Human Body Flashcards
Skeletal System
made up of bones, ligaments, and cartilage. It supports the body and protects important organs
Muscular System
allows movement of body parts. It works with the skeletal system to help you move
Cardiovascular System
moves blood through the body. The heart is the pump for this system. Blood flows through blood vessels.
Respiratory system
gathers oxygen from the environment and gets rid of carbon dioxide from the body.
Lymphatic System
returns leaked fluid back to the blood. As a major part of the immune system, it has cells that help get rid of invading bacteria and viruses
Digestive system
breaks down food into nutrients that can be used by the body. The stomach breaks down food into tiny pieces. Nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine
Excretory system
gets rid of the body’s wastes.
Nervous System
made up of structures that control the actions and reactions of the body in response to stimuli from the environment
Endocrine System
controls body functions and helps maintain homeostasis using hormones
reproductive system
the body system that controls growth and metabolism and regulates reproduction through hormones
Immune System
the body’s defense system, which is made up of tissues and specialized white blood cells that recognize and attack foreign substances in the body
Homeostasis
the maintenance of a constant internal environment when outside conditions change
Arthritis
a disease that causes the joints to swell, stiffen, and become painful. It can also cause the joints to change shape
Osteoporosis
a disease that causes bone tissue to become thin. The bones become weak and break more easily
Muscular dystrophy
a hereditary disease that causes skeletal muscle to become weaker over time. It causes poor balance and difficulty walking or doing everyday activities
Tendinitis
when tendons become inflamed or even torn, it causes this painful condition which is treated with medication to reduce swelling
Atherosclerosis
hardening of the artery walls caused by the build-up of cholesterol and other lipids. It narrows the blood vessels and causes heart attacks.
Hypertension
abnormally high blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks and strokes
Heart Attacks
happens when an artery that supplies blood to the heart becomes blocked and the heart muscle tissue that depends on the blood supply does not get oxygen
Strokes
happens when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts
Asthma
a condition in which the airways are narrowed due to inflammation of the bronchi.
Pneumonia
an inflammation of the lungs that is usually caused by bacteria or viruses. The alveoli may fill with fluid, causing the person to suffocate
Emphysema
occurs when the alveoli have been damaged and oxygen cannot pass into the blood. It causes a buildup of carbon dioxide and is often the result of smoking
Muscular strains and tears
a muscle injury in which the muscle is overstretched and torn
Ligament
the tough, flexible stands of connective tissue that hold bones together
Fractures
a crack in a bone which usually repairs itself in six to eight weeks
Sprains
an injury to a ligament that is caused by stretching a joint too far
Joint
the place where two or more bones connect
Bone marrow
the soft tissue inside the bones where blood cells are produced
Smooth muscle
found in the internal organs and blood vessels. It helps move material through the body by contracting and relaxing
Cardiac muscle
the tissue that makes up the heart. It never gets tired and works automatically without you thinking about it
Skeletal muscle
attached to the bones, controlled by your brain
Strength
built with resistance exercise to increase the muscle’s power
Endurance
these exercises allow the muscles to contract for a longer time without getting tired
Flexibility
the full range of motion of a joint. This can be increased through stretching
Tendon
the tough strand of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone
Vein
a blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart
Blood
the fluid that carries gasses, nutrients, and wastes through the body
Artery
a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. They have thick walls with a layer of smooth muscle
Capillary
a tiny blood vessel that allows gas exchange between body cells and the blood.
plasma
the fluid part of the blood
Platelets
tiny pieces of larger cells found in bone marrow. They help the blood clot to form scabs
White blood cells
Help keep you healthy by fighting pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.
Red blood cells
disk-shaped cells that do not have a nucleus. They bring oxygen to every cell in your body
Pharynx
the official name for your throat
Larynx
part of the throat that holds the vocal cords
Trachea
a large tube that connects to the lungs and splits into two branches
Bronchi
the name for the two branches of the trachea
Alveoli
tiny sacs that suck air in and out. They are surrounded by blood vessels to transfer oxygen to the blood
Lymph
the fluid that leaks from organs and tissues
Lymph Node
small bean-shaped organs that remove pathogens and dead cells from lymph
Lymph Vessels
thin-walled vessels of the lymphatic system. They carry lymph back to the lymph nodes
Tonsils
small lymphatic organs at the back of the throat and tongue.
Thymus
an organ in the chest where white blood cells are made. It gets smaller as a person gets older
Spleen
the largest lymphatic organ, which stores white blood cells and allows them to mature.
Pancreas
The organ that makes fluids that break down every type of material found in foods
Enzyme
a chemical the body uses to break down large molecules into smaller molecules.
Liver
makes and releases bile to break up large fat droplets into smaller pieces
Kidney
one of a pair of organs that remove waste from the blood
Nephron
microscopic structures in the kidneys that filter blood
Ureters
tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder
Bladder
a saclike organ that stores urine
Urethra
the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body to expel urine
Urine
water and waste that was filtered out of the blood into a liquid form
Esophagus
a long tube that connects the throat to the stomach and moves food when you swallow
Stomach
a muscular bag that crushes food and contains acids and enzymes for killing bacteria and breaking down proteins. Its walls contain layers of muscle
Small intestine
a muscular tube where most chemical digestion takes place and most nutrients are absorbed
Large intestine
Where water and nutrients are absorbed and waste is compacted and stored
Brain
the body’s central command organ, which constantly receives impulses from all over the body
Dendrite
short, branched extensions of the cell body that allows neurons to communicate with other cells. Each neuron can have many of these
Spinal Cord
made up of bundles of nerves, it allows your brain to communicate with the rest of your body
Nueron
a cell that moves messages in the form of fast-moving electrical energy.
axon
Each neuron has only one of these. It’s an extension of the neuron, and can be long or short. Its function is to move messages
Hormone
a chemical messenger made in one cell or tissue that causes a change in another cell or tissue in a different part of the body. These are produced by endocrine glands or tissues
Gland
a group of cells that make special chemicals for the body
Sperm
male cells that are used for reproduction
Vagina
the canal between the uterus and the outside of the female body
Testes
the canal between the uterus and the outside of the female body
Embryo
A fertilized egg
Penis
the organ that delivers semen into the female reproductive system
Placenta
a network of blood vessels that provides the embryo with oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood and carries away wastes
Egg
The Female Sex Cell
Ovary
the reproductive organ that produces eggs
Uterus
the female organ in which a fertilized egg develops into a baby
Umbilical cord
the connection between the placenta and the baby
Fetus
10 weeks after an embryo has been fertilized, it becomes this.
Pathogen
an organism, virus, or protein that causes disease.
B cell
make antibodies that attach to specific antigens
Antibody
a specialized protein that binds to a specific antigen to tag it for destruction
Macrophage
a white blood cell that destroys pathogens by engulfing and digesting them
Immunity
the ability to resist or recover from an infectious disease or from the body being vaccinated
T cell
coordinate the body’s immune system
Vaccine
a substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens that is introduced into the body to produce immunity
Noninfectious disease
diseases that are caused by hereditary or environmental factors
Infectious disease
a disease that is caused by a pathogen like bacteria, fungi, or parasites, which are all alive
Antibiotic
a medicine used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, such as fungi
Antiviral drug
a medicine that destroys viruses or prevents their replication
Viruses
tiny particles that have their own genetic material but depend on living things to reproduce. They cause disease and may be spread by air, contact, or the transfer of body fluids
Bacteria
Most are beneficial to other living things, but some cause disease.
Fungi
pathogens that cause skin infections that can be passed on through contact. Some are beneficial when they break down dead plants or animals.
Parasite
an organism that lives on and feeds on another organism, harming the host
