Anatomy Vocabulary

Front 1

Alveolus

Back 1

Tiny air sac at the end of a bronchiole in the lungs that provides surface area for gas exchange to occur.

Front 2

Aorta

Back 2

large blood vessel in mammals through which blood travels after it leaves the left ventricle.

Front 3

Artery

Back 3

large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the tissues of the body.

Front 4

Atrium

Back 4

upper chamber of the heart that receives and holds blood that is about to enter the ventricle.

Front 5

Axon

Back 5

Long fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body of a neuron

Front 6

Bone Marrow

Back 6

soft tissue inside the cavities within bones

Front 7

Brain Stem

Back 7

Structure that connects the brain and the spinal cord; includes the medulla oblongata and the pons.

Front 8

Bronchus

Back 8

passageway leading from the trachea to a lung

Front 9

Capillary

Back 9

smallest blood vessel; brings nutrients and oxygen to the tissues and absorbs carbon dioxide and waste products

Front 10

Cartilage

Back 10

strong connective tissue that supports the body and is softer and more flexible than bone

Front 11

Cell Body

Back 11

largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm

Front 12

Cerebrum

Back 12

area of the brain responsible for all voluntary activities of the body

Front 13

Chyme

Back 13

mixture of stomach fluids and food produced in the stomach by contracting stomach muscles

Front 14

Dendrite

Back 14

extension of the cell body of a neuron that carries impulses from the environment or from other neurons toward the cell body

Front 15

Endocrine Gland

Back 15

gland that releases its secretions directly into the bloodstream

Front 16

Esophagus

Back 16

food tube connecting the mouth to the stomach

Front 17

exocrine gland

Back 17

gland that releases its secretions through tubelike structures called ducts

Front 18

hemoglobin

Back 18

iron-containing protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body

Front 19

Hypothalamus

Back 19

brain structure that acts as a control center for recognition and analysis of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature

Front 20

Kidney

Back 20

organ that removes urea, excess water, and other waste products from the blood

Front 21

Large intestine

Back 21

colon; organ that removes water from the undigested materials that pass through it

Front 22

Larynx

Back 22

structure in the throat containing the vocal cords

Front 23

Ligament

Back 23

strip of tough connective tissue that holds bones together at a joint

Front 24

liver

Back 24

large organ just above the stomach that produces bile

Front 25

myocardium

Back 25

thick middle muscle layer of the heart; pumps blood through the circulatory system

Front 26

nephron

Back 26

blood-filtering unit in the renal cortex of the kidney

Front 27

neuron

Back 27

cell that carries messages throughout the nervous system

Front 28

ossification

Back 28

process of bone formation, during which cartilage is replaced by bone

Front 29

pacemaker

Back 29

small group of cardiac muscle cells in the right atrium that "set the pace" for the heart as a whole; also known as the sinoatrial node

Front 30

Pancreas

Back 30

gland that produces hormones that regulate blood sugar; produces enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids; and produces sodium bicarbonate, a base that neutralizes stomach acid.

Front 31

peristalsis

Back 31

rhythmic muscular contractions that squeeze food through the esophagus into the stomach

Front 32

pharynx

Back 32

muscular tube at the end of the gastrovascular cavity, or throat, that connects the mouth with the rest of the digestive tract and serves as a passageway for air and food

Front 33

Pituitary glands

Back 33

gland in the base of the skull that secretes nine hormones that directly regulate many body functions and control the actions of several other endocrine glands

Front 34

Plasma

Back 34

straw-colored fluid that makes up about 55 percent of blood

Front 35

platelet

Back 35

cell fragment released by bone marrow that helps in blood clotting

Front 36

Pulmonary circulation

Back 36

pathway of circulation between the heart and the lungs

Front 37

small intestine

Back 37

digestive organ in which most chemical digestion takes place

Front 38

synapse

Back 38

location at which a neuron can transfer an impulse to another cell

Front 39

systemic circulation

Back 39

pathway of circulation between the heart and the rest of the body except the lungs

Front 40

tendons

Back 40

tough connective tissue that joins skeletal muscles to bones

Front 41

trachea

Back 41

windpipe; tube through which air moves

Front 42

thalamus

Back 42

brain structure that receives messages from the sense organs and relays the information to the proper region of the cerebrum for further processing

Front 43

Urethra

Back 43

tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder

Front 44

Valve

Back 44

flap of connective tissue between an atrium and a ventricle, or in a vein, that prevents backflow of blood

Front 45

Vein

Back 45

in plants, a cluster of vascular tissue in leaves; in animals, a blood vessel that returns blood to the heart

Front 46

Ventricle

Back 46

lower chamber of the heart that pumps blood out of the heart