Abeka Health Grade 9 Section 1.1

Ovum

Female reproductive cell

Sperm

Male reproductive cell

Zygote

Fertilized egg cell

Uterus

Womb

Blastocyst

Hollow sphere made of cells

Embryo

An unborn child in the very early stages of development.

Placenta

A sac of blood vessels; it serves as a kidney, lung, and intestine

Umbilical cord

A bundle of three blood vessels that attches to the placenta.

Fetus

An unborn child from the 9th week after conception

The fastest growing period of a babies life outside the womb

Birth to 18 months

Adolescence

The transitional change from childhood into adulthood

Puberty

The stage of development in which the body becomes physically able to reproduce and marks the beginning of adolescence

Hormones

“simulators”, of the endocrine system.

Endocrinology

The study of the endocrine system —its structure, functions, disorders, and diseases

Pituitary gland

“Master gland”; connects to the hypothalamus and affects the other endocrine glands

Hypothalamus

A part of the brain that controls your body's automatic activities and is largely responsible for the physical effects of your emotions

Somatotropin

Growth hormone; regulates your over all growth rate by simulating the growth of new tissues

Antidiuretic hormone

Secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland; helps regulate blood pressure and the body's water balance

Thyroid gland

Located on the front of the neck, at the junction of the larynx and trachea; creates hormones that regulate metabolism

Metabolism

The chemical and physical processes by which the body “burns” food and generates energy

Thyroxine

The principal hormone produced by the thyroid gland; contains iodine

Parathyroid glands

Two on each side of the thyroid; functions with the thyroid gland to regulate the amount of calcium in the blood

Adrenal glands

One on top of each kidney; consist of the adrenal cortex (thick, outer part) and the adrenal medulla (small, inner part)

Epinephrine

Adrenaline; prepares the body for stressful situations wheb strength and endurance are required

Aldosterone

Stimulates the kidneys to conserve the body’s water balance

Cortisol

Stimulates the body to repair itslef following stress, inflammation, or injury

Pancreas

An important organ that lies behind the stomach.

Islets of Langerhans

Small clusters of endocrine gland cells in the pancreas that screte the hormones insulin and glucagon

Insulin

Decreases blood sugar by stimulating body cells to absorb glucose

Glycogen

A type of starch

Glucagon

Stimulates the liver to conevrt glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream

Gonads

Reproductive glands

Testes

Reproductive glands in males

Ovaries

Reproductive glands in females

Estrogen

The main hormones produced by the ovaries

Testosterone

The main hormones produced by the testes

Pineal gland

Regulates the body's waking and sleeping cycles

Melatonin

Hormones that triggers sleep