HBS Lab Practical

Aorta

Largest artery in the body; carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.

Atria

Upper heart chambers that receive blood and pump it into the ventricles.

Coronary artery

Supplies oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself.

Heart

Muscular organ with four chambers; pumps blood throughout the body.

Mitral valve

Valve between left atrium and left ventricle; prevents backflow.

Tricuspid valve

Valve between right atrium and right ventricle; prevents backflow.

Aortic valve

Valve between left ventricle and aorta; controls blood flow to body.

Pulmonary valve

Valve between right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

Pericardium

Protective sac around the heart; keeps it in place and reduces friction.

Pulmonary arteries

Carry deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs.

Pulmonary veins

Carry oxygenated blood from lungs to heart.

Vena cavae

Superior and inferior veins bringing deoxygenated blood from the body into the heart.

Ventricles

Lower heart chambers that pump blood to lungs or body.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in lungs where gas exchange occurs with capillaries.

Bronchi

Large branches off the trachea that lead into each lung.

Bronchioles

Smaller branches from bronchi that end at alveoli.

Diaphragm

Dome-shaped muscle that contracts to help inhale/exhale air.

Epiglottis

Flap of cartilage that prevents food from entering trachea.

Larynx

Voice box; produces sound and protects trachea from food.

Lungs

Main respiratory organs where gas exchange occurs.

Nasal Cavity

Warms, moistens, and filters air before it enters lungs.

Pharynx

Shared path for food and air behind the nose and mouth.

Pulmonary capillaries

Tiny blood vessels surrounding alveoli; site of gas exchange

Trachea

Windpipe; connects larynx to bronchi.

Tracheal cartilages

Rings that keep the trachea open and protected.

Esophagus

Muscular tube that moves food from mouth to stomach.

Gallbladder

Stores and releases bile to help digest fats.

Large intestine

Absorbs water and forms solid waste.

Liver

Processes nutrients, detoxifies chemicals, and produces bile.

Mesentary

Tissue that secures intestines and carries blood vessels.

Pancreas

Produces digestive enzymes and regulates blood sugar with insulin.

Pharynx

Shared part of the throat for both food and air.

Small intestine

Main site of nutrient absorption and digestion.

Spleen

Filters old red blood cells and helps the immune system.

Stomach

Breaks down food with acids and enzymes.

Kidney

Filters blood to form urine; regulates water and salt balance.

Ureter

Tube that carries urine from kidney to bladder.

Urethra

Tube that carries urine from bladder to outside of body.

Urinary bladder

Stores urine until it is expelled.

Ovaries

Female organs that produce eggs and hormones (estrogen & progesterone).

Testes

Male organs that produce sperm and testosterone.

Uterine horns

In cats, where embryos implant and develop (different from human uterus shape).

Amylase, pancreatic

Enzyme from the pancreas that breaks down carbohydrates.

Amylase, salivary

Enzyme in saliva, from mouth, that starts breaking down carbohydrates.

Anal sphincter

Muscle that controls the release of feces from the anus.

Anus

The opening at the end of the digestive tract where waste exits the body.

Bile

A digestive fluid made by the liver that helps break down fats.

Bladder (urinary)

Organ that stores urine before it's released.

Chemical digestion

The breakdown of food using enzymes and acids.

Chyme

The semi-liquid mixture of food and digestive juices in the stomach.

Emulsification

The process of mechanically breaking down fats and lipids.

Hydrochloric acid

Acid in the stomach that helps break down food and kill bacteria.

Lipase

An enzyme, from the pancreas, that breaks down fats.

Lower esophageal sphincter

Ring of muscle that closes off the stomach from the esophagus to prevent acid reflux.

Lumen

The inside space of a tubular structure (like the intestine or blood vessel).

Mechanical digestion

The physical breakdown of food (like chewing or stomach churning).

Mesentery

A membrane that holds the intestines in place and contains blood vessels.

Mucus

A thick, slippery secretion that protects and lubricates tissues.

Omentum

A fatty tissue that covers and protects abdominal organs.

Oral cavity/mouth

The start of the digestive tract, where mechanical and chemical digestion begin.

Pepsin

A stomach enzyme that breaks down proteins.

Peristalsis

Muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

Pyloric sphincter

Controls the passage of chyme from the stomach into the small intestine.

Villi

Tiny finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.

Conduction zone

The parts of the respiratory system (like trachea and bronchi) that move air in and out but don’t do gas exchange.

Deoxygenated blood

Blood with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels.

Inferior vena cava

Large vein that brings deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

Oxygenated blood

Blood rich in oxygen.

Pulmonary circulation

The flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back.

Respiratory zone

The parts of the lungs (alveoli) where gas exchange occurs.

Fallopian tube

Tube through which the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus.

Upper esophageal sphincter

Muscle that controls entry of food from the throat into the esophagus.

Vocal cords

Tissue in the larynx that vibrate to produce sound.