Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry and Scientific Measurements Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering human anatomy, biochemistry, chemistry, and scientific measurement based on the lecture notes.

Renin

Produced by kidneys; regulates blood pressure.

Vitamin D

Helps the intestine absorb dietary calcium; supports bone health; synthesized with UV light (sunlight).

Villi

Fingerlike projections in the small intestine that increase surface area to absorb nutrients.

Peyer's Patches

Immune tissue located in the ileum.

Keratin

Tough protein found in hair, nails, and the outer skin; made by epithelial keratinocytes.

Osteon

Basic structural unit of compact bone; consists of concentric lamellae containing a central canal.

Endocrine glands

Ductless glands that release hormones directly into the bloodstream with a slow onset and lasting effects (e.g., thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands).

Exocrine glands

Glands that use ducts to deliver secretions to an epithelial surface (e.g., sweat, salivary, mammary glands).

Lamellae

Concentric rings or layers of bone tissue that make up an osteon.

Pancreas

A gland with both endocrine (secretes insulin and glucagon) and exocrine (secretes digestive enzymes and pancreatic juice) functions.

Yellow bone marrow

Located inside the medullary cavity of long bones; primarily stores fat.

Red bone marrow

Produces blood cells; located inside spongy bone.

Saltatory Conduction

The process where a signal jumps from node to node along an axon.

Temporal Summation

When many signals arrive close together and add up to trigger an action potential.

Empirical data

Data obtained through observation, measurement, and counting.

Ionic bond

A bond where electrons are transferred between atoms (e.g., NACI), resulting in opposite charges that attract.

Polar covalent bond

A bond where electrons are shared unequally, resulting in partial charges.

Nonpolar covalent bond

A bond where electrons are shared equally, resulting in a balanced charge distribution.

Hydrogen bond

Attraction between molecules, such as those found in water.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Intensive Property

Physical properties independent of the amount of substance present, such as density, color, and boiling point.

Extensive Property

Physical properties that depend on the amount of substance, such as mass, volume, and length.

Mastication

The process of chewing.

Deglutition

The process of swallowing.

Peristalsis

A wavelike involuntary smooth muscle contraction that carries food through the esophagus to the stomach.

Gastric lipase

An enzyme secreted by chief cells that digests fats.

Epiglottis

Structure that closes off the opening to the trachea so food only enters the esophagus.

Saliva

Contains amylase, an enzyme that begins carbohydrate digestion in the mouth.

Parietal cells

Cells in the stomach that secrete hydrochloric acid.

Chyme

Partially digested liquid created when the stomach breaks down a bolus.

Gastrin

Hormone secreted by the stomach to stimulate the secretion of gastric juices.

Ghrelin

Hormone secreted by the stomach to stimulate appetite and promote storage of fats.

Bicarbonate

Secreted by the pancreas to neutralize acidic chyme entering the duodenum.

Somatic division

Voluntary part of the nervous system that controls skeletal muscles.

Autonomic (visceral) division

Involuntary part of the nervous system that controls cardiac muscle, smooth muscles, and glands.

Cutaneous vasodilation

Increase in blood vessel diameter in the skin to allow more blood to flow near the surface, transferring heat to the external environment.

Cutaneous vasoconstriction

Reduction in blood flow traveling to the skin to keep heat close to the body core and decrease heat loss.

Positive Feedback

Mechanism that stimulates secretions to increase until a biological effect is reached, such as oxytocin release during childbirth.

Negative Feedback

Mechanism of monitoring homeostasis by adjusting secretions to maintain a specific level.

Steroid Hormones

Fat-soluble hormones made from cholesterol that pass easily through cell and nuclear membranes to affect transcription.

Mineral Resorption

The removal of calcium from bone by osteoclasts so it can enter the bloodstream.

Osteoblasts

Immature bone cells that make bone.

Osteoclasts

Cells that break down bone tissue.

Osteoporosis

A disease causing brittle, fragile bones when too much calcium is depleted from the bone.

Dehydration reaction

A chemical reaction (also called condensation) where a water molecule is released as two molecules join; used to build polymers.

Hydrolysis

A reaction where a water molecule is added to break a bond.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an element.

Mass Number

The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Triple Point

The temperature and pressure at which solid, liquid, and gas phases of a pure substance coexist.

Critical Point

The temperature above which a substance coexists in both liquid and gas states.

Sublimation

Transition of a substance from solid to gas without passing through the liquid state.

Deposition

Transition of a substance from gas to solid without passing through the liquid state.

Specific heat of capacity

The amount of energy needed to change the temperature of $1\,g$ of a molecule by $1\,^{\circ}C$.

The Mole

A quantitative unit equal to $6.022 \times 10^{23}$.

Correlation

A linked trend in data that is not causal.