Glossary Flashcards
Absorption
The transport of fully digested food into the circulatory system to feed the tissues and cells
Abductors
Muscles that draw a body part, such as a finger, arm, or toe, away from the midline of the body or of an extremity. In the hand, abductors separate the fingers.
Adductors
Muscles that draw a body part such as a finger, arm, toe, inward toward the median axis of the body or of an extremity. In the hand, adductors draw the fingers together
Adipose tissue
A specialized connective tissue considered fat, which gives smoothness and contour to the body and cushions and insulates the body.
Adrenal gland
Glands that secrete about 30 steroid hormones and control metabolic processes of the body, including the fight-or-flight response
Anabolism
Constructive metabolism; the process of building up larger molecules from smaller ones
Anatomy
The study of human body structure that can be seen with the naked eye and how the body parts are organized and the science of the structure of organisms or of their parts
Angular artery
Artery that supplies blood to the side of the nose
Anterior auricular artery
Artery that supplies blood to the front part of the ear
Aorta
The body’s largest artery. The arterial trunk that carried blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body
Arteries
Thick-walled muscular and flexible tubes that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the capillaries throughout the body
Arterioles
Small arteries that deliver blood to capillaries
Atrioventricular valves
Abbr ATV; valves which are designed to prevent the blood from flowing back into the pumping chamber
Atrium
Thin-walled, upper chamber of the heart through which blood is pumped to the ventricles. There is a right atrium and a left atrium
Auricularis anterior
Muscle in front of the ear that draws the ear forward
Auricularis posterior
Muscle behind ear that draws the ear backward
Auricularis superior
Muscle above the ear that draws the ear upward
Auriculotemporal nerve
Nerve that affects the external ear and skin above the temple, up to the top of the skull
Autonomic nervous system
Abbr ANS; the part of the nervous system that controls the involuntary muscles; regulates the action of the smooth muscles, glands, blood vessels, and heart
Axon
The extension if a neuron through which impulses are sent away from the cell body to other neurons, glands, or muscles
Belly
Middle part of a muscle
Biceps
Muscle producing the contour if the front and inner side of the upper arm
Blood
Nutritive fluid circulating through the circulatory system (heart, veins, arteries, and capillaries) to supply oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues and to remove carbon dioxide and waste from them.
Blood vessels
Tube like structures that transport blood to and from the heart, and to various tissues if the body; include arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venues, and veins
Body systems
Also know as systems; groups of bodily organs acting together to perform one or more functions. The human body is composed of 11 major systems
Brachial artery
Located in the upper arm, the brachial artery is a major blood vessel which runs down the arm and ends by dividing inti the radial and ulnar arteries, which run down through the forearm
Brain
Part of the central nervous system contained in the cranium; largest and most complex nerve tissue; controls sensation, muscles, glandular activity, and the power to think and feel
Brain stem
Structure that connects the spinal cord to the brain
Buccal nerve
Nerve that affects the muscles of the mouth
Buccinator
Thin, flat muscle of the cheek between the upper and lower jaw that compresses the cheeks and expels air between the lips
Capillaries
Tiny, thin-walled blood vessels that connects the smaller arteries to the veins. Capillaries bring nutrients to the cells and carry away waste materials
Cardiac muscle
The involuntary muscle that is the heart. This type of muscle is not found in any other part of the body
Carpus
Also known as rest; a flexible joint composed of eight small, irregular bones (carpals) held together by ligaments
Catabolism
The phase of metabolism that involves the breakdown of complex compounds within the cells into smaller ones, often resulting in the release of energy to perform functions such as muscular efforts, secretions, or digestion
Cell membrane
Part of the cell that encloses the protoplasm and permits soluble substances to enter and leave the cell
Cells
Basic unit of all living things; minute mass of protoplasm capable of performing all the fundamental functions of life
Central nervous system
Abbreviated CNS; cerebrospinal nervous system; consists of the brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves, and cranial nerves
Cerebellum
Lies at the base of the cerebrum and is attached to the brain stem; this term is Latin for “little brain”
Cerebrum
Makes up the bulk of the brain and is located in the front, upper part of the cranium
Cervical cutaneous nerve
Nerve located at the side of the neck that affects the front and sides of the neck as far down as the breastbone
Cervical nerves
Nerves that originate at the spinal cord, whose branches supply the muscles and scalp at the back of the head and neck; affect the side of the neck and the platysma muscle
Cervical vertebrae
The seven bones of the top part of the vertebral column, located in the neck region
Circulatory system
Also known as cardiovascular system or vascular system; system that controls the steady circulation of the blood through the body by means of the heart and blood vessels
Clavicle
Also known as collarbone; bone joining the sternum and scapula
Common Carotid arteries
Arteries that supply blood to the face, head, and neck
Connective tissue
Fibrous tissue that binds together, protects, and supports the various parts of the body such as bone, cartilage, and tendons. Examples of connective tissue are bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, blood, lymph, and fat
Corrugator muscle
Facial muscle that draws eyebrows down and wrinkles the forehead vertically
Cranium
Oval, bony case that protects the brain
Cytoplasm
All the protoplasm of the cell except that which is in the nucleus; the watery fluid containing food material necessary for cell growth, reproduction, and self repair
Defecation
Elimination of feces from the body
Deltoid
Large, triangular muscle covering the shoulder joint that allows arm to extend outward and to the side of the body
Dendrites
Tree like branching of nerve fibers extending from a nerve cell; short nerve fibers that carry impulses toward the cell and receive impulses from other neurons
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Abbreviated DNA; the blueprint material of genetic information; contains all the information that controls the function of every living cell
Depressor anguli oris
Also known as triangularis muscle; muscle extending alongside the chin that pulls down the corner of the mouth
Depressor labii inferioris
Also known as quadratus labii inferioris; muscle surrounding the lower lip that depresses the lower lip and draws it to one side
Diaphragm
Muscular wall that separates the thorax from the abdominal region and helps control breathing
Diencephalon
Located in the uppermost part of the midbrain; consists of two main parts the thalamus and hypothalamus
Digestion
Breakdown of food by mechanical and chemical means
Digestive enzymes
Chemicals that change certain kinds of food into a form that can be used by the body
Digestive system
Also called the gastrointestinal system; responsible for changing food into nutrients and waste; consists of the mouth, stomach, intestines, salivary and gastric glands and other organs
Digital nerve
Sensory-motor nerve that, with its branches, supplies impulses to the fingers
Eleventh cranial nerve
Also known as accessory nerve; a motor nerve that controls the motion of the neck and shoulder muscles
Endocrine glands
Also known as ductless glands; release secretions called hormones directly into the bloodstream which in turn influence the welfare of the entire body
Endocrine system
Group of specialized glands that affect the growth development, sexual activities, and help of the entire body
Epicranial aponeurosis
Tendon connecting the occipital a and the frontalis
Epicranius
Also known as occipitofrontalis; the broad muscle that covers the top of the skull and consist of the occipital is and frontalis
Epithelial tissue
Protective covering on body surfaces, such as the skin, mucous membranes, and lining of the heart; Digestive and respiratory organs; and glands
Ethmoid bone
Light, spongy bone between the eye sockets that forms part of the nasal cavities
Excretory system
Group of organs – including the kidneys, liver, skin, large intestine, and lungs – that purify the body by elimination of a waste matter
Exhalation
Breathing outward; expelling carbon dioxide from the lungs
Exocrine glands
Also known as duct glands; produce a substance that travels through small, tube – like ducts. Sweat and oil glands of the skin belong to this group
Extensors
Muscles that straighten the wrist, hand, and fingers to form a straight line
External Caorotid artery
Artery that supplies blood to the interior parts of the scalp, ear, face, neck, and side of the head
External jugular vein
Vein located on the side of the neck that carries blood returning to the heart from the head, face, and Neck
Facial artery
Also known as external maxillary artery; supplies blood to the lower region of the face, mouth, and nose
Fifth cranial nerve
Also known as trifacial or trigeminal nerve; it is the chief sensory nerve of the face, and it serves as the motor nerve of the muscles that control chewing. It consists of three branches
Flexors
Extensor muscles of the wrist, involved in flexing the wrist
Frontal artery
Artery that supplies blood to the forehead and upper eyelids
Frontal bone
Bone forming the forehead
Frontalis
Front (anterior) portion of the epiceanius muscle of the scalp that raises eyebrows, draws the scalp forward, and causes wrinkles across the forehead
Glands
Specialized organs that remove certain elements from the blood to convert them into new compounds
Greater articular nerve
Nerve at the sides of the neck affecting the face, ears, neck, and paratoid gland
Greater occipital nerve
Nerve located in the back of the head, affects the scalp as far up as the top of the head
Heart
Muscular cone shaped organ that keeps the blood moving within the circulatory system
Hemoglobin
Iron containing protein and red blood cells that binds to oxygen
Histology
Also known as microscopic anatomy; the study of the structure and composition of tissue
Hormones
Secretions produced by one of the endocrine glands and carried by the bloodstream or body fluid to another part of the body, or a body organ, to stimulate functional activity or secretion, such as insulin, adrenaline, and estrogen
Humerus
Uppermost and largest bone in the arm, extending from the elbow to the shoulder
Hyoid bone
U–shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the tongue and its muscle
Inferior labial artery
Supplies blood to the lower lip
Infraorbital artery
Artery originates from the internal maxillary artery and supplies blood to the eye muscles
Infraorbital nerve
Nerve that affects the skin of the lower eyelid, side of the nose, upper lip, and mouth
Infratrochlear nerve
Nerve that affects the membrane and skin of the nose