PCC BI 231Z Anatomy & Physiology Lab Manual Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, structures, tissue types, organ systems, skeletal markings, muscles, and cellular anatomy from Labs 1 through 8 of the PCC BI 231Z Lab Manual.

Gross Anatomy

The study of visible body structures.

Histology

The study of microscopic structures and anatomy of tissues using microscopes.

Anatomical Position

Standardized baseline position where the body is standing upright, facing forward, feet parallel and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

Anterior

Directional term meaning toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Directional term meaning toward the back of the body.

Superior

Directional term meaning above (toward the head).

Inferior

Directional term meaning below (toward the feet).

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Directional term describing a structure on a limb that is closer to the point of attachment to the torso.

Distal

Directional term describing a structure on a limb that is farther from the point of attachment to the torso.

Superficial

Directional term meaning closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning farther from the surface of the body.

Ventral

Directional term meaning toward the belly; in upright humans, synonymous with anterior.

Dorsal

Directional term meaning toward the back; in upright humans, synonymous with posterior.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body or organ into right and left portions.

Midsagittal Plane

A plane passing directly through the midline, dividing the body or organ into equal right and left halves; also called a median plane.

Frontal Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body or organ into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions; also called a coronal plane.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane dividing the body or organ into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions; also called a cross-section.

Thoracic Cavity

Subdivision of the ventral body cavity located superior to the diaphragm; contains two pleural cavities and the central mediastinum.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Subdivision of the ventral body cavity located inferior to the diaphragm; houses most digestive organs, the urinary bladder, internal reproductive organs, and rectum.

Pleura

The double-layered serous membrane surrounding each lung.

Pericardium

The double-layered serous membrane surrounding the heart.

Peritoneum

The double-layered serous membrane surrounding most organs within the abdominopelvic cavity.

Tissue

An organization of many similar cells and varying amounts and kinds of nonliving intercellular substances (extracellular matrix) working together to perform a particular function.

Apical Surface

The side of epithelial tissue exposed to an open space or the outside environment.

Basal Surface

The side of epithelial tissue bound to a non-cellular sheet called the basement membrane.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of a single layer of flat, scale-like cells; located in lung alveoli and capillaries for diffusion and filtration.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of a single layer of cube-shaped cells with central nuclei; located in kidney tubules and glands for secretion and absorption.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of a single layer of tall, column-like cells with basal nuclei; located in the digestive tract for absorption and secretion.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Multilayered epithelial tissue with flat surface cells; located in skin (keratinized), mouth, and vagina to protect from abrasion.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of a single layer of cells varying in height that appears layered; located in the respiratory tract for secretion and mucus movement.

Transitional Epithelium

Epithelial tissue whose cells change shape as the tissue stretches; located in the urinary bladder to allow distension; also called urothelium.

Mesenchyme

An embryonic tissue from which all connective tissues arise.

Areolar Connective Tissue

Highly vascular loose connective tissue proper located under epithelial layers with collagen fibers and fibroblasts; binds tissues and cushions organs.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Dense connective tissue proper containing thick collagen bundles distributed in various directions to withstand multidirectional tension; located in the dermis of skin.

Adipose Tissue

Connective tissue made of tightly packed adipocytes with very little matrix; provides organ cushioning and energy storage in the form of triglycerides.

Fibroblasts

The predominant cell type in connective tissue proper that functions in building and supporting the extracellular matrix.

Adipocytes

Tightly packed, spherical cells in adipose tissue that store lipid droplets and appear nearly translucent under H&E staining.

Epidermis

Superficial layer of the skin composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

Dermis

Layer of skin deep to the epidermis composed of a superficial papillary layer (areolar CT) and a deeper reticular layer (dense irregular CT).

Hypodermis

Connective tissue layer deep to the skin composed mostly of adipose tissue; also called the subcutaneous layer.

Stratum Basale

Single, deepest epidermal layer of actively dividing stem cells resting on the basement membrane directly superficial to the dermis.

Stratum Corneum

Most superficial layer of the epidermis consisting of many layers of flat, dead, nucleus-lacking cells filled with keratin.

Stratum Lucidum

Thin, clear, highly reflective sublayer of the epidermis present only in thick skin on the palms and soles.

Tactile Corpuscle

Sensory receptor located within dermal papillae that detects light touch; also called Meissner's corpuscle.

Lamellated Corpuscle

Sensory structure located deep in the reticular layer of the dermis or hypodermis that senses deep pressure; also called Pacinian corpuscle.

Sebaceous Glands

Multi-lobed clusters of epithelial cells associated with hair follicles that produce sebum to moisten and protect skin and hair.

Axial Skeleton

Skeletal division consisting of the skull, sternum, ribs, vertebral column, sacrum, and coccyx.

Appendicular Skeleton

Skeletal division consisting of the pectoral girdle (clavicle and scapula), upper limbs, pelvic girdle (os coxa), and lower limbs.

Compact Bone

Hard outer bone tissue made of dense bone matrix arranged in compacted cylindrical columns called osteons.

Spongy Bone

Lighter inner bone tissue made of bone matrix arranged in a sponge-like network called trabeculae.

Osteoblasts

Bone cells that build organic collagen proteins to construct the bone matrix.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells residing inside lacunae pockets that maintain the bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Cells that break down bone matrix to repair or reshape bone, or to release calcium ions into the blood.

Canaliculi

Microscopic tunnels within dense compact bone matrix connecting lacunae to each other and to central canals for nutrient and waste transport.

Epiphyseal Plate

Area of hyaline cartilage within the metaphysis of growing long bones where lengthening occurs.

Epimysium

Connective tissue layer that surrounds a whole skeletal muscle.

Perimysium

Connective tissue layer that surrounds a muscle fascicle.

Endomysium

Connective tissue layer that surrounds an individual muscle fiber (cell).

Agonist

The primary muscle responsible for producing a specific movement; also called a prime mover.

Antagonist

A muscle that relaxes and lengthens to oppose a specific movement performed by an agonist.

Synergist

A muscle that assists the agonist in executing a specific movement.

Fixator

A muscle activated during movement to stabilize a particular bone or origin point.

Process

Bony projection or protrusion, usually serving as an attachment point for muscles.

Foramen

Hole in a bone through which nerves or blood vessels pass.

Fossa

Shallow depression on a bone where another structure or bone sits.

Condyle

Round, smooth bump on a bone where another bone joins to form an articulation.

Sella Turcica

Bony depression in the sphenoid bone that holds and protects the pituitary gland.

Masseter

Prominent muscle originating on the zygomatic arch and inserting on the mandibular ramus; elevates the mandible during chewing.

Temporomandibular Joint

Specialized synovial hinge joint formed between the mandibular condyle and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.

Atlas

The C1 cervical vertebra, which lacks a body and articulates directly with the occipital condyles of the skull.

Axis

The C2 cervical vertebra, characterized by the dens (odontoid process) which permits head rotation.

True Ribs

Rib pairs 1 through 7 that attach directly to the sternum via their own individual costal cartilages; also called vertebrosternal ribs.

False Ribs

Rib pairs 8 through 10 whose costal cartilages attach indirectly to the sternum by fusing with the costal cartilage of rib 7; also called vertebrochondral ribs.

Floating Ribs

Rib pairs 11 and 12 that do not attach to the sternum or other costal cartilages; also called vertebral ribs.

Diaphragm

Dome-shaped muscle beneath the rib cage that acts as the primary mover for inhalation.

Olecranon Process

Prominent proximal projection of the ulna that forms the tip of the elbow and inserts into the olecranon fossa of the humerus during extension.

Rotator Cuff Group

Dynamic stabilization muscle group composed of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.

Pronator Teres

Superficial anterior forearm muscle originating on the medial epicondyle of the humerus that pronates the forearm.

Supinator

Deep posterior muscle near the proximal elbow that wraps around the radius to supinate the forearm.

Glenohumeral Joint

Multiaxial ball-and-socket synovial joint formed between the head of the humerus and the glenoid cavity of the scapula.

Acetabulum

Deep socket on the os coxa formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis that articulates with the head of the femur.

Tibia

Large, medial, weight-bearing bone of the leg.

Fibula

Slender, lateral leg bone that does not bear weight but provides stability and sites for muscle attachment.

Quadriceps Femoris Group

Anterior thigh muscle group consisting of rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius that acts as the primary mover for knee extension.

Hamstrings Group

Posterior thigh muscle group consisting of biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus that flexes the knee and extends the hip.

Tibialis Anterior

Anterior leg muscle that acts as the primary mover of foot dorsiflexion and inverts the foot.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Intracapsular knee ligament that prevents anterior sliding of the tibia relative to the femur.

Intercalated Discs

Specialized intercellular connections between neighboring cardiac muscle cells containing gap junctions and desmosomes.

Sarcolemma

The plasma membrane surrounding a muscle cell.

Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

Specialized smooth endoplasmic reticulum surrounding myofibrils that stores and releases calcium ions for muscle contraction.

Transverse Tubules

Infoldings of the sarcolemma that conduct action potentials deep into the interior of a muscle cell; also called T-tubules.

Sarcomere

The functional contractile unit within a muscle cell myofibril, bounded by Z lines/discs.

Multipolar Neuron

Neuron structural type featuring many dendrites and one axon extending from the cell body; typical of skeletal motor neurons and interneurons.

Unipolar Neuron

Neuron structural type featuring a single process extending from the cell body; typical of sensory neurons.

Schwann Cell

Glial cell in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that wraps around axons to form the myelin sheath.

Oligodendrocyte

Glial cell in the central nervous system (CNS) that wraps around neurons to form myelin sheaths.

Nodes of Ranvier

Uninsulated gaps between adjacent segments of myelin sheath along an axon where action potentials regenerate.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter released from axon terminals into the synaptic cleft at the neuromuscular junction to trigger excitation of skeletal muscle cells.