Chapter 5 Flashcards
abdomen
The body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion and excretion. It is located below the diaphragm and above the pelvis.
abduction
Motion of a limb away from the midline
acetabulum
The depression on the lateral pelvis where its three component bones join, in which the femoral head fits snugly
Adam’s apple
The firm prominence in the upper part of the larynx formed by the thyroid cartilage. It is more prominent in men than in women.
adduction
Motion of a limb toward the midline
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
The nucleotide involved in energy metabolism; used to store energy
adrenal glands
Endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys that release adrenaline when stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system
adrenergic
Pertaining to nerves that release the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, or noradrenaline (such as adrenergic nerves, adrenergic response). The term also pertains to the receptors acted on by norepinephrine, that is the adrenergic receptors.
aerobic metabolism
Metabolism that can proceed only in the presence of oxygen
agonal gasps
Slow, gasping breaths, sometimes seen in dying patients
alpha-adrenergic receptors
Portions of the nervous system that when stimulated can cause constriction of blood vessels
alveoli
The air sacs of the lung in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place
anaerobic metabolism
The metabolism that takes place in the absence of oxygen; the principal product is lactic acid
anatomic position
The position of reference in which the patient stands facing you, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands forward
anterior
The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position
aorta
The principal artery leaving the left side of the heart and carrying freshly oxygenated blood to the body
apex (plural apices)
The pointed extremity of a conical structure
apneustic center
Portion of the pons that increases the length of inspiration and decreases the respiratory rate
appendicular skeleton
The portion of the skeletal system that comprises the arms, legs, pelvis, and shoulder girdle
appendix
A small tubular structure that is attached to the lower border of the cecum in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen
arterioles
The smallest branches of arteries leading to the vast network of capillaries
atrium
One of the two upper chambers of the heart
autonomic nervous system
The part of the nervous system that regulates functions, such as digestion and sweating, that are not controlled voluntarily
axial skeleton
The part of the skeleton comprising the skull, spinal column, and rib cage
ball-and-socket joint
A joint that allows internal and external rotation, as well as bending
beta-adrenergic receptors
Portions of the nervous system that when stimulated can cause an increase in the force of contraction of the heart, an increased heart rate, and bronchial dilation
biceps
The large muscle that covers the front of the humerus
bilateral
In anatomy, a body part that appears on both sides of the midline
bile ducts
The ducts that convey bile between the liver and the intestine
blood pressure (BP)
The pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them
brachial artery
The major vessel in the upper extremity that supplies blood to the arm
brain
The controlling organ of the body and center of consciousness; functions include perception, control of reactions to the environment, emotional responses, and judgement
brain stem
The area of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebrum, surrounded by the cerebellum; controls functions that are necessary for life, such as respiration
capillary vessels
The tiny blood vessels between the arterioles and venules that permit transfer of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste between body tissues and the blood
cardiac muscle
The heart muscle
carotid artery
The major artery that supplies blood to the head and brain
cartilage
The support structure of the skeletal system that provides cushioning between bones; also forms the nasal septum and portions of the outer ear
cecum
The first part of the large intestine, into which the ileum opens
central nervous system (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord
cerebellum
One of the three major subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the “little brain”; coordinates the various activities of the brain, particularly fine body movements
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Fluid produced in the ventricles of the brain that flows in the subarachnoid space and bathes the mininges
cerebrum
The largest part of the three subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the “gray matter”; made up of several lobes that control movement, hearing, balance, speech, visual perception, emotions, and personality
cervical spine
The portion of the spinal column consisting of the first seven vertebrae that lie in the neck
chordae tendineae
Thin brands of fibrous tissue that attach to the valves in the heart and prevent them from inverting
chyme
The name of the substance that leaves the stomach. It is a combination of all of the eaten foods with added stomach acids.
circulatory system
The complex arrangement of connected tubes, including the arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins, that moves blood, oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and cellular waste throughout the body
clavicle
The collarbone; it is lateral to the sternum and anterior to the scapula
coccyx
The last three or four vertebrae of the spine; the tailbone
coronal plane
An imaginary plane where the body is cut into front and back parts
cranium
The area of the head above the ears and eyes; the skull. The cranium contains the brain.
cricoid cartilage
A firm ridge of cartilage that forms the lower part of the larynx
cricothyroid membrane
A thin sheet of fascia that connects the thyroid and cricoid cartilages that make up the larynx
dead space
Any portion of the airway that does contain air and cannot participate in gas exchange, such as the trachea and bronchi
deep
Further inside the body and away from the skin
dermis
The inner layer of the skin, containing hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels
diaphragm
A muscular dome that forms the undersurface of the thorax, separating the chest from the abdominal cavity. Contraction of the diaphragm (and the chest wall muscles) brings air into the lungs. Relaxation allows air to be expelled from the lungs.
diastole
The relaxation, or period of relaxation, of the heart, especially of the ventricles
diffusion
Movement of a gas from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration
digestion
The processing of food that nourishes the individual cells of the body
distal
Farther from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity
dorsal
The posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand
dorsalis pedis artery
The artery on the anterior surface of the foot between the first and second metatarsals
dorsal respiratory group (DRG)
A portion of the medulla oblongata where the primary respiratory pacemaker is found
endocrine system
The complex message and control system that integrates many body functions, including the release of hormones
enzymes
Substances catalysts designed to speed up the rate of specific biochemical reactions
epidermis
The outer layer of skin, which is made up of cells that are sealed together to form a watertight protective covering for the body
epiglottis
A thin, leaf-shaped valve that allows air to pass into the trachea but prevents food and liquid from entering
epinephrine
A hormone produced by the adrenal medulla that has a vital role in the function of the sympathetic nervous system
esophagus
A collapsible tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach; contractions of the muscle in the wall of the esophagus propel food and liquids through it to the stomach
expiratory reserve volume
The amount of air that can be exhaled following a normal exhalation; average volume is about 1,200 mL
extend
To straighten
extension
The straightening of a joint
fallopian tubes
Long, slender tubes that extend from the uterus to the region of the ovary on the same side and through which the ovum passes from the ovary to the uterus
femoral artery
The principal artery of the thigh, a continuation of the external iliac artery. It supplies blood to the lower abdominal wall, external genitalia, and legs. It can be palpated in the groin area.
femoral head
The proximal end of the femur, articulating with the acetabulum to form the hip joint
femur
The thighbone; the longest and one of the strongest bones in the body
flex
To bend
flexion
The bending of a joint
foramen magnum
A large opening at the base of the skull through which the brain connects to the spinal cord
gallbladder
A sac on the undersurface of the liver that collects bile from the liver and discharges it into the duodenum through the common bile duct
genital system
The reproductive system in males and females
germinal layer
The deepest layer of the epidermis where new skin cells are formed
greater trochanter
A bony prominence on the proximal lateral side of the thigh, just below the hip joint
hair follicles
The small organs that produce hair
heart
A hollow muscular organ that pumps blood through out the body
heart rate
The number of heartbeats during a specific time
Hering-Breuer reflex
A protective mechanism that terminates inhalation, thus preventing overexpansion of the lungs
hinge joints
Joints that can bend and straighten but cannot rotate; they restrict motion to one plane
hormones
Substances formed in specialized organs or glands and carried to another organ or group of cells in the same organism. Hormones regulate many body functions, including metabolism, growth, and body temperature
humerus
The supporting bone of the upper arm
hydrostatic pressure
The pressure of water against the walls of its container
hypoxic drive
A “backup system” to control respiration; senses drops in the oxygen level in the blood
ilium
One of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring
inferior
Below a body part or nearer to the feet