Biology Flashcards
musculoskeletal system
consists of the skeletal system (bones and joints) and the skeletal muscle system (voluntary or striated muscle). Working together, these two systems protect the internal organs, maintain posture, produce blood cells, store minerals and enable the body to move.
skeletal system
consists of the bones and joints
skeletal muscle system
voluntary or striated muscle
skeleton
the bones or shell of an animal that support and protect it as well as allowing movement
bones
the pieces of hard tissue that make up the skeleton of a vertebrate
bone marrow
a substance inside bones in which blood cells are made
cartilage
a waxy, whitish, flexible substance that lines or connects bone joints or, in some animals such as sharks, replaces bone as the supporting skeletal tissue. The ears and tips of noses of people are shaped by cartilage.
calcium
an element occurring in limestone, chalk, also present in vertebrates and other animals as a component of bone, shell etc. It is necessary for nerve conduction, heartbeat, muscle contraction and many other physiological functions.
phosphorus
a substance that plays an important role in almost every chemical reaction in the body. Together with calcium, it is required by the body to maintain healthy bones and teeth
minerals
any of the inorganic elements that are essential to the functioning of the human body and are obtained from foods
ossification
hardening of bones
brittle
breaks easily into many pieces
joint
region where two bones meet
ligaments
band of tough tissue that connects the ends of bones or keeps an organ in place
synovial fluid
the liquid inside the cavity surrounding a joint that helps bones to slide freely over each other
pivot joint
joint that allows a twisting movement
hinge joints
joints in which two bones are connected so that movement occurs in one plane only
ball and socket joints
joints where the rounded end of one bone fits into the hollow end of another
immovable joints
joints that allow no movement except when absorbing a hard blow
muscles
tissue consisting of cells that can shorten
involuntary muscles
muscles not under the control of the will; they contract slowly and rhythmically. These muscles are at work in the heart, intestines and lungs.
voluntary muscles
muscle attached to bones; it moves the bones by contracting and is controlled by an animal’s thoughts
excretion
removal of wastes from the body
skin
external covering of an animal body
Lungs
the organ for breathing air. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs.
liver
the largest gland in the body. The liver secretes bile for the digestion of fats, builds proteins from amino acids, breaks down many substances harmful to the body and has many other essential functions.
kidneys
body organs that filter the blood, removing urea and other wastes
nephrons
the filtration and excretory units of the kidney
ureters
tubes from each kidney that carry urine to the bladder
bladder
the sac that stores urine
urine
yellowish liquid, produced in the kidneys. It is mostly water and contains waste products from the blood such as urea, ammonia and uric acid.
urination
the passing of urine from the bladder to the outside of the body
urethra
tube through which urine is emptied from the bladder to the outside of the body
Bowman’s capsule
a cup-like structure at one end of a nephron within the kidney, surrounding the glomerulus. It serves as a filter to remove wastes and excess water.
glomerulus
a cluster of capillaries in the kidney that acts as a filter to remove wastes and excess water
