Anatomy Terms

Front 1

anatomy

Back 1

study of the structure of an organism and the relationship of its parts

Front 2

appendicular skeleton

Back 2

bones of the upper and lower extremities of the body

Front 3

articulation

Back 3

joint

Front 4

axial skeleton

Back 4

the bones of the head, neck, and torso

Front 5

bursae

Back 5

small, cushion-like sacs found between moving body parts, making movement easier

Front 6

cancellous bone

Back 6

bone containing trabeculae; also known as spongy bone

Front 7

cell

Back 7

basic biological and structural unit of the body consisting of a nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm and enclosed by a membrane

Front 8

compact bone

Back 8

dense bone; contains Haversian systems

Front 9

cranial nerve

Back 9

any of 12 pairs of nerves that attach to the undersurface of the brain & conduct impulses between the brain & structures in the head, neck & thorax

Front 10

dermis

Back 10

deeper of 2 major layers of the skin, composed of dense fibrous connective tissue interspersed w/glands, nerve endings & blood vessels

Front 11

enzyme

Back 11

biochemical catalyst allowing chemical reactions to take place; functional proteins that regulate various metabolic pathways of the body

Front 12

epidermis

Back 12

outermost layer of skin; "false" skin

Front 13

homeostasis

Back 13

relative constancy of the normal body's internal environment

Front 14

insertion

Back 14

attachment of a muscle to the bone that it moves when contraction occurs

Front 15

integumentary system

Back 15

skin & it's related parts

Front 16

ligament

Back 16

band of white fibrous tissue connecting bones to other bones

Front 17

matrix

Back 17

intracellular substance of a tissue

Front 18

melanin

Back 18

brown pigment primarily in skin and hair

Front 19

membrane

Back 19

thin, sheetlike structure

Front 20

meninges

Back 20

fluid-containing membranes surrrounding the brain & spinal cord

Front 21

metabolism

Back 21

complex, intertwining set of chemical processes by which life is made possible for a living organism

Front 22

nervous system

Back 22

brain, spinal cord, and nerves

Front 23

neuroglia

Back 23

nonexcitable supporting cells of a nervous tissue (glia).

Front 24

neuron

Back 24

nerve cell, including its processes (axons/dendrite).

Front 25

neurotransmitter

Back 25

chemicals by which neurons communicate; the substance is released by a neuron, diffuses across the synapse, and binds to teh postsynaptic neuron

Front 26

organelle

Back 26

cell organ

Front 27

origin

Back 27

attachment of a muscle to the bone, which doesn't move when contraction occurs.

Front 28

physiology

Back 28

study of body function

Front 29

reflex

Back 29

automatic involuntary reaction to a stimulus resulting from a nerve impulse passing over a reflex arc.

Front 30

skeletal system

Back 30

bones, cartilage & ligaments that provide the body w/ a rigid framework for support & protection

Front 31

spinal nerve

Back 31

nerve that connects the spinal cord to peripheral structures such as the skin & skeletal muscles.

Front 32

synapse

Back 32

membrane-to-membrane junction between a neuron & another neuron, effector cell, or sensory cell; function to propagate action potential

Front 33

tendon

Back 33

bands or cords of fibrous connective tissue that attach a muscle to a bone or other structure.