CCMA Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards detailing medical terminology, cell structures, anatomical orientations, and all eleven organ systems covered across CCMA Chapter 2.

Plasma Membrane

A selectively permeable boundary surrounding the entire cell made of phospholipids and proteins that separates internal cellular components from the surrounding environment.

Cytoplasm

A gel-like fluid filling the cell, comprised mostly of water with electrolytes, metabolic waste, and nutrients; houses suspended organelles and acts as a medium for chemical reactions.

Nucleus

A large, spherical control center located near the center of the cell that houses genetic material in the form of DNA and regulates cellular activity.

Nucleolus

A dark, dense body inside the nucleus lacking an enclosing membrane (cells contain 1 to 4) that forms RNA and ribosomes.

Mitochondria

Elongated, rod-shaped fluid-filled organelles containing DNA, known as the 'power house' of the cell because they convert nutrients into energy (ATP).

Ribosomes

Small granules of RNA located in the nucleolus or cytoplasm that perform protein synthesis for internal and external use.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A complex network of membranous, fluid-filled flat sacs and tubular channels connecting the cell membrane to the nuclear membrane; RER supports protein synthesis and transport, while SER synthesizes lipid molecules including steroids.

Golgi Apparatus

A structure comprised of 4 to 6 flat membranous sacs connected to the endoplasmic reticulum that functions as the 'packaging and shipping plant' of the cell and forms lysosomes.

Lysosomes

Membrane-surrounded sacs created by the Golgi apparatus that digest and break down cellular waste materials.

Centrioles

A pair of rod-shaped bodies made of microtubules located near the nucleus that participate in cell reproduction through the distribution of DNA to daughter cells.

Anatomical Planes of the Body

The three primary planes used to describe sections of the body: sagittal (dividing left and right), transverse (dividing upper and lower sections), and frontal/coronal (dividing anterior and posterior sections).

Abdominal Quadrants

The four divisions of the abdomen (Right Upper Quadrant [RUQ], Left Upper Quadrant [LUQ], Right Lower Quadrant [RLQ], and Left Lower Quadrant [LLQ]) utilized for referencing internal organs and documenting chief complaints.

Nine Abdominal Regions

The nine anatomical reference areas of the abdomen: right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac, right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar, right iliac, hypogastric, and left iliac regions.

Homeostasis

A state in which the body's systems and biological processes maintain stability; primarily achieved and maintained by the nervous and endocrine systems.

Epidermis

The outermost layer of the skin composed of epithelial tissue that covers the external surface of the body.

Dermis

The thick layer of connective tissue beneath the epidermis that contains arteries, veins, and nerves.

Subcutaneous Layer

The layer situated below the dermis comprised of loose connective tissue, adipose tissue, and lipocytes.

Sebaceous Glands

Exocrine oil glands in the skin that produce sebum to keep skin and hair soft and prevent bacterial growth.

Sudoriferous Glands

Exocrine glands in the skin that produce sweat to assist with body temperature cooling and waste excretion.

Axial Skeleton

The central bone division consisting of 80 bones in the adult human, including the skull, ribs, and vertebrae.

Appendicular Skeleton

The skeletal division comprising 126 bones in the adult human, including the arms, legs, and pelvic girdle.

Ligaments

Tough bands of fibrous connective tissue that attach bone to bone to provide joint stability.

Tendons

Connective tissue structures at the ends of skeletal muscles that attach muscle to bone to assist in moving extremities.

Muscular Tissue Types

The three classifications of muscle tissue: smooth muscle (involuntary, hollow organs), cardiac muscle (involuntary, heart wall), and skeletal muscle (voluntary, striated).

Innate Immunity

The nonspecific type of immunity that a person is born with.

Adaptive (Acquired) Immunity

The specific form of immunity that an individual develops over time in response to pathogen exposure or vaccination.

Lymph Nodes

Small, encapsulated glandular structures concentrated in the neck, axilla, and groin that produce and store lymphocytes and contain macrophages to filter lymph.

Thymus

A lymphoid organ located posterior to the sternum that is large in children, atrophies after adolescence, and is responsible for the production and maturation of T-cells.

Spleen

The largest lymphoid organ in the body, located in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of the abdomen, housing macrophages that filter the blood.

Antigen

A foreign substance inside the body that induces an immune response.

Antibody

A protein (immunoglobulin) created by the body in response to a specific antigen.

B-Cells

A type of lymphocyte that recognizes antigens and differentiates into plasma cells, which subsequently produce antibodies.

T-Cells

A type of lymphocyte that recognizes antigens and directly binds to invading cells to attack them.

Naturally Acquired Active Immunity

Long-lasting immunity that occurs when a person contracts an infectious disease, leading to antibody development with protective immunologic memory.

Artificially Acquired Active Immunity

Long-lasting immunity resulting from the administration of a vaccine, which stimulates antibody creation and immune memory.

Naturally Acquired Passive Immunity

Short-lasting immunity passed from mother to infant via the placenta and breast milk.

Artificially Acquired Passive Immunity

Short-lasting immunity conferred by injecting an exposed person with antibody-containing blood products, such as immune globulin.

Epicardium

The outermost layer of the heart wall that encloses the heart and secretes pericardial fluid.

Myocardium

The thick, muscular middle layer of the heart wall responsible for pumping contractions.

Endocardium

The innermost layer of the heart wall, which forms part of the heart's electrical conduction system.

Capillaries

The smallest blood vessels in the body that bridge arterioles and venules, facilitating gas, nutrient, and waste exchange with tissues.

Pulmonary Veins

The four veins that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs into the left atrium of the heart, representing the only veins carrying oxygen-rich blood.

Pulmonary Artery

The vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle into the lungs, representing the only artery in the body that transports deoxygenated blood.

Cardiac Conduction System

The intrinsic electrical network governing the cardiac cycle, traveling from the SA node to the AV node, bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The natural pacemaker of the heart, located in the right atrium, where the electrical impulses initiating heartbeats originate.

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

The specialized cardiac tissue known as the 'gatekeeper' of the heart that delays the impulse before passing it into the ventricles.

Urinary System

The organ system responsible for filtering metabolic waste from blood to form urine; comprises the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.

Ureters

Long, muscular tubes responsible for carrying urine from the kidneys down to the urinary bladder.

Urethra

The tube carrying urine from the bladder to the urinary meatus for external elimination; longer in males due to pelvic anatomy and prostate position.

Peristalsis

Wave-like, involuntary muscular contractions that propel food through the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract.

Stomach

A digestive organ located below the diaphragm in the LUQ that uses gastric juices to break down food; features internal folds called rugae that expand.

Small Intestine

The principal digestive organ for nutrient absorption, comprising three successive anatomical segments: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Large Intestine (Colon)

The digestive structure that completes water absorption and forms solid waste (feces); divided into cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum, and anus.

Liver

A large accessory digestive organ in the RUQ of the abdomen that produces bile to break down fats.

Gallbladder

An accessory organ situated inferior to the liver that stores bile and secretes it into the duodenum.

Pancreas

A retroperitoneal gland posterior to the stomach connected to the duodenum that produces digestive enzymes and endocrine hormones.

External Respiration

The gas exchange process occurring in the lungs where oxygen is taken up and carbon dioxide is released across alveolar walls.

Internal Respiration

The cellular gas exchange process where oxygen from red blood cell hemoglobin is released to body tissues in exchange for carbon dioxide.

Pleura

The double-layered serous membrane that encloses and protects each lung inside the thoracic cavity.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The primary control division of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic Nervous System

The branch of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the voluntary control of skeletal muscles.

Afferent Neurons

Sensory nerve cells that carry impulses regarding the external and internal environment toward the central nervous system.

Efferent Neurons

Motor nerve cells that carry response impulses away from the central nervous system to target muscles and glands.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that triggers the body's 'fight or flight' response during times of stress.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for restoring the body to a resting state and sustaining homeostasis.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that secrete chemical substances or hormones through ducts leading to target organs or onto body surfaces (e.g., sweat, lacrimal, salivary, sebaceous glands).

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands (including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and pineal glands) that release hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate target cells.

Epididymis

A coiled tubular organ located superior to each testis responsible for the maturation and storage of sperm cells.

Prostate Gland

A male reproductive gland surrounding the proximal urethra that secretes alkaline fluid to protect sperm inside the female reproductive tract.

Female Reproductive Organs

The anatomical structures including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus (endometrium, myometrium), cervix, and vagina that facilitate reproduction.

Menstrual Cycle

The recurring 28-day hormonal cycle comprising the follicular and luteal phases, characterized by changes in FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, body temperature, and uterine lining shedding.

Estradiol

The most abundant and biologically active form of estrogen in the female body.