The Human Body

Question 1

Muscular system

Answer 1

The muscular system is made up of three types of muscle: cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, and smooth muscle.

Question 2

Heart

Answer 2

The heart is made of cardiac muscle that is involved in regulating contraction and relaxation of the heart.

Question 3

Skeletal muscles

Answer 3

Skeletal muscles are those connected to bone that enable motion.

Question 4

Smooth muscle

Answer 4

Smooth muscle lines organs and aids in digestion.

Question 5

Oxygen

Answer 5

Cellular respiration can occur with or without oxygen. In aerobic processes (those that involve oxygen), oxygen is converted into energy in the form of ATP. In human respiration this is the gas that we inhale.

Question 6

Carbon dioxide

Answer 6

Carbon dioxide is the gas that oxygen is exchanged for in respiration and therefore the gas that we exhale.

Question 7

Water Vapor

Answer 7

This is the gas phase of water. It occurs as liquid water is evaporated or solid water (ice) undergoes sublimation.

Question 8

Pharynx

Answer 8

The pharynx (also known as the throat) is the structure behind the nose and the mouth that connects them to the esophagus. Its main function is to receive and allow for the transmission of air to the lungs and food to the stomach.

Question 9

Epiglottis

Answer 9

This is the flap behind the tongue that ensures that air goes to the lungs and food goes to the stomach. At rest, the epiglottis sits upright and flips over one way or the other, depending whether food or air enters the mouth/nose.

Question 10

Trachea

Answer 10

The trachea (also known as the windpipe) is a passageway for air to get moist and warm as it makes its way to the lungs.

Question 11

Bronchi

Answer 11

The trachea branches into the left and right bronchi. The bronchi are responsible for transporting air that has come through the windpipe to the lungs.

Question 12

Lungs

Answer 12

After air leaves the left and right bronchi, it dumps into the left and right lungs, respectively. The lungs are spongy organs that can be broken down into smaller divisions to allow for gas exchange to occur.

Question 13

Bronchioles

Answer 13

Also known as “little bronchi”, these are smaller branches that the left and right bronchi divide into.

Question 14

Alveolus

Answer 14

These are tiny air sacs that branch off from the bronchioles where gas exchange occurs in the lungs.

Question 15

Capillaries

Answer 15

These are tiny blood vessels that serve as a connection point between arterioles and venules, allowing nutrients to be transferred between blood and tissues

Question 16

Diaphragm

Answer 16

The diaphragm is a skeletal muscle that sits below the lungs. As you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and flattens to allow your lungs to fill with more air. As you exhale the diaphragm relaxes so air can be pushed out of the lungs.

Question 17

Circulatory system

Answer 17

The circulatory system is responsible for the transport of blood and nutrients throughout the body. It is made up of arteries, veins, capillaries, the lungs, the heart, the brain, and the kidneys.

Question 18

Blood

Answer 18

Blood consists of red blood cells, which facilitate oxygenation, white blood cells, which aid in immunologic defense, plasma, which is the liquid medium inside of the circulatory system, and platelets, which also aid in defense.

Question 19

Atrium/atria

Answer 19

These are the two receiving chambers of the heart. They appear on both the left and right sides of the heart above the ventricles.

Question 20

Ventricles

Answer 20

These are the two pumping chambers of the heart. They appear on both the left and right sides of the heart below the atria.

Question 21

Vena cava(e)

Answer 21

There are two vena cavae in the heart: superior and inferior. The superior vena cava drains the upper part of the body while the inferior vena cava drains the lower half of the body. Both of these dump deoxygenated blood into the right atrium.

Question 22

Pulmonary artery

Answer 22

This is responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Question 23

Pulmonary vein

Answer 23

This is responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

Question 24

Aorta

Answer 24

This is the largest artery in the body. Oxygenated blood will leave the heart through the aorta to be sent throughout the whole body.

Question 25

Artery

Answer 25

This is a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. You can think “A” and “Away”. Arteries typically carry oxygenated blood with the exception of the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood.

Question 26

Arterioles

Answer 26

Also known as “little arteries,” these are small branches off the arteries that connect arteries to capillaries.

Question 27

Vein

Answer 27

A vein is a blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart. Veins typically carry deoxygenated blood with the exception of the pulmonary vein, which carries oxygenated blood.

Question 28

Valves

Answer 28

There are four valves of the heart: the bicuspid (mitral) valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve, and pulmonary valve. The tricuspid and bicuspid valves are also known as the atrioventricular (AV) valves as these are the two valves that separate the atria from the ventricles. The bicuspid (or mitral valve) separates the left atrium from the left ventricle, and the tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the left atrium. The aortic valve connects the left ventricle to the aorta (hence the name), and the pulmonary valve connects the right ventricle to the lungs.

Question 29

Diffusion

Answer 29

This is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to low concentration.

Question 30

Venules

Answer 30

Also known as “little veins”, these are small branches off the veins that connect veins to capillaries.

Question 31

Antigens

Answer 31

These are what the cells recognize as “self”. For example, if someone has a blood type A, they will have A antigens on the surface of their red blood cells. If they have AB blood, then they will have both A and B antigens. O blood is the absence of any antigens.

Question 32

Rh factor

Answer 32

Rhesus (Rh) factor is an inherited protein that is found on the surface of red blood cells. Presence of this protein makes you Rh positive, and absence of this protein makes you Rh negative.

Question 33

Universal donor

Answer 33

This is someone who can donate blood to someone with any blood type. The universal blood donor is blood type O since there are no antigens on the surface of its cells.

Question 34

Universal recipient

Answer 34

This is someone who can receive blood from someone with any blood type. The universal blood recipient is blood type AB since there are both A and B antigens on the surface of its cells.

Question 35

Digestive system

Answer 35

The digestive system functions to break food down into usable micro and macronutrients. Upon ingestion of food, the digestive process begins.

Question 36

Small intestine

Answer 36

The small intestine primarily serves to absorb the nutrients from the chyme before passing it on to the large intestine (colon).

Question 37

Large intestine

Answer 37

In the large intestine, further absorption of nutrients and water takes place, before passing the remaining matter, termed feces, to the rectum where it is excreted through the anus.

Question 38

Kidneys

Answer 38

The kidneys function to remove waste from the bloodstream through a filtration system resulting in the production of urine.

Question 39

Lungs

Answer 39

The lungs, in addition to providing oxygenated blood, remove carbon dioxide from the blood.

Question 40

Skin

Answer 40

The skin is the organ through which perspiration (sweat) is released. It plays a minor role in excretion; its primary role is temperature regulation.

Question 41

Salivary amylase

Answer 41

This is an enzyme found in the mouth that is responsible for the initial breakdown of starches from complex carbohydrates to monosaccharides (simple sugars).

Question 42

Gastric acids

Answer 42

Gastric acid, also known as stomach acid, is the acidic fluid within the stomach. The pH of the stomach lies between 1 and 3 and is essential for activating digestive enzymes as well as breaking down proteins.

Question 43

Pepsin

Answer 43

Pepsin is an enzyme found in the stomach that breaks down proteins into polypeptides.

Question 44

Pancreas

Answer 44

The pancreas is an organ found below the liver. One of its main functions is to produce enzymes that break down food into a usable form for our body. One pancreatic enzyme is lipase, which is responsible for breaking down fats. Another pancreatic enzyme, pancreatic amylase, similar to salivary amylase, is responsible for breaking down starches. Finally, trypsin in the pancreas allows for the digestion of protein.

Question 45

Liver

Answer 45

The liver is a large organ that is situated on the right side of the abdomen. It serves as producer of bile, metabolizer of nutrients, and an enzyme activator. It also helps with the excretion of drugs and hormones.

Question 46

Bile

Answer 46

Bile is a green-brown fluid that is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It functions to carry wastes away and break down fats.

Question 47

Brain

Answer 47

The brain contains two hemispheres (left and right) and three major parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem.

Question 48

Cerebrum

Answer 48

The cerebrum, the largest portion of the brain, is responsible for numerous things such as (but not limited to) speech, judgment, problem-solving, and emotions. The cerebellum aids in balance and coordination. The brainstem connects with the spinal cord and regulates involuntary movements such as breathing and digestion.

Question 49

Neurons

Answer 49

The neurons that make up the brain contain a nucleus and long branches that extend to other neurons. Chemical signals pass from one neuron to the next to transmit information.

Question 50

Spinal Cord

Answer 50

The spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body. It is a bundle of nerves that runs vertically through the spine that branches throughout the body. Signals received by the senses travel through the spinal cord to be processed in the brain.

Question 51

Medulla

Answer 51

The medulla is responsible for involuntary actions such as breathing and heart beat.