Anatomy Exam - Highest Yield Questions

Digestive system

System that breaks down food into absorbable molecules and eliminates indigestible material

Alimentary canal

Continuous muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus

Accessory digestive organs

Organs that secrete substances into the alimentary canal but are not part of it

Ingestion

The act of taking food into the digestive tract

Digestion

Mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller molecules

Absorption

Movement of digested nutrients from the GI tract into blood or lymph

Mucosa

Innermost layer of the digestive tract responsible for secretion, absorption, and protection

Submucosa

Layer of connective tissue containing blood vessels, glands, and a nerve plexus

Muscularis externa

Smooth muscle layer responsible for segmentation and peristalsis

Serosa

Outer serous membrane that reduces friction between organs

Enteric nervous system (ENS)

Intrinsic nerve network that controls digestive motility and secretion

Submucosal plexus

Regulates digestive secretions and local blood flow

Myenteric plexus

Regulates GI tract motility

Peristalsis

Wave-like smooth muscle contractions that move food through the tract

Stomach

Muscular organ that stores food and begins protein digestion

Parietal cells

Stomach cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor

Chief cells

Stomach cells that secrete pepsinogen

Intrinsic factor

Protein required for vitamin B12 absorption in the small intestine

Small intestine

Primary site of digestion and nutrient absorption

Duodenum

First portion of small intestine that receives bile and pancreatic enzymes

Jejunum

Middle portion of small intestine where most absorption occurs

Ileum

Final portion of small intestine containing Peyer patches

Villi

Fingerlike projections that increase surface area for absorption

Microvilli

Microscopic projections forming the brush border

Lacteals

Lymphatic vessels that absorb dietary lipids

Large intestine

Absorbs water and electrolytes and compacts feces

Liver

Accessory organ that produces bile and processes absorbed nutrients

Bile

Secretion that emulsifies fats to aid digestion

Gallbladder

Stores and concentrates bile

Pancreas

Produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate

Urinary system

System that removes metabolic wastes and regulates blood volume, pressure, and composition

Kidneys

Organs that filter blood and form urine

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney that produces urine

Renal corpuscle

Structure where blood filtration occurs

Glomerulus

Capillary network that filters blood plasma

Glomerular filtration

Movement of water and solutes from blood into the nephron

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)

Primary site of nutrient, ion, and water reabsorption

Loop of nephron

Establishes osmotic gradient for urine concentration

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

Regulates electrolyte balance

Collecting duct

Determines final urine concentration

Tubular reabsorption

Movement of substances from filtrate back into blood

Tubular secretion

Movement of wastes from blood into filtrate

Juxtaglomerular apparatus

Regulates blood pressure and filtration rate

Renin

Hormone released by kidneys that raises blood pressure

Ureters

Transport urine from kidneys to bladder

Urinary bladder

Stores urine

Micturition

Process of urine elimination

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Increases water reabsorption in collecting ducts

Aldosterone

Increases sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion

Urine

Fluid containing metabolic wastes and excess ions

Gametes

Haploid sex cells

Meiosis

Cell division that produces genetically unique gametes

Spermatogenesis

Production of sperm in seminiferous tubules

Oogenesis

Production of ova in ovaries

Testes

Male gonads that produce sperm and testosterone

Ovaries

Female gonads that produce ova and hormones

Testosterone

Primary male sex hormone responsible for sperm production and secondary sex traits

Estrogen

Primary female sex hormone that regulates reproductive cycle

Progesterone

Hormone that maintains uterine lining

Seminiferous tubules

Site of sperm production

Sustentacular (Sertoli) cells

Support developing sperm and form blood-testis barrier

Interstitial (Leydig) cells

Produce testosterone

Epididymis

Site of sperm maturation and storage

Ductus deferens

Transports sperm toward urethra

Uterine tubes

Transport oocyte to uterus

Ovulation

Release of secondary oocyte from ovary

Corpus luteum

Secretes progesterone after ovulation

Uterus

Site of implantation and fetal development

Endometrium

Inner lining of uterus that supports implantation

Menstrual cycle

Monthly cycle preparing uterus for pregnancy