Anatomy & Physiology Glossary

Question 1

abdomen

Answer 1

belly between the thorax and pelvis

Question 2

abdominal cavity

Answer 2

space bounded by the diaphragm, abdominal wall, and pelvis

Question 3

adominopelvic cavity

Answer 3

abdominal and pelvic cavities considered together

Question 4

abduction

Answer 4

movement away from the midline

Question 5

absorption

Answer 5

the taking in or reception of gases, liquids, light heat, or solutes via digestion, skin, etc.

Question 6

accommodation

Answer 6

the act or state of adjustment or adaptation, such as the increase in the thickness and convexity of the lens of the eye for focus

Question 7

acetylcholine

Answer 7

neurotransmitter substance released from motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscle fibers, and other neurons

Question 8

acetylcholinesterase

Answer 8

enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine to acetic acid and choline

Question 9

acetyl-CoA

Answer 9

enzyme that is part of the citric acid cycle

Question 10

acid

Answer 10

any substance that is a proton donor; or any substance that releases hydrogen ions

Question 11

acidosis

Answer 11

condition characterized by a lower than normal blood pH (pH of 7.35 or lower)

Question 12

acinus

Answer 12

grape-shaped secretory portion of a gland

Question 13

acromegaly

Answer 13

disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the bones of the head, face, hands, feet and thorax as a result of excessive secretion of growth hormone by the anterior putuitary gland

Question 14

acromion

Answer 14

lateral end of the spine of the scapula; articulates with the clavicle

Question 15

acrosome

Answer 15

a caplike organelle surrounding the anterior portion of a sperm cell

Question 16

actin microfilament

Answer 16

one of the two major kinds of protein fibers that make up a sarcomere

Question 17

action potential

Answer 17

all-or-none change in membrane potential in an excitable tissue that is propagated as an electrical signal

Question 18

activation energy

Answer 18

energy that must be added to atoms or molecules to start a chemical reaction

Question 19

active transport

Answer 19

carrier-mediated process that requires ATP and can move substances into or out of cells from a lower to a higher concentration

Question 20

adaptive immunity

Answer 20

immune response in which there is an ability to recognize, remember, and destroy a certain antigen

Question 21

adduction

Answer 21

mmovement toward the midline

Question 22

adductor

Answer 22

muscle causing movement toward the midline

Question 23

adenoid

Answer 23

enlarged pharyngeal tonsil

Question 24

adenosine triphosphate

Answer 24

ATP; energy stored in ATP is used in nearly all the energy-requiring reactions in the body

Question 25

adipose

Answer 25

fat; relating to fat tissue

Question 26

adrenal gland

Answer 26

the outer part of the adrenal gland, which secretes the following steroid hormones: glucocorticoids, mainly cortisol; mineralocorticoids, mainly aldosterone; and androgens

Question 27

adrenal medulla

Answer 27

inner part of the adrenal gland, which secretes mainly epinephrine, but also small amounts of norepinephrine

Question 28

adrenaline

Answer 28

synonym for epinephrine

Question 29

adrenocorticotropic hormone

Answer 29

ACTH; hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol

Question 30

adventitia

Answer 30

outermost covering of an organ that is continuous with the connective tissue

Question 31

aerobic respiration

Answer 31

breakdown of glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and approximately 38 ATP molecules

Question 32

afferent

Answer 32

inflowing; conducting toward a center, denoting certain arteries, veins, lymphatics, and sensory nerves

Question 33

afferent arteriole

Answer 33

small artery in the renal cortex that supplies blood to the glomerulus

Question 34

afferent fiber

Answer 34

sensory nerve fiber going from the peripheral to the central nervous system; sensory or afferent fiber

Question 35

afterload

Answer 35

resistance against which the ventricles must pump blood; it is increased in people who have hypertension

Question 36

agglutination

Answer 36

process by which cells stick together to form clumps

Question 37

agonist

Answer 37

denoting a muscle in a state of contraction, with reference to its opposing muscle, or antagonist

Question 38

agranulocyte

Answer 38

white blood cell with very small cytoplasmic granules that cannot be easily seen with the light microscope; lymphocytes and monocytes

Question 39

aldosterone

Answer 39

steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex which facilitates potassium exchange for sodium

Question 40

alkalosis

Answer 40

condition characterized by a higher than normal blood pH

Question 41

alveolar duct

Answer 41

part of the respiratory passages beyond a respiratory bronchiole; from it arises alveolar sacs and alveoli

Question 42

alveolar sac

Answer 42

two or more alveoli that share a common opening

Question 43

alveolus

Answer 43

cavity; examples include the sockets into which the teeth fit and the ends of the respiratory system

Question 44

amino acid

Answer 44

class of organic acids; building blocks of proteins

Question 45

amniotic cavity

Answer 45

fluid-filled cavity surrounding and protecting the developing embryo

Question 46

amylase

Answer 46

one of a group of starch-splitting enzymes