Vocabulary Flashcards
Anabolism
Process of building large proteins from small protein pieces called amino acids
Catabolism
Process where nutrients are broken down to simpler substances and energy is released
Cell membrane
Structure surrounding cell., determines what can and cannot enter cell
Chromosome
Rod like structures in nucleus that contains genes. There is 46 in every cell (23 pairs) except for sperm and egg which contain 23 individual, separated chromosomes
Cytoplasm
All material outside nucleus but still contained within the cell wall
DNA
Chemical found within each chromosome. Arranged like a sequence of recipes, directs activity of cells
Endoplasmic reticulum
Network of canals within cytoplasm. Large proteins are made here from smaller protein pieces
Genes
Regions of DNA within each chromosome
Karyotype
Picture of chromosomes in nucleus of cell, can show mutations etc.
Metabolism
Total of the chemical process in a cell
Mitochondria
Rod shaped structures in cytoplasm that provide the principal source of energy for the cell (catabolism is the process that occurs in mitochondria)
Nucleus
Control Center of cell, contains chromosomes and directs activities of cell
Organs
Different types of tissue combine to form organs
EX. The stomach is composed of muscle tissue, nervous tissue and glandular epithelial tissue
Systems
Groups of organs working together to perform complex functions
EX. The mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines are organs that do the work of digestive system to digest food and absorb it into blood stream
Adipose tissue
Collection of fat cells
Cartilage
Flexible connective tissue attached to bones at joints, forms part of external ear and nose, rings of cartilage surround trachea
Epithelial cells
Skin cells that cover outside of body and line internal surfaces of organs
Larynx
Voice box, located above trachea
Pharynx
Throat, serves as common passageway for food and air
Pituitary gland
Endocrine gland at base of brain
Thyroid gland
Endocrine gland that surrounds trachea in the neck
Trachea
Windpipe, leads to bronchial tubes
Ureter
One of two tides leading from each kidney to urinary bladder
Uterus
Womb, organ that old embryo/fetus as it develops
Viscera
Internal organs in main cavities of the body
Abdominal cavity
Space below chest, contains liver, stomach, gallbladder, and intestines. AKA abdomen/ peritoneal cavity
Cranial cavity
Space in head containing brain and surrounded by skull
Diaphragm
Muscle separating abdominal and thoracic cavities, moves up and down and ands in breathing
Mediastinum
Centrally located space outside of and between lungs
Pelvic cavity
Space below abdomen, contains portions of intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs
Pleura
Double folded membrane surrounding each lung
Pleural cavity
Space between the pleural layers
Spinal cavity
Space within the spinal column contains the spinal cord
Thoracic cavity
Space in chest contains heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus and other organs
Dorsal (posterior)
Pertains to the back
Ventral (anterior
Pertains to the front
Right hypochondriac region
Right upper region below the cartilage of ribs that extend over the abdomen
Left hypochondriac region
Left upper region below the rib cartilage
Epigastric region
Region above the stomach
Right lumbar region
Right middle region near the waist
Left lumbar region
Left middle region near the waist
Umbilical region
Region of the navel or umbilicus
Right inguinal region
Right lower region near the groin, which is the are where the legs join the trunk of body. AKA right iliac region because it lies near the ilium (ripper portion of hip bone)
Left inguinal region
Left lower region near the groin. AKA left iliac region
Hypogastric region
Middle lower region below umbilical region
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Contains liver (right lobe), gallbladder, part of the pancreas, parts of the small intestine and large intestines
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Contains the liver (left lobe), stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Contains parts of small and large intestines, right ovary, right fallopian tube, appendix, right ureter
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
Contains parts of small and large intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, left ureter
Deep
Away from the surface. Example — the stab wound is penetrated deep into the abdomen
Superficial
On the surface. Example — superficial veins can be viewed through the skin
Proximal
Near the point of attachment. Example — the proximal end of the femur joins with the hip socket
Distal
Far from point of attachment. Example — at its distal end, the femur joins with the knee
Inferior
Below another structure. Example — the feet are at the inferior part of the body
Superior
Above another structure. Example — the head lies superior to the neck
Medial
Pertaining to the middle, near medial plane of the body. Example — when in anatomical position, the fifth finger (pinky) is medial
Lateral
Pertains to the side. Example — when in anatomical position the thumb is lateral
Supine
Lying on back. Example — the painting lies supine during an examination of the abdomen
Prone
Lying on belly. Example — the backbones are examined with patient in prone position
Cheeks
Form walls of oral cavity
Lips
Surround opening of cavity
Hard palate
Forms anterior portion of roof of mouth
Soft palate
Lies posterior to hard palate and is muscular
Rugae
Irregular ridges in mucous membrane covering anterior portion of hard palate
Uvula
Small soft tissue that hangs from soft palate, aids in production of sound and speech
Tongue
Extends across floor of oral cavity, moves food during mastication and deglutition
Papillae
Small raised areas on tongue, contain taste buds
Tonsils
Lie on both sides of oropharynx, filters that protect the body from invasion, produce lymphocytes
Gums
Fleshy tissue surrounding the sockets of teeth
Teeth
Aid in mastication, rip and tear food
Crown
Part that shows above gum line
Root
Lies within bony tooth socket
Enamel
Protects the tooth
Dentin
Main substance of tooth, lies beneath enamel and extends throughout crown
Cementum
Covers, protects, and supports dentin in root
Pulp
Lies underneath dentin, fills Center of tooth, blood vessels, nerve endings etc. are within pulp canal
Periodontal membrane
Surround cementum and holds tooth in place in tooth socket
Salivary glands
Surround and empty into oral cavity. Exocrine glands that produce saliva which lubricates mouth, contains important digestive enzymes as well as healing growth factors these gland all produce saliva and narrow ducts carry saliva into oral cavity, these gland produce about 1.5L of saliva daily
Parotid
Submandibular
Sublingual
Esophagus
9-10 inch fibromuscular tube extending from pharynx to stomach
Peristalsis
Involuntary , progressive, rhythmic contraction of muscles in wall of esophagus propelling a bolus down toward stomach
Bolus
Mass of food
Stomach
Prepares food for small intestine, food leaves stomach in 1-4 hours depending on amount and type eaten
Fundus
Upper portion of stomach
Body (of stomach)
Middle portion of stomach
Antrum
Lower portion of stomach
Sphincters
Control openings into and leading out of the stomach
Lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
Relaxes and contracts to move food from esophagus into the stomach
Pyloric sphincter
Allows food to leave stomach and enter small intestine when it’s ready
Rugae (ins stomach)
Folds in mucous membrane lining stomach, increases surface area for digestion and contain glands that secrete enzyme pepsin to begin digestion of proteins
Hydrochloric acid
Secreted to digest protein and kill bacteria remains in food
Small intestine
Extends for 20 ft from pyloric sphincter to first part of large intestine
Duodenum
First section, 1 ft long, receives food from stomach as well as bile from liver and gallbladder and pancreatic juices from pancreas
Jejunum
Second section, 8 ft long
Ileum
Third section, 11 ft long, attached to first part of large intestine
Villi
Microscopic projections that line walls of small intestine, absorb nutrients, create surface area
Large intestine
Extends from end of ileum to anus
Cecum
Pouch of right side that connects to ileum at ileocecal valve
Appendix
Hangs from cecum, no clear function
Ascending colon
Extends from cecum to undersurface of liver, where it turns into hepatic flexors to become transverse colon
Transverse colon
Passes horizontally to the left toward the spleen and then turns downward (splenic flexure) into descending colon
Descending colon
Connects to transverse colon and sigmoid colon, stores stool that will eventually empty into rectum
Sigmoid colon
Connects descending colon to rectum
Rectum
Where stool is stored, immediately follows sigmoid colon
Anus
End of large intestine, opens to outside to release stool
Liver
Located in RUQ, manufactures bile continuously, which travels through hepatic duct and meets cystic duct which leads to gallbladder
Gallbladder
Pear shaped sac under liver, store and concentrates bile for later use, after meals, gallbladder contracts forcing bile out of cystic duct into common bile duct
Pancreas
Secretes pancreatic juices (enzymes) that’s re released into pancreatic duct, which joins with common bile duct just as it enters duodenum
Absorption
Passage of materials through walls of SI into bloodstream
Amino acids
Small building blocks of proteins released when proteins are digested
Amylase
Enzyme secreted by pancreas and salivary glands to digest starch
Bile
Digestive juice made in liver and stored in gallbladder
Bowel
Intestine
Canine teeth
Pointed, dog like teeth, next to incisors
Colon
Portion of LI consisting of ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid segments
Common bile duct
Carries bile from liver and gall bladder to the duodenum
Defecation
Elimination of feces from digestive tract through the anus
Deglutition
Swallowing
Digestion
Breakdown of complex foods into similar forms
Elimination
Removal of material from the body
Emulsification
Breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules
Enzyme
Chemical that speeds up a reaction between substances
Fatty acids
Substances produced when fats are digested
Feces
Solid wastes
Incisor
Any one of four front teeth in dental arch
Insulin
Hormone produced by endocrine cells of pancreas, helps transport sugar into body cells
Lipase
Pancreatic enzyme, necessary to digest fats
Molar teeth
Three large, flat teeth at back of mouth on both sides
Mastication
Chewing
Portal vein
Large vein bringing blood to liver from intestines
Protease
Enzyme that digests protein
Triglycerides
Fat molecules composed of three parts fatty acids and one part glycerol
Saliva
Digestive juice produced by salivary glands, begins digestion of starch to sugar
Pylorus
Distal region of the stomach, opening tot he duodenum
Arteriole
Small artery
Calciferol
Active form of vitamin D p, secreted by kidney
Calyx/calix (pl.calyces/calices)
Cup like collecting region of renal pelvis
Catheter
Tube for injecting or removing fluids
Cortex
Outer region of an organ
Creatinine
Nitrogenous waste excreted in urine, product of muscle metabolism
Electrolyte
Chemical element that Carrie’s an electrical charge when dissolved in water, necessary for functioning of muscles and nerves
Erythropoietin
Hormone secreted by kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells
Filtration
Process whereby some substances, but not all, pass through a filter
Glomerular capsule
Enclosing structure surrounding each glomerulus (AKA bowman’s capsule) collects material that is filtered from blood through walls of glomerulus
Glomerulus (pl.glomeruli)
Tiny ball of capillaries in the kidney
Hilium
Depression in the kidney where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave
Meatus
Opening or canal
Medulla
Inner region of organ
Nephron
Functional unit of kidney, combination of glomerulus and renal tubule where filtration, reabsorption and secretion take place in the kidney
Nitrogenous waste
Substance containing nitrogen and excreted in urine (urea, uric acid, creatinine)
Potassium
Electrolyte regulated by the kidneys, so that a proper concentration is maintained within the blood 
Reabsorption
Process whereby renal tubules return materials necessary to the body back into the bloodstream 
Renal artery
Blood vessel that carries blood to kidney
Renal pelvis
Central collecting region in the kidney
Renal tubule
Microscopic tube in the kidney where urine is formed after filtration 
Renal vein
Blood vessel that carries blood away from the kidney and toward the heart 
Renin
Enzyme secreted by the kidney, raises blood pressure when influencing vasoconstriction
Sodium
Electrolyte regulated in the blood in your by the, needed for proper transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity, and other metabolic functions 
Trigone
Triangular area in the urinary bladder
Urea
Major nitrogenous wastes excreted in urine
Urethra
Tube leading from urinary bladder to outside of body 
Uric acid
Nitrogenous waste excreted in the urine
Urinary bladder
Hollow muscular sac that holds and stores urine
Urination
Process of expelling urine (micturition)
Ovaries
Pair of small almond shaped organs located in the pelvis
Fallopian tubes
Lead from each ovary to the uterus
Uterus
Fibromuscular organ situated between the urinary bladder and the rectum. The uterus normally is the size and shape of a pear and is about 3 to 4 inches long in a non pregnant woman
Cul - de - sac
A region in the abdominal cavity midway between the uterus and the rectum
Bartholin glands
Two small, rounded glands on either side of the vaginal orifice, they produce a mucous secretion that lubricates the vagina
Clitoris
And organ of sensitive, erectile tissue located anterior to the vaginal orifice and in front of the urethral orifice
Perineum
The region between the vaginal orifice and the anus
Mons pubis
Pad of tissue overlying the pubic symphysis, after puberty it is covered with hair
Labia majora
Outer lips of the vagina
Labia minora
Smaller, inner lips of the vagina
Hymen
Thin membrane covering entrance to the vagina
Utero-ovarian ligament
Holds each ovary in place on each side of the uterus
Ovarian follicles
Thousands of small sacs within each ovary
Ovum
Mature egg cell
Corpus luteum
Ruptured follicle filled with yellow fat like material, secretes hormones that maintain the very first stages of pregnancy
Fallopian tube
About 5 1/2 inches long, lies near each ovary, fertilization occurs here
Adnexa
Accessory structures of the uterus
Fimbrae
Finger like ends of the fallopian tube, catch egg after its release from the ovary
Cilia
Small hairs that line the fallopian tube and sweep ovum toward uterus
Fundus(uterus)
Rounded upper portion of uterus
Corpus (uterus)
Larger central portion of uterus
Endometrium
Inner layer, specialized epithelial mucosa of the uterus
Myometrium
Middle muscular layer of the uterine wall
Perimetrium
Outer membranous tissue layer produces watery, serum like secretion
Cervix
Narrow, lowermost portion of the uterus
Vagina
Mucosa lined canal, opens up to outside of body
Glandular tissue
Contains milk glands that develop in response to hormones from the ovaries during puberty
Mammary papilla
The breast nipple
Areola
Dark pigmented area around the mammary papilla
Menarche
First menstrual period
Adnexa uteri
fallopian tubes, ovaries and supporting ligaments
Amnion
Innermost membrane surrounding the embryo and fetus
Areola
Dark pigmented area surrounding nipple
Bartholin glands
Small mucous secreting exocrine glands at the vaginal orfice
Cervix
Lower, neck like portion of the uterus
Chorion
Outermost membrane surrounding the embryo and fetus
Clitoris
Organ of sensitive erectile tissue anterior to the opening of female urethra
Coitus
Sexual intercourse
Corpus luteum
Empty ovarian follicle that secretes progesterone after release of the egg cell
Cul-de-sac
Region in the lower abdomen, midway between the rectum and the uterus
Embryo
Stage in prenatal development from 2 to 8 weeks
Endometrium
Inner, mucous membrane lining of the uterus
Estrogen
Hormone produced by ovaries, promotes female secondary sex characteristics
Fallopian tube
One of a pair of ducts through which the ovum travels to the uterus
Fertilization
Union of the sperm and ovum from which the embryo develops
Fetus
Stage in prenatal development from 8 weeks to birth
Fimbrae
Finger or fringe like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate maturation of the egg cell
Gamete
Male or female sexual reproductive cell
Genitalia
Reproductive organs
Gestation
Time period from fertilization of ovum to birth; pregnancy
Gonad
Female or male reproductive organ that produces sex cells and hormones; ovaries/testes
Gynecology
Study of female reproductive organs
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Hormone produced by placenta to sustain pregnancy by stimulating ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone
Hymen
Mucous membrane partially or completely covering the opening to the vagina
Labia
Lips of vagina
Lactiferous ducts
Tubes that carry milk from mammary glands to the nipple
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Secreted by pituitary gland to promote ovulation
Mammary papilla
Nipple of breast
Menarche
Beginning of first menstrual period and ability to reproduce
Menopause
Gradual ending of menstruation
Menstruation
Monthly shedding of uterine lining
Myometrium
Muscle layer of uterus
Neonatology
Study of the medical care of newborn
Obstretics
Branch of medicine and surgery concerned with pregnancy and childbirth
Orfice
An opening
Ovarian follicle
Developing sac enclosing each ovum within the ovary
Ovary
One of a pair of female organs on each side of pelvis
Ovulation
Release of ovum from ovary
Ovum
Mature egg cell
Parturition
Act of giving birth
Perimetrium
Outermost layer of uterus
Perineum
In females the area between the ants and vagina
Pituitary gland
Endocrine gland at base of brain, produces hormones that stimulate ovaries
Placenta
Vascular organ attached to uterine wall during pregnancy
Progesterone
Hormone produced by corpus luteum in the ovary and the placenta of pregnancy women
Puberty
Period of adolescent development at which secondary sex characteristics appear and gametes are produced
Uterus
Hollow pear shaped muscular female organ in which embryo and fetus develop, and from which menstruation occurs
Vagina
Muscular mucosa lined canal extending from uterus to exterior of body
Vulva
External female genitalia; includes labia,hymen,clitoris, and vaginal, orfice
Zygote
Stage in prenatal development from fertilization and implanting up to 2 weeks
BULBOURETHRAL glands
Pair of exocrine glands near the male urethra secrete fluid into urethra also called coppers gland
Circumcision
Removal of the prepuce, it is a common elective procedure perform shortly after birth
Ejaculation
Ejection of sperm and fluid from the male urethra
Ejaculatory duct
Tube through which semen enters the male urethra
Epididymis
One of a pair of long tightly coiled tubes above each testes it stores and carry sperm from semineferous tubules to the vas deferens
Erectile dysfunction
Inability of an adult male to achieve an erection
Flagellum
Hair like projection on a sperm cell that makes it motile
Foreskin
Full of skin covering the head of the penis (prepuce)
Fraternal twins
Two infants resulting from fertilization of two separate ova by two separate sperm cells
Glans penis
Sensitive tip of the penis, comparable to the clitoris in the female
Identical twins
Two infants resulting from division of one fertilized egg
Infertility
In a man any problem that lowers the chances of his female partner getting pregnant
Interstitial cells of testes
Specialize cells, that lie adjacent to the semineferious tubules in the testes
Parenchymal tissue
Essential distinctive cells of an organ. In the testes, the seminiferous tubes that produce sperm are parenchymal
Penis
Male, external organ of reproduction
Perineum
External region between anus and scrotum in the mail
Prepuce
Foreskin full of skin covering the tip of penis
Prostate gland
Exocrine gland at the base of the male urinary bladder. The prostate secretes fluid that contributes to semen during ejaculation.
Scrotum
External sack that contains the testes
Semen
Spermatozoa and seminal fluid discharge from the urethra during ejaculation
Seminal vesicle
Paired sac like exocrine glands that secrete fluid into the vas deferens
Seminiferous tubule
Narrow coiled tubules that produce sperm in the testes
Spermatozoon
Sperm cell
Sterilization
Procedure that removes a persons, ability to produce or release reproductive cells; removal of testicles, vasectomy, and oophorectomy are sterilization procedures
Stromal tissue
Supportive connective tissue of an organ as distinguished from it parenchyma
Testis
Male gonad that produces spermatozoa, and testosterone
Testosterone
Hormone secreted by the interstitial tissue of testes responsible for male sex characteristics
Vas deferens
Narrow tube, carrying sperm from the epidermis toward the urethra
