body Flashcards
smooth muscle bag that stores urine until it is expelled from the body.
urinary bladder
large, nucleated blood cells that play a major role in protecting the body from foreign substances and microscopic organisms.
white blood cells
round, disk-shaped cells in the blood that carry oxygen to body cells; make up 44 percent of the total volume of the blood.
red blood cells
sensory receptors located on the tongue that result in taste perception.
taste buds
ropelike structure that attaches the embryo to the wall of the uterus; supplies a developing embryo with oxygen and nutrients and removes waste products.
umbilical cord
in human females, the montly cycle that includes the production of an egg, the preparation of the uterus to receive an egg, and the shedding of an egg if it remains unfertilized.
menstrual cycle
internal feedback mechanism in which a substance is fed back to inhibit the original signal and reduce production of a substance.
negative feedback system
muscular tube about 6 m long where digestion is completed; connects the stomach and the large intestine.
small intestine
muscular tube through which indigestible materials are passed to the rectum for excretion.
large intestine
produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and cell fragments involved in blood clotting.
bone marrow
a type of voluntary muscle that is attached to and moves the bones.
skeletal muscle
muscle in which contractions are not under conscious control.
involuntary muscle
muscle that contracts under conscious control.
voluntary muscle
type of involuntary muscle found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels; most common function is to squeeze exerting pressure inside the tube or organ it surrounds.
smooth muscle
type of involuntary muscle found only in the heart;
cardiac muscle
in humans, the central control center of the nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
central nervous system
force that blood exerts on blood vessels; rises and falls as the heart contracts and relaxes.
blood pressure
automatic response to a stimulus; reflex stimulus travels to the spinal column and sent directly back to the muscle.
reflex
basic unit of structure and function in the nervous system; conducts impulses throughout the nervous system; composed of dendrites, a cell body, and an axon.
neurons
binding sites on target cells that bind with specific hormones.
receptors
chemical substance produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that helps break down fats during digestion.
bile
combination of sperm and fluids from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands.
semen
flap of cartilage that closes over the opening of the respiratory tract during swallowing; prevents food from entering the respiratory tract.
epiglottis
fluid portion of the blood that makes up about 55 percent of the total volume of the blood; contains red and white blood cells.
plasma
foreign substances that stimulate an immune response in the body.
antigens
in females, the process of an egg rupturing through the ovary wall and moving into the oviduct.
ovulation
in humans and some other animals, the outermost protective layer composed of an outer layer of dead cells and an inner layer of living cells.
epidermis
in humans, the period when secondary sex characteristics begin to appear; changes are controlled by sex hormones secreted by the endocrine system.
puberty
inner, thicker portion of the skin that contains structures such as blood vessels, nerves, nerve endings, hair follicles, sweat glands, and oil glands.
dermis
iron-containing protein molecule in red blood cells that binds to oxygen and carries it from the lungs to the body’s cells.
hemoglobin
large blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart.
veins
large, complex organ of the digestive system that produces many chemicals for digestion, including bile.
liver
large, thick-walled muscular vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
artery
largest blood vessel in the body; transports oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the arteries.
aorta
last part of the digestive system through which feces passes before it exits the body through the anus.
rectum
liquid composed of wastes that is filtered from the blood by the kidneys.
urine
microscopic blood vessels with walls only one cell thick that allow diffusion of gases and nutrients between the blood and surrounding tissues.
capillaries
muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach; moves food by peristalsis.
esophagus
muscular, pouchlike enlargement of the digestive tract where chemical and physical digestion take place.
stomach
organs of the vertebrate urinary system; remove wastes, control sodium levels of the blood, and regulate blood pH levels.
kidneys
physiological and physical changes a female goes through during the birthing process.
labor
pigment found in cells of the interior layer of the epidermis; protects cells from solar-radiation damage.
melanin
point where two or more bones meet; can be fixed or facilitate movement of bones in relation to one another.
joints
proteins in the blood plasma produced in reaction to antigens that react with and disable antigens.
antibodies
sacs in the lungs where oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses into the air.
alveoli
series of involuntary smooth muscle contractions along the walls of the digestive tract that move food through the digestive tract.
peristalsis
single projection on th elining of the small intestine that functions in the absorption of digested food; they increase the surface area of the small intestine and increase the absorption rate.
villus
small cell fragments in the blood that help blood clot after an injury.
platelets
snail-shaped structure in the inner ear containing fluid and hairs; produces electric impulses that the brain interprets as sound.
cochlea
soft, flattened gland that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones; products help break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
pancreas
substance consisting of weakened, dead, or incomplete portions of pathogens or antigens that produce an immune response when injected into the body.
vaccine
substances produced by a microorganism that, in small amounts, will kill or inhibit growth and reproduction of other microorganisms.
antibiotics
surge of blood through an artery that can be felt on the surface of the body.
pulse
thick bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones.
tendons
thin layer of tissue found at the back of the eye made up of light receptors and sensory neurons.
retina
tiny space between one neuron’s axon and another neuron’s dendrites over which a nerve impulse must pass.
synapse
tube that transports urine from each kidney to the urinary bladder.
ureter
tube through which urine is passed from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.
urethra
tublike passageway for air flow that connects with two bronchi tubes that lead into the lungs.
trachea
