The Animal Body and How it Moves

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms related to animal anatomy and physiology.

Coelom

The cavity in the body of vertebrates where the digestive tract is suspended.

Epithelial Tissue

Covers every major surface of the vertebrate body, providing a barrier and facilitating passage of substances.

Exocrine Glands

Glands derived from epithelial tissue that have ducts (e.g., sweat, sebaceous, digestive glands).

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands derived from epithelial tissue that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Loose Connective Tissue

Provides support, insulation, food storage, and nourishment for epithelium; found beneath skin and between organs.

Dense Connective Tissue

Provides flexible, strong connections; found in tendons, sheaths around muscles, kidney, liver, and dermis of skin.

Cartilage

Provides flexible support, shock absorption, and reduction of friction on load-bearing surfaces; found in spinal discs, knees, ears, nose, and tracheal rings.

Bone

Protects internal organs and provides rigid support for muscle attachment; found throughout most of the skeleton.

Blood

Functions as the highway of the immune system and primary means of communication between organs; found in the circulatory system.

Smooth Muscle

Powers rhythmic, involuntary contractions in the walls of blood vessels, stomach, and intestines.

Skeletal Muscle

Powers walking, lifting, talking, and all other voluntary movement; attached to tendons or bones.

Cardiac Muscle

Highly interconnected cells that promote rapid spread of signal initiating contraction; found in the walls of the heart.

Neurons

Specialized cells in nervous tissue that produce and conduct electrochemical impulses.

Neuroglia

Supporting cells in nervous tissue that support and insulate neurons and eliminate foreign materials.

Exoskeletons

Rigid, hard cases that surround the body and must be periodically shed.

Endoskeletons

Rigid internal skeletons composed of cartilage or bone to which muscles are attached.

Origin

The point where a skeletal muscle remains stationary during contraction.

Insertion

The point where a skeletal muscle is attached to the bone that moves during contraction.

Sarcomere

The smallest subunit of muscle contraction; the structure of a myofibril from Z line to Z line.