.
enzymatic digestion
the breakdown of food by enzymes for absorption.
gall bladder
the organ that stores bile
large intestine
known as the colon, where vitamins and water are absorbed before feces is stored prior to elimination.
liver
the organ that produced bile, regulates glycogen storage, and performs other bodily functions.
mouth
the oral cavity at the entry to the alimentary canal.
pancreas
the gland of the digestive and endocrine systems that produces insulin and secretes pancreatic juices.
peristalsis
a series of muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.
rectum
the last section of the large intestine, ending with the anus.
saliva
the clear liquid found in the mouth, also known as spit.
small intestine
the part of the GI tract between the stomach and large intestine that includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, where digestion and absorption of food occurs.
stomach
the organ between the esophagus and small intestine in which the major portion of digestion occurs.
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates unconscious body functions such as breathing and heart rate.
axon
a nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse away from the neuron cell body.
contraction
the process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in a muscle.
involuntary
without intentional control.
muscle
fibrous tissue that produces force and motion to move the body or produce movement in parts of the body.
nerve
a bundle of nerve fibers that transmits electrical impulses toward and away from the brain and spinal cord.
reflex
an involuntary action to a stimulus.
relaxation
release of tension in a muscle
synapse
the structure that allows neurons to pass signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
cervix
the passage that forms the lower part of the uterus.
estrogen
female sex hormones.
fallopian tubes
tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.
ovary
organ in which eggs are produced for reproduction.
penis
organ for elimination of urine and sperm from the male body.
prostate
the gland in males that controls the release of urine and secretes a part of semen the enhances motility and fertility of sperm.
scrotum
the pouch of skin that contains the testicles.
testes (testicles)
the organs that produce sperm.
testosterone
the hormone that stimulates male secondary sexual characteristics.
urethra
the tube that connects the bladder to the exterior of the body.
uterus
The womb.
vagina
the tube that connects the external genitals to the cervix.
vas deferens
the duct in which sperm moves from a testicle to the urethra.
constrict
to become narrower.
dermis
the middle layer of the skin.
dilate
to become wider.
epidermis
the outer layer of the skin.
excretion
elimination of metabolic waste from the body.
gland
an organ that secretes a substance.
integumentary system
an organ system comprised of skin and its associated organs.
skin
the thin layer of tissue that covers the body.
subcutaneous
under the dermis
sweat
perspiration excreted by sweat glands through the skin.
adrenal
a gland above the kidney that produces hormones to regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and other functions.
hormones
a chemical messenger produced by a gland and transported by the bloodstream that regulates specific processes in the body.
parathyroid
an endocrine gland in the neck that produces parathyroid hormone.
pineal gland
a small gland near the center of the brain that secretes melatonin.
pituitary
the endocrine gland at the base of the brain that controls growth and development.
thymus
the lymphoid organ that produced t-cells.
thyroid gland
the gland in the neck that secretes hormones that regulate growth, development, and metabolic rate.
cardiovascular system
the system comprised of the heart and blood vessels
kidneys
the pair of organs that regulate fluid balance and filter waste from the blood.
nephron
the part of the kidney responsible for filtering and excretion.
renal arteries
the two branches of the abdominal aorta that supply the kidneys.
renal cortex
the outer layer of the kidney.
renal medulla
the innermost part of the kidney.
renal pelvis
the center of the kidney where urine collects before moving to the ureter.
renal vein
a vein carrying blood from a kidney to the inferior vena cava.
renin
an enzyme released by the kidney when reduced blood pressure is detected by baroreceptors in aorta and carotid arteries.
urea
the main nitrogenous part of urine.
ureter
the duct that conducts urine from the kidney to the bladder.
urinary bladder
the structure that stores urine in the body elimination.
urine
liquid waster matter excreted by the kidneys.
adaptive immune system
a kind of passive or active immunity in which antibodies to a particular antigen are present in the body.
antibody
a blood protein that counteracts a specific antigen.
antigens
substances on the surfaces of agents that act to identify them to the body, as being native or foreign.
antigen presenting cel’ (APC )
a cell that displays foreign antigens with major histocompatibility complexes on their surfaces.
antimicrobial
a substance that kills or inhibits growth of micro- organisms with minimal damage to the host.
B cell
lymphocytes that mature in bone marrow and make antibodies in response to antigens.
barrier
a divider between parts of the body.
complement
a group of proteins in blood serum and plasma that works with antibodies to destroy particulate antigens.
dendritic cell
antigen presenting cells that process antigen material and present it to T cells.
immunoglobulin
an antibody
innate immune system
a collection of nonspecific barriers and cellular responses that serve as an inborn first and second line of defense against pathogens.
macrophage
a large white blood cell that ingests foreign material.
memory cell
a lymphocyte that responds to an antigen upon reintroduction.
phagocytosis
ingestion of particles by a cell or phagocyte.
plasma cell
a white blood cell that produces a single type of antibody.
T Cell
white blood cells that mature in the thymus and participate in immune response.
bone
hard, calcified material that makes up the skeleton.
brittle bone disease
a group of diseases that affect collagen and result in fragile bones.
canaliculi
mircoscoping canals in ossified bone.
cartilage
tough, elastic connective tissue found in parts of the body such as the ear.
collagen
the primary structural protein of connective tissue.
haversian canal
channels in bone that contain blood vessels and nerves
lamellae
layers of bone, tissue, or cell walls.
lining cells
flattened bones cells that come from osteoblasts.
osteoarthritis
degenerative joint disease.
osteoblasts
cells that make bone.
osteoclasts
cells that remove bone.
osteocytes
bone cells.
osteons
cylindrical structures that comprise compact bone.
osteoporosis
a disease that causes brittle, fragile bones.
rheumatoid arthritis
a progressive disease that causes joint inflammation and pain.
volkmann canal
channels in bone that transmits blood vessels and communicate with haversian canals.
