Complete Terms Flashcards
decrease in the seriousness of a disorder or in the severity of pain and other symptoms
abatement
area between the diaphragm and the pelvis
abdomen
cavity that contains the stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, and most of the large instestine
abdominal cavity
first aid procedure for choking (Heimlich)
abdominal thrust maneuver
inferior component of the ventral body cavity
abdominopelvic cavity
movement away from the midline
abduction
premature loss or removal of an embryo or nonviable fetus
abortion
localized collection of pus and liquefied tissue in a cavity
abscess
taking up of liquids by cells of the skin or mucous membranes
absorption
metabolic state in which ingested nutrients are being taken up by the blood or lymph from the GI tract
absorptive state
duct of the pancreas that empties into the duodenum
accessory duct (duct of Santorini)
change in the curvature of the eye lens to adjust for vision at various distances
accommodation
rounded cavity on the external surface of the hip bone that receives the head
acetabulum
neurotransmitter that stimulates skeletal muscle contraction
acetylcholine
pH less than 7
acid
condition where blood pH is between 7.35 and 6.80
acidosis
masses of cells in the pancreas that secrete digestive enzymes
acini
inflammation of sebaceous glands that begins at puberty
acne
acne lesions in order of severity
comdones, papules, pustules, cysts
pertaining to sound or hearing
acoustic
deficiency of helper T cells
AIDS
hypersecretion of hGH during adulthood
acromegaly
dense granule in the head of a spermatozoa that contains enzymes that facilitate the penetration into an ovum
acrosome
contractile protein that makes up thin filaments in muscle fibers
actin
wave of negativity that self-propagates along the outside surface of the membrane of a neuron
action potential
movement of substances across cell membranes against the concentration gradient
active transport
clearness, sharpness (vision)
acuity
insertion of a needle into a tissue for the purpose of drawing fluid or relieving pain
acupuncture
rapid onset, severe symptoms, and a short course
acute
adjustment of the pupil to light variations
adaptation
hyposecretion of glucocorticoids causing muscle weakness, mental lethargy, weight loss, low blood pressure, and dehydration
Addison’s disease
movement towards the midline
adduction
anterior portion of the pituitary gland
adenohypophysis
pharyngeal tonsils
adenoids
energy-carrying molecule manufactured in all living cells as a way to capture and store energy
adenosine triphosphate
enzyme in the postsynaptic membrane that is activated when certain neurotransmitters bind in its active site, converts ATP into cyclic AMP
adenylate cyclase
firm contact between the plasma membrane of a phagocyte and an antigen
adherence
abnormal joining of two parts to each other
adhesion
fat cell
adipocyte
outer portion of the adrenal gland, divided into three portions
adrenal cortex
two glands superior to each kidney
adrenal glands
inner portion of the adrenal gland that secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine
adrenal medulla
nerve fiber that release norepinephrine at a synapse when stimulated
adrenergic fiber
hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
hormone secreted by the pineal gland that may stimulate aldosterone secretion
adrenoglomerulotropin
outermost covering of a structure or organ
adventitia
requiring oxygen
aerobic
blood vessel of the kidney that breaks up into the capillary network called a glomerulus
afferent arteriole
neuron that carries an impulse toward the central nervous system
afferent neuron
persistence of a sensation even though the stimulus has been removed
afterimage
clumping of microorganisms or blood corpuscles, typically antigen/antibody reaction
agglutination
aggregated lymph nodules that are most numerous in the ileum
aggregated lymphatic follicles
progressive failure of the body’s homeostatic mechanisms
aging
loss of the ability to recognize the meaning of stimuli from various senses
agnosia
inability to write
agraphia
abnormal partial or total absence of pigment from the skin, hair, and eyes
albinism
most abundant and smallest of the plasma proteins, functions to regulate osmotic pressure of plasma
albumin
albumin in the urine
albuminuria
mineralcorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex that brings about sodium and water reabsorption
aldosterone
condition caused by hypersecretion of aldosterone characterized by muscle paralysis, high blood pressure, and edema
aldosteronism
pertaining to nutrition
alimentary
pH of more than 7
alkaline
condition in which blood pH is between 7 and 8
alkalosis
small vascularized membrane between the chorion and amnion of the fetus
allantois
antigen that evokes a hypersensitivity reaction
allergen
sensitive to an allergen
allergic
muscle fibers of a motor unit contract to their fullest extent or not at all
all or none principle
cell in the islets of Langerhans that secretes glucagon
alpha cell
receptor found on visceral effectors innervated by most sympathetic postganglionic axons
alpha receptor
disorder caused by decreased levels of alveolar PO2 as altitude increases
altitude sickness
structure in the lungs consisting of the alveolar wall and basement membrane and a capillary endothelium and basement membrane
alveolar-capillary membrane
branch of respiratory bronchiole around which alveoli and alveolar sacs are arranged
alveolar duct
cell found in the alveolar walls of the lungs that is highly phagcytic
aveolar macrophage (dust cell)
collection of alveoli that share a common opening
aveolar sac
small hollow or cavity; air sac in the lungs; milk-secreting portion of a mammary gland
alveolus
disabling neurological disorder characterized by dysfunction and death of specific cerebral neurons resulting in memory impairment
Alzheimer’s disease
absence of menstruation
amenorrhea
organic acid that is the basic unit of proteins
amino acid
lack or loss of memory
amnesia
removal of amniotic fluid by inserting a needle into the amniotic cavity
amniocentesis
innermost fetal membrane, thin transparent sac that holds the fetus suspended in fluid
amnion
articulation midway between diarthrosis and synarthrosis, in which the articulating bony surfaces are separated by an elastic substance to which both are attached so that mobility is slight but multidirectional
amphiarthrosis
saclike dilation of a canal
ampulla
progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by degeneration of motor cells in the spinal cord
amyotrophic
synthetic energy requiring reactions whereby small molecules are built up into larger ones
anabolism
not requiring oxygen
anaerobic
terminal 2 to 3 centimeters of the rectum
anal canal
longitudinal fold in the mucous membrane of the anal canal that contains a network of arteries and veins
anal column
absence of normal pain
analgesia
subdivision of the perineum that contains the anus
anal triangle
accelerated production of antibodies upon a subsequent exposure to an antigen after the initial exposure
anamnestic response
third stage of mitosis in which the chromatids that have been separated move to opposite poles
anaphase
hypersensitivity reaction that brings about blood permeability, smooth muscle contraction, and increased mucus production
anaphlyaxis
end to end union of blood vessels, lymph vessels, or nerves
anastomosis
position of the body universally used in anatomical descriptions, arms at the side, palms facing outward
anatomical position
study of structure of the body and the relationship of its parts to each other
anatomy
substance producing or stimulating male characteristics
androgen
below normal number of red blood cells or hemoglobin
anemia
total or partial loss of feeling
anesthesia
saclike enlargement of blood vessel caused by a weakening of its wall
aneurysm
pain in the chest related to reduced coronary circulation
angina pectoris
x-ray examination of blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque substance into the common carotid artery
angiography
either of two forms of a protein association with regulation of blood pressure
angiotensin
negatively charged ion
anion
restriction of tongue movements by a short frenulum
ankyloglossis
abnormality
anomaly
defect of vision
anopsia
loss of appetite and strange eating patterns
anorexia nervosa
loss of the sense of smell
anosmia
deficiency of oxygen
anoxia
muscle that has an action opposite that of the agonist and yields to the agonist
antagonist
before childbirth
antepartum
near to the front of the body
anterior
structure composed of axons of motor fibers that emerges from the anterior aspect of the spinal cord and extends laterally to join a posterior root, forming a spinal nerve
anterior root
chemical produced by a microorganism that is able to inhibit or kill another organism
anitbiotic
substance produced by certain cells in the presence of a specific antigen that combines with the antigen to destroy it
antibody
substance that prevents, suppresses, or delays the clotting of blood
anticoagulant
substance that inhibits urine formation
antidiuretic
hormone produced in the posterior pituitary gland that stimulates water reabsorption from kidney cells into the blood and vasoconstriction of arterioles
antidiuretic hormone
substance that when introduced into the tissues or blood induces the formation of antibodies or reacts with them
antigen
ring of fibrous tissue and cartilage that encircles the pulpy substance of an intervertebral disk
anulus fibrosus
daily urine output of less than 50 ml
anuria
distal end of the digestive system
anus
main systemic trunk of the arterial system of the body, emerges from the left ventricle
aorta
receptor on or near the arch of the aorta that responds to alterations in blood levels of oxygen, CO2, and hydrogen ions
aortic body
reflex concerned with maintaining normal general systemic blood pressure
aortic reflex
