Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
234 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
??V/Q ratio |
A measurement that examines how much gas is being moved effectively and how much blood is gaining access to the alveoli. |
|
abdomen |
The body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion and excretion. It is located below the diaphragm and above the pelvis. |
|
abduction |
Motion of a limb away from the midline. |
|
acetabulum |
The depression on the lateral pelvis where its three component bones join, in which the femoral head fits snugly. |
|
Adam's apple |
The firm prominence in the upper part of the larynx formed by the thyroid cartilage. It is more prominent in men than in women. |
|
adduction |
Motion of a limb toward the midline. |
|
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) |
The nucleotide involved in energy metabolism; used to store energy. |
|
adrenal glands |
Endocrine glands located on top of the kidneys that release adrenaline when stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system. |
|
adrenergic |
Pertaining to nerves that release the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, or noradrenaline (such as adrenergic nerves, adrenergic response). The term also pertains to the receptors acted on by norepinephrine, that is, the adrenergic receptors. |
|
aerobic metabolism |
Metabolism that can proceed only in the presence of oxygen. |
|
agonal respirations |
Slow, shallow, irregular respirations or occasional gasping breaths; sometimes seen in dying patients. |
|
alpha-adrenergic receptors |
Portions of the nervous system that, when stimulated, can cause constriction of blood vessels. |
|
alveoli |
The air sacs of the lungs in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. |
|
anaerobic metabolism |
The metabolism that takes place in the absence of oxygen; the principle product is lactic acid. |
|
anatomic position |
The position of reference in which the patient stands facing you, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands forward. |
|
anterior |
The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position. |
|
aorta |
The main artery that receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body. |
|
apex (plural apices) |
The pointed extremity of a conical structure. |
|
apneustic center |
Portion of the pons that increases the length of inspiration and decreases the respiratory rate. |
|
appendicular skeleton |
The portion of the skeletal system that comprises the arms, legs, pelvis, and shoulder girdle |
|
appendix |
A small tubular structure that is attached to the lower border of the cecum in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. |
|
arterioles |
The smallest branches of arteries leading to the vast network of capillaries. |
|
atrium |
One of two (right and left) upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives blood from the vena cava and delivers it to the right ventricle. The left atrium receives blood from pulmonary veins and delivers it to the left ventricle. |
|
autonomic nervous system |
The part of the nervous system that regulates involuntary functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and sweating. |
|
axial skeleton |
The part of the skeleton comprising the skull, spinal column, and rib cage. |
|
ball-and-socket joint |
A joint that allows internal and external rotation, as well as bending. |
|
beta-adrenergic receptors |
Portions of the nervous system that, when stimulated, can cause an increase in the force of contraction of the heart, an increased heart rate, and bronchial dilation. |
|
biceps |
The large muscle that covers the front of the humerus. |
|
bilateral |
A body part or condition that appears on both sides of the midline. |
|
bile ducts |
The ducts that convey bile between the liver and the intestine. |
|
blood pressure |
The pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the arteries |
|
brachial artery |
The major vessel in the upper extremity that supplies blood to the arm. |
|
brain |
The controlling organ of the body and center of consciousness; functions include perception, control of reactions to the environment, emotional responses, and judgment. |
|
brain stem |
The area of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebrum, surrounded by the cerebellum; controls functions that are necessary for life, such as respiration. |
|
capillary vessels |
The tiny blood vessels between the arterioles and venules that permit transfer of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste between body tissues and the blood. |
|
cardiac muscle |
The heart muscle. |
|
carotid artery |
The major artery that supplies blood to the head and brain. |
|
cartilage |
The support structure of the skeletal system that provides cushioning between bones; also forms the nasal septum and portions of the outer ear. |
|
cecum |
The first part of the large intestine, into which the ileum opens. |
|
central nervous system (CNS) |
The brain and spinal cord. |
|
cerebellum |
One of the three major subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the "little brain"; coordinates the various activities of the brain, particularly fine body movements. |
|
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) |
Fluid produced in the ventricles of the brain that flows in the subarachnoid space and bathes the meninges. |
|
cerebrum |
The largest part of the three subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the "gray matter"; made up of several lobes that control movement, hearing, balance, speech, visual perception, emotions, and personality. |
|
cervical spine |
The portion of the spinal column consisting of the first seven vertebrae that lie in the neck. |
|
chordae tendineae |
Thin bands of fibrous tissue that attach to the valves in the heart and prevent them from inverting. |
|
chyme |
The name of the substance that leaves the stomach. It is a combination of all of the eaten foods with added stomach acids. |
|
circulatory system |
The complex arrangement of connected tubes, including the arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins, that moves blood, oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and cellular waste throughout the body. |
|
clavicle |
The collarbone; it is lateral to the sternum and anterior to the scapula. |
|
coccyx |
The last three or four vertebrae of the spine; the tailbone. |
|
coronal plane |
An imaginary plane where the body is cut into front and back parts. |
|
cranium |
The area of the head above the ears and eyes; the skull. The cranium contains the brain. |
|
cricoid cartilage |
A firm ridge of cartilage that forms the lower part of the larynx. |
|
cricothyroid membrane |
A thin sheet of fascia that connects the thyroid and cricoid cartilages that make up the larynx. |
|
dead space |
The portion of the tidal volume that does not reach the alveoli and thus does not participate in gas exchange. |
|
deep |
Further inside the body and away from the skin. |
|
dermis |
The inner layer of the skin, containing hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels. |
|
diaphragm |
A muscular dome that forms the undersurface of the thorax, separating the chest from the abdominal cavity. Contraction of the diaphragm (and the chest wall muscles) brings air into the lungs. Relaxation allows air to be expelled from the lungs. |
|
diastole |
The relaxation, or period of relaxation, of the heart, especially of the ventricles. |
|
diffusion |
A process in which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. |
|
digestion |
The processing of food that nourishes the individual cells of the body. |
|
distal |
Farther from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity. |
|
dorsal |
The posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand. |
|
dorsal respiratory group (DRG) |
A portion of the medulla oblongata where the primary respiratory pacemaker is found. |
|
dorsalis pedis artery |
The artery on the anterior surface of the foot between the first and second metatarsals. |
|
endocrine system |
The complex message and control system that integrates many body functions, including the release of hormones. |
|
enzymes |
Catalysts designed to speed up the rate of specific biochemical reactions. |
|
epidermis |
The outer layer of skin that acts as a watertight protective covering. |
|
epiglottis |
A thin, leaf-shaped valve that allows air to pass into the trachea but prevents food and liquid from entering. |
|
epinephrine |
A substance produced by the body (commonly called adrenaline), and a drug produced by pharmaceutical companies that increases pulse rate and blood pressure; the drug of choice for an anaphylactic reaction. |
|
esophagus |
A collapsible tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach; contractions of the muscle in the wall of the esophagus propel food and liquids through it to the stomach. |
|
expiratory reserve volume |
The amount of air that can be exhaled following a normal exhalation; average volume is about 1,200 mL. |
|
extend |
To straighten. |
|
extension |
The straightening of a joint. |
|
fallopian tubes |
The tubes that connect each ovary with the uterus and are the primary location for fertilization of the ovum. |
|
femoral artery |
The principal artery of the thigh, a continuation of the external iliac artery. It supplies blood to the lower abdominal wall, external genitalia, and legs. It can be palpated in the groin area. |
|
femoral head |
The proximal end of the femur, articulating with the acetabulum to form the hip joint. |
|
femur |
The thighbone; the longest and one of the strongest bones in the body. |
|
flex |
To bend. |
|
flexion |
The bending of a joint. |
|
foramen magnum |
A large opening at the base of the skull through which the brain connects to the spinal cord. |
|
gallbladder |
A sac on the undersurface of the liver that collects bile from the liver and discharges it into the duodenum through the common bile duct. |
|
genital system |
The reproductive system in males and females. |
|
germinal layer |
The deepest layer of the epidermis where new skin cells are formed. |
|
greater trochanter |
A bony prominence on the proximal lateral side of the thigh, just below the hip joint. |
|
hair follicles |
The small organs that produce hair. |
|
heart |
A hollow muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body. |
|
heart rate |
The number of heartbeats during a specific time. |
|
Hering-Breuer reflex |
A protective mechanism that terminates inhalation, thus preventing overexpansion of the lungs. |
|
hinge joints |
Joints that can bend and straighten but cannot rotate; they restrict motion to one plane. |
|
hormones |
Substances formed in specialized organs or glands and carried to another organ or group of cells in the same organism. Hormones regulate many body functions, including metabolism, growth, and body temperature. |
|
humerus |
The supporting bone of the upper arm. |
|
hydrostatic pressure |
The pressure of water against the walls of its container. |
|
hypoxic drive |
A "backup system" to control respiration; senses drops in the oxygen level in the blood. |
|
ilium |
One of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring. |
|
inferior |
The part of the body or any body part nearer to the feet. |
|
inferior vena cava |
One of the two largest veins in the body; carries blood from the lower extremities and the pelvic and the abdominal organs to the heart. |
|
inspiratory reserve volume |
The amount of air that can be inhaled after a normal inhalation; the amount of air that can be inhaled in addition to the normal tidal volume. |
|
interstitial space |
The space in between the cells. |
|
involuntary muscle |
The muscle over which a person has no conscious control. It is found in many automatic regulating systems of the body. |
|
ischium |
One of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring. |
|
joint |
The place where two bones come into contact. |
|
joint capsule |
The fibrous sac that encloses a joint. |
|
kidneys |
Two retroperitoneal organs that excrete the end products of metabolism as urine and regulate the body's salt and water content. |
|
labored breathing |
Breathing that requires greater than normal effort; may be slower or faster than normal and usually requires the use of accessory muscles. |
|
lactic acid |
A metabolic end product of the breakdown of glucose that accumulates when metabolism proceeds in the absence of oxygen. |
|
large intestine |
The portion of the digestive tube that encircles the abdomen around the small bowel, consisting of the cecum, the colon, and the rectum. It helps regulate water balance and eliminate solid waste. |
|
lateral |
In anatomy, parts of the body that lie farther from the midline. Also called outer structures. |
|
lesser trochanter |
The projection on the medial/superior portion of the femur. |
|
ligament |
A band of fibrous tissue that connects bones to bones. It supports and strengthens a joint. |
|
liver |
A large solid organ that lies in the right upper quadrant immediately below the diaphragm; it produces bile, stores glucose for immediate use by the body, and produces many substances that help regulate immune responses. |
|
lumbar spine |
The lower part of the back, formed by the lowest five nonfused vertebrae; also called the dorsal spine. |
|
mandible |
The bone of the lower jaw. |
|
manubrium |
The upper quarter of the sternum. |
|
maxillae |
The upper jawbones that assist in the formation of the orbit, the nasal cavity, and the palate and hold the upper teeth. |
|
medial |
Parts of the body that lie closer to the midline; also called inner structures. |
|
medulla oblongata |
Nerve tissue that is continuous inferiorly with the spinal cord; serves as a conduction pathway for ascending and descending nerve tracts; coordinates heart rate, blood vessel diameter, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing. |
|
midbrain |
The part of the brain that is responsible for helping to regulate the level of consciousness. |
|
midsagittal plane (midline) |
An imaginary vertical line drawn from the middle of the forehead through the nose and the umbilicus (navel) to the floor. |
|
minute volume |
The amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs per minute minus the dead space. Also called minute ventilation. |
|
motor nerves |
Nerves that carry information from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body. |
|
mucous membranes |
The lining of body cavities and passages that communicate directly or indirectly with the environment outside the body. |
|
mucus |
The opaque, sticky secretion of the mucous membranes that lubricates the body openings. |
|
musculoskeletal system |
The bones and voluntary muscles of the body. |
|
myocardium |
The heart muscle. |
|
nasopharynx |
The nasal cavity; formed by the union of facial bones and protects the respiratory tract from contaminants. |
|
nervous system |
The system that controls virtually all activities of the body, both voluntary and involuntary. |
|
norepinephrine |
A neurotransmitter and drug sometimes used in the treatment of shock; produces vasoconstriction through its alpha-stimulator properties. |
|
occiput |
The most posterior portion of the cranium. |
|
oncotic pressure |
The pressure of water to move, typically into the capillary, as the result of the presence of plasma proteins. |
|
orbit |
The eye socket, made up of the maxilla and zygoma |
|
oropharynx |
Forms the posterior portion of the oral cavity, which is bordered superiorly by the hard and soft palates, laterally by the cheeks, and inferiorly by the tongue. |
|
ovaries |
The primary female reproductive organs that produce an ovum, or egg, that, if fertilized, will develop into a fetus. |
|
palmar |
The forward facing part of the hand in the anatomic position. |
|
pancreas |
A flat, solid organ that lies below the liver and the stomach; it is a major source of digestive enzymes and produces the hormone insulin. |
|
parasympathetic nervous system |
A subdivision of the autonomic nervous system, involved in control of involuntary, vegetative functions, mediated largely by the vagus nerve through the chemical acetylcholine. |
|
parietal regions |
The areas between the temporal and occipital regions of the cranium. |
|
patella |
The kneecap; a specialized bone that lies within the tendon of the quadriceps muscle. |
|
pathophysiology |
The study of how normal physiologic processes are affected by disease. |
|
perfusion |
Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet current needs of the cells. |
|
peripheral nervous system |
The part of the nervous system that consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves. These peripheral nerves may be sensory nerves, motor nerves, or connecting nerves. |
|
peristalsis |
The wavelike contraction of smooth muscle by which the ureters or other tubular organs propel their contents. |
|
plantar |
The bottom surface of the foot. |
|
plasma |
A sticky, yellow fluid that carries the blood cells and nutrients and transports cellular waste material to the organs of excretion. |
|
platelets |
Tiny, disk-shaped elements that are much smaller than the cells; they are essential in the initial formation of a blood clot, the mechanism that stops bleeding. |
|
pleura |
The serous membranes covering the lungs and lining the thoracic cavity, completely enclosing a potential space known as the pleural space. |
|
pleural space |
The potential space between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura. It is described as "potential” because under normal conditions, the space does not exist. |
|
pneumotaxic (pontine) center |
A portion of the pons that assists in creating shorter, faster respirations. |
|
pons |
An organ that lies below the midbrain and above the medulla and contains numerous important nerve fibers, including those for sleep, respiration, and the medullary respiratory center. |
|
posterior |
In anatomy, the back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position. |
|
posterior tibial artery |
The artery just behind the medial malleolus; supplies blood to the foot. |
|
prostate gland |
A small gland that surrounds the male urethra where it emerges from the urinary bladder; it secretes a fluid that is part of the ejaculatory fluid. |
|
proximal |
Closer to the trunk. |
|
pubic symphysis |
A hard bony prominence that is found in the midline in the lowermost portion of the abdomen. |
|
pubis |
One of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring. |
|
pulmonary artery |
The major artery leading from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs; it carries oxygen-poor blood. |
|
pulmonary circulation |
The flow of blood from the right ventricle through the pulmonary arteries and all of their branches and capillaries in the lungs and back to the left atrium through the venules and pulmonary veins; also called the lesser circulation. |
|
pulmonary veins |
The four veins that return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. |
|
pulse |
The pressure wave that occurs as each heartbeat causes a surge in the blood circulating through the arteries. |
|
quadrants |
The way to describe the sections of the abdominal cavity. Imagine two lines intersecting at the umbilicus dividing the abdomen into four equal areas. |
|
radial artery |
The major artery in the forearm; it is palpable at the wrist on the thumb side. |
|
radius |
The bone on the thumb side of the forearm. |
|
rectum |
The lowermost end of the colon. |
|
red blood cells |
Cells that carry oxygen to the body's tissues; also called erythrocytes. |
|
renal pelvis |
A cone-shaped collecting area that connects the ureter and the kidney. |
|
residual volume |
The air that remains in the lungs after maximal expiration. |
|
respiration |
The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide. |
|
respiratory system |
All the structures of the body that contribute to the process of breathing, consisting of the upper and lower airways and their component parts. |
|
reticular activating system |
Located in the upper brain stem; responsible for maintenance of consciousness, specifically one's level of arousal. |
|
retroperitoneal |
Behind the abdominal cavity. |
|
sacroiliac joint |
The connection point between the pelvis and the vertebral column. |
|
sacrum |
One of three bones (sacrum and two pelvic bones) that make up the pelvic ring; consists of five fused sacral vertebrae. |
|
sagittal (lateral) plane |
An imaginary line where the body is cut into left and right parts. |
|
salivary glands |
The glands that produce saliva to keep the mouth and pharynx moist. |
|
scalp |
The thick skin covering the cranium, which usually bears hair. |
|
scapula |
The shoulder blade. |
|
sebaceous glands |
Glands that produce an oily substance called sebum, which discharges along the shafts of the hairs. |
|
semen |
Seminal fluid ejaculated from the penis and containing sperm. |
|
seminal vesicles |
Storage sacs for sperm and seminal fluid, which empty into the urethra at the prostate. |
|
sensory nerves |
The nerves that carry sensations of touch, taste, heat, cold, pain, and other modalities from the body to the central nervous system. |
|
shock |
A condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to enable every body part to perform its function; also called hypoperfusion. |
|
shoulder girdle |
The proximal portion of the upper extremity, made up of the clavicle, the scapula, and the humerus. |
|
skeletal muscle |
Muscle that is attached to bones and usually crosses at least one joint; striated, or voluntary, muscle. |
|
skeleton |
The framework that gives the body its recognizable form; also designed to allow motion of the body and protection of vital organs. |
|
small intestine |
The portion of the digestive tube between the stomach and the cecum, consisting of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. |
|
smooth muscle |
Involuntary muscle; it constitutes the bulk of the gastrointestinal tract and is present in nearly every organ to regulate automatic activity. |
|
somatic nervous system |
The part of the nervous system that regulates activities over which there is voluntary control. |
|
sphincters |
Muscles arranged in circles that are able to decrease the diameter of tubes. Examples are found within the rectum, bladder, and blood vessels. |
|
sphygmomanometer |
A device used to measure blood pressure. |
|
spinal cord |
An extension of the brain, composed of virtually all the nerves carrying messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It lies inside of and is protected by the spinal canal. |
|
sternum |
The breastbone. |
|
stratum corneal layer |
The outermost or dead layer of the skin. |
|
stroke volume (SV) |
The volume of blood pumped forward with each ventricular contraction. |
|
subcutaneous tissue |
Tissue, largely fat, that lies directly under the dermis and serves as an insulator of the body |
|
superficial |
Closer to or on the skin. |
|
superior |
The part of the body or any body part nearer to the head. |
|
superior vena cava |
One of the two largest veins in the body; carries blood from the upper extremities, head, neck, and chest into the heart. |
|
sweat glands |
The glands that secrete sweat, located in the dermal layer of the skin. |
|
symphysis |
A type of joint that has grown together forming a very stable connection. |
|
synovial fluid |
The small amount of liquid within a joint used as lubrication. |
|
synovial membrane |
The lining of a joint that secretes synovial fluid into the joint space. |
|
systemic circulation |
systemic vascular resistance (SVR) |
|
systole |
The contraction, or period of contraction, of the heart, especially that of the ventricles. |
|
temporal regions |
The lateral portions on each side of the cranium. |
|
tendons |
The fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. |
|
testicle |
A male genital gland that contains specialized cells that produce hormones and sperm. |
|
thoracic cage |
The chest or rib cage.
|
|
thoracic cavity |
The chest cavity that contains the heart, lungs, esophagus, and great vessels. |
|
thoracic spine |
The 12 vertebrae that lie between the cervical vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae. One pair of ribs is attached to each of the thoracic vertebrae. |
|
thorax |
The chest cavity that contains the heart, lungs, esophagus, and great vessels. |
|
thyroid cartilage |
A firm prominence of cartilage that forms the upper part of the larynx; the Adam's apple. |
|
tibia |
The shin bone, the larger of the two bones of the lower leg. |
|
tidal volume |
The amount of air (in milliliters) that is moved in or out of the lungs during one breath. |
|
topographic anatomy |
The superficial landmarks of the body that serve as guides to the structures that lie beneath them. |
|
torso |
The trunk without the head and limbs. |
|
trachea |
The windpipe; the main trunk for air passing to and from the lungs. |
|
transverse (axial) plane |
An imaginary line where the body is cut into top and bottom parts. |
|
triceps |
The muscle in the back of the upper arm. |
|
tunica media |
The middle and thickest layer of tissue of a blood vessel wall, composed of elastic tissue and smooth muscle cells that allow the vessel to expand or contract in response to changes in blood pressure and tissue demand. |
|
ulna |
The inner bone of the forearm, on the side opposite the thumb. |
|
ureter |
A small, hollow tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder.A small, hollow tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder. |
|
urethra |
The canal that conveys urine from the bladder to outside the body. |
|
urinary bladder |
A sac behind the pubic symphysis made of smooth muscle that collects and stores urine |
|
urinary system |
The organs that control the discharge of certain waste materials filtered from the blood and excreted as urine. |
|
vagina |
The outermost cavity of a woman's reproductive system; the lower part of the birth canal. |
|
vasa deferentia |
The spermatic duct of the testicles; also called vas deferens. |
|
ventilation |
Exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from another person, such as an EMT. |
|
ventral |
The anterior surface of the body. |
|
ventral respiratory group (VRG) |
A portion of the medulla oblongata that is responsible for modulating breathing during speech. |
|
ventricle |
One of two (right and left) lower chambers of the heart. The left ventricle receives blood from the left atrium (upper chamber) and delivers blood to the aorta. The right ventricle receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it into the pulmonary artery. |
|
vertebrae |
The 33 bones that make up the spinal column. |
|
voluntary muscle |
Muscle that is under direct voluntary control of the brain and can be contracted or relaxed at will; skeletal, or striated, muscle. |
|
white blood cells |
Blood cells that have a role in the body's immune defense mechanisms against infection; also called leukocytes. |
|
xiphoid process |
The narrow, cartilaginous lower tip of the sternum. |
|
zygomas |
The quadrangular bones of the cheek, articulating with the frontal bone, the maxillae, the zygomatic processes of the temporal bone, and the great wings of the sphenoid bone. |