Anatomy and Physiology A Nursing CMS Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical structures, physiological systems, cell biology, and homeostatic mechanisms from the A&P CMS nursing review notes.

Defecation reflex

A reflex triggered by stretching of the rectum that sends sensory impulses to the spinal cord, leading to rectal contraction and relaxation of the internal and external anal sphincters.

Neutrophils

The most abundant, short-lived immune cells in the body that play a key role as temporary phagocytes clearing cellular debris and wounds.

Eccrine glands

Sweat glands distributed all over the body that produce sweat essential for normal body temperature regulation.

Dermis

The strong and elastic skin layer containing collagen and elastin protein fibers that provide strength and elasticity.

Epidermis

The outermost protective layer of the skin.

Subcutaneous tissue

Tissue composed of adipose containing superficial fascia that connects the dermis to underlying muscles.

Epididymis

A coiled tube-like structure located on the posterior portion of each testicle that stores sperm for maturation.

Prostate gland

A gland that secretes fluid essential for the nutrition and transport of sperm cells.

Vas deferens

A long muscular tube extending from the epididymis into the pelvic cavity behind the bladder that transports mature sperm to the urethra during ejaculation.

Seminal vesicles

Glands that secrete a fluid rich in fructose, providing the nutrient required for sperm cell metabolism.

T-cells

Immune cells that develop and mature in the thymus gland from birth to puberty and participate in adaptive immune responses.

Spleen

A lymphatic organ that filters blood and removes aging or modified cells.

Surfactant

A substance that reduces surface tension inside the alveoli to prevent alveolar collapse.

Wernicke's area

A specialized region situated in the temporal lobe responsible for processing written and spoken language.

Frontal lobe

The cerebral lobe responsible for voluntary motor skills and motor function.

Parietal lobe

The cerebral lobe responsible for sensory perception and integrating incoming sensory signals.

Atrioventricular (AV) node

The cardiac electrical junction responsible for regulating and controlling ventricular rhythm.

Sinoatrial (SA) node

The primary pacemaker located in the right atrium where heartbeats originate.

Bundle of His

Electrical conducting fibers positioned in the upper region of the interventricular septum.

Purkinje fibers

Conduction fibers that facilitate rapid impulse conduction to produce synchronous contractions of ventricular myocardium.

Intracellular fluid

Fluid found within cells that accounts for approximately $66\%$ of total body water.

Extracellular fluid

Fluid outside cells comprising plasma, interstitial fluid, lymph, and transcellular fluid, accounting for approximately $34\%$ of total body water.

Corpus callosum

The nerve fiber structure facilitating integration and transfer of information between the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Basal ganglia

Subcortical structures that modulate and control motor function.

Hypothalamus

Brain structure that maintains homeostatic balance, controls body temperature, and links the nervous and endocrine systems.

Medulla oblongata

A section of the brainstem that regulates vital autonomic functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.

Aortic valve

A semilunar valve preventing the backflow of ejected blood into the left ventricle.

Estrogen

A steroid sex hormone responsible for female reproductive tract development and preparing breast tissue for lactation without stimulating milk ejection.

Progesterone

A hormone produced by the corpus luteum that regulates the menstrual cycle, supports early pregnancy viability, and prepares mammary glands for lactation.

Oxytocin

A hormone triggered by nipple stimulation that contracts myoepithelial cells around mammary alveoli to propel milk through ducts.

Prolactin

A hormone that stimulates milk production and secretion in breast tissue without initiating the milk ejection reflex.

Mitochondria

Cellular organelles responsible for cellular respiration and synthesizing adenosine triphosphate ($\text{ATP}$).

Ribosomes

Cellular structures that serve as the primary site of protein synthesis.

Golgi apparatus

An organelle that modifies and packages carbohydrates for cellular secretion.

Inspiratory reserve volume

The supplementary volume of air that can be forcefully inhaled above a resting tidal volume.

Expiratory reserve volume

The extra volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled following a normal tidal exhalation.

Meiosis

The specialized germ cell division process producing haploid gametes (sperm and ova).

Apoptosis

Genetically programmed or natural cell death.

Mitosis

Somatic cell division essential for tissue repair, growth, and replacement of dead cells.

Cerebellum

The hindbrain structure responsible for motor coordination, balance, and posture maintenance.

Pons

Brainstem structure that regulates autonomic functions vital for survival and relays signals between the cerebrum and cerebellum.

Basophils

Granulocytic white blood cells primarily involved in inflammatory and allergic responses.

Eosinophils

Granulocytic white blood cells active in allergic responses and defense mechanisms against parasites.

B cells

Lymphocytes responsible for humoral immunity through antibody production.

Macrophages

Phagocytic cells derived from monocytes that engulf and degrade foreign pathogens and cellular debris.

Renin

An enzymatic hormone synthesized and released by the kidneys under low blood pressure conditions that triggers vasoconstriction to restore pressure.

Mast cells

Connective tissue immune cells that release histamine during inflammatory reactions.

Long bones

Bones that are longer than they are wide, such as the femur, humerus, tibia, fibula, radius, and ulna.

Short bones

Cube-shaped bones with approximately equal length, width, and height, including the patella, carpals, and tarsals.

Flat bones

Flattened skeletal structures, such as skull bones, providing broad surfaces for protection of vital internal organs.

Irregular bones

Bones with complex, non-geometric morphology, exemplified by the vertebrae.

First heart sound

The acoustic vibration caused by the sudden closure of the atrioventricular valves at the beginning of ventricular systole.

Second heart sound

The acoustic vibration caused by the closure of the semilunar valves when the ventricles relax during diastole.

Baroreceptors

Mechanosensitive neural stretch receptors triggered by blood pressure reductions, such as during hemorrhage.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect fluctuations in chemical and electrolyte concentrations within the bloodstream.

Proprioceptors

Sensory receptors that detect postural changes and body orientation in space.

Mechanoreceptors

Sensory receptors sensitive to physical deformation, stress, or mechanical strain.

Somatic nervous system

The voluntary division of the peripheral nervous system responsible for directing skeletal muscle contraction.

Autonomic nervous system

The involuntary division of the nervous system regulating visceral activities including perspiration, heart rate, and respiration.

Parathyroid glands

Endocrine glands responsible for regulating serum calcium ion concentrations.

Epiglottis

A cartilaginous flap-like structure that covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent aspiration of food into the lungs.

Cochlea

The spiral organ of the internal ear housing auditory receptors that transduce sound vibrations into neural impulses.

Eustachian tube

A channel linking the middle ear cavity to the pharynx to equalize atmospheric pressure across the tympanic membrane.

Tympanic membrane

The eardrum membrane separating the external and middle ear that vibrates upon contact with incoming acoustic waves.

Osmosis

The net movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane down its concentration gradient.

Diffusion

The passive movement of solute particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.

Active transport

The carrier-mediated movement of substances against a concentration gradient, such as the pumping of calcium ions out of muscle cells.

Micturition

The physiological process of discharging urine from the urinary bladder.

Gallbladder

A hollow sac beneath the liver that stores and concentrates bile until it is required for digestion.

Ileum

The terminal section of the small intestine where the reabsorption of bile occurs.

Schwann cell

A glial cell of the peripheral nervous system responsible for producing the myelin sheath around axons.

Coagulation

The physiological cascade producing an insoluble fibrin mesh that stabilizes platelet plugs to achieve hemostasis.

Parietal pleura

The outer serous membrane lining the internal surface of the thoracic cavity wall.

Visceral pleura

The delicate inner serous membrane adhering directly to the external surfaces of the lungs.

Conjunctiva

The transparent mucous membrane lining the inner eyelids and covering the anterior sclera of the eyeball.

Sclera

The fibrous, opaque white protective outer layer of the eye.

Cornea

The transparent anterior specialization of the sclera through which light enters the eye.

Ciliary body

A circular smooth muscle structure in the eye that alters lens curvature to adjust optical focus.

Plasma

The fluid extracellular matrix making up about $55\%$ of whole blood, containing water, proteins, electrolytes, nutrients, and dissolved gases.

Angiotensin II

A potent vasoconstrictor peptide that elevates blood pressure, increases renal sodium retention, and stimulates aldosterone secretion.

Cytosol

The aqueous, semifluid component of the cytoplasm that serves as the medium for intracellular biochemical reactions.

Seminiferous tubules

Tubular structures located within the testes where meiotic division occurs to generate immature sperm cells.

Hemoglobin

The iron-containing metalloprotein found within erythrocytes responsible for transporting respiratory gases.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

A posterior pituitary hormone that promotes water reabsorption in renal tubules, concentrating urine and expanding circulatory volume.

Atrial natriuretic hormone

A cardiac hormone that stimulates the kidneys to excrete sodium and water, thereby elevating urine volume and reducing fluid load.

Dendritic cells

Highly branched phagocytic cells formed in bone marrow that reside in barrier tissues like skin and mucosal linings to sample environmental antigens.