Gross Anatomy Lecture Finals – Vocabulary Review

115 vocabulary flashcards covering key anatomical terms from digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, and urogenital systems for final-exam preparation.

Splanchnology

Branch of gross anatomy that studies the visceral organs of the digestive, respiratory, and urogenital systems.

Digestive System

Body system responsible for digestion, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of fecal waste.

Mouth (Oral Cavity)

First segment of the digestive tract bounded by palate, cheeks, tongue, and teeth.

Pharynx

Muscular tube connecting mouth to esophagus; common passageway for food, water, and air.

Pharyngeal Proper (PP)

Region at the junction of oropharynx, nasopharynx, and laryngopharynx; shared by respiratory and digestive tracts.

Esophagus

Long muscular tube with cervical, thoracic, and abdominal segments that conveys bolus to the stomach.

Hiatus esophagi

Opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes from thorax to abdomen.

Bolus

Swallowed mass of ingesta traveling through the esophagus; slightly acidic or alkaline.

Stomach

Muscular sac that temporarily stores chyme and begins protein digestion.

Chyme

Acidic mixture of bolus and gastric juice present in the stomach.

Cardiac Sphincter

Valve between esophagus and stomach that prevents gastric back-flow.

Pyloric Sphincter

Valve between pylorus and duodenum that regulates gastric emptying.

Gastric Glands

Glands in the fundus containing chief and parietal cells that secrete pepsinogen and HCl.

Chief Cells

Stomach cells that secrete pepsinogen, the inactive precursor of pepsin.

Parietal Cells

Stomach cells that secrete hydrochloric acid.

Small Intestine

Longer but narrower portion of gut composed of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum; major site of absorption.

Duodenum

First, thick, fixed part of small intestine where bile and pancreatic ducts open.

Jejunum

Longest, most mobile, and most absorptive segment of small intestine.

Ileum

Terminal segment of small intestine containing Peyer’s patches.

Peyer’s Patches

Lymphoid nodules in ileum that provide immune defense against gut microbes.

Large Intestine

Cecum, colon, and rectum; wider tube responsible for water and electrolyte absorption and fecal storage.

Cecum

Blind-ended pouch; fermentation site in rabbits and horses; vestigial appendix in humans.

Colon

Longest part of large intestine; main site for water and electrolyte resorption.

Rectum

Terminal part of large intestine serving as temporary fecal storage before defecation.

Anus

Terminal opening of alimentary canal guarded by internal and external anal sphincters.

Salivary Glands

Three paired major glands—parotid, submandibular, and sublingual—that secrete saliva.

Parotid Gland

Largest salivary gland; serous in most species, mixed in dogs.

Submandibular Gland

Mixed salivary gland located under the mandible.

Sublingual Gland

Mixed salivary gland located beneath the tongue.

Zygomatic Gland

Accessory mixed salivary gland in dogs situated in the pterygopalatine fossa.

Serous Secretion

Watery saliva rich in enzymes such as amylase.

Mucous Secretion

Thick, viscous saliva containing mucin granules.

Mixed Secretion

Combination of serous and mucous saliva.

Liver

Largest gland; ‘nutritional guardian’ with multiple lobes that produces bile and processes nutrients.

Hepatic Lobule

Six-sided structural unit of the liver.

Caudate Lobe

Posterior liver lobe that bears the papillary process.

Papillary Process

Small projection of the caudate lobe of the liver.

Pancreas

Gland within the duodenal loop having exocrine acini and endocrine islets.

Exocrine Pancreas

Pancreatic acinar tissue that secretes digestive enzymes into ducts.

Endocrine Pancreas

Islets of Langerhans that secrete insulin and glucagon into blood.

Islets of Langerhans

Pancreatic endocrine clusters containing alpha and beta cells.

Glucagon

Hormone from pancreatic alpha cells that raises blood glucose.

Insulin

Hormone from pancreatic beta cells that lowers blood glucose.

Teeth

Hard structures for cutting and grinding food; include incisors, canines, premolars, molars.

Carnassial Teeth

Shearing teeth of dogs—the last upper premolar and first lower molar—each with three roots.

Tongue

Muscular organ with root, body, and apex, covered by various lingual papillae.

Filiform Papillae

Bristle-like papillae providing roughness on tongue dorsum.

Fungiform Papillae

Mushroom-shaped papillae scattered among filiform papillae.

Foliate Papillae

Leaf-shaped papillae along the lateral tongue margin (prominent in dogs).

Vallate Papillae

Large V-shaped papillae arranged on tongue dorsum caudally.

Hard Palate

Bony rostral roof of mouth formed by pre-maxilla, maxilla, and palatine bones.

Soft Palate

Muscular caudal extension of the palate with oral and aboral surfaces.

Respiratory System

Organ system for gas exchange, phonation, and olfaction.

Nasal Cavity

Paired air passages separated by nasal septum between nostrils and choanae.

Nares (Nostrils)

External openings of the nasal cavity.

Choanae

Internal (posterior) nares that open into nasopharynx.

Larynx

Cartilaginous valvular organ connecting pharynx and trachea; organ of voice.

Trachea

Windpipe; cartilaginous and membranous tube held open by C-shaped rings.

Carina

Internal ridge at the tracheal bifurcation into primary bronchi.

Bronchi

Air passages branching from trachea into lungs, forming secondary and tertiary divisions.

Lungs

Paired principal organs of respiration occupying most of the thoracic cavity.

Pleura

Serous membrane with parietal and visceral layers surrounding lungs and lining thorax.

Parietal Pleura

Pleural layer lining thoracic walls; includes costal, sternal, vertebral, and diaphragmatic portions.

Visceral Pleura

Pleural layer tightly covering lung surfaces.

Mediastinum

Potential midline space between right and left lungs containing thoracic organs.

Diaphragm

Skeletal muscle partition between thoracic and abdominal cavities with aortic, esophageal, and caval hiatuses.

Aortic Hiatus

Diaphragmatic opening transmitting aorta, azygos vein, and thoracic duct (continuation of cisterna chyli).

Esophageal Hiatus

Diaphragmatic opening for esophagus, vagal trunks, and esophageal vessels.

Caval Foramen (Hiatus Vena Cava)

Diaphragmatic opening for the caudal vena cava.

Heart

Hollow muscular pump with four chambers and valves that circulates blood.

Epicardium

Outer layer of the heart wall; visceral layer of serous pericardium.

Myocardium

Thick middle layer of contractile cardiac muscle tissue.

Endocardium

Inner endothelial lining of the heart continuous with valves.

Pericardium

Fibro-serous sac enclosing the heart.

Chordae Tendineae

Tendinous cords connecting atrioventricular valve cusps to papillary muscles.

Papillary Muscles

Myocardial projections anchoring chordae tendineae and preventing valve eversion.

Coronary Artery

First branch of the aorta supplying oxygenated blood to the myocardium.

Artery

Blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart; usually oxygenated except pulmonary, umbilical, vitelline, omphalomesenteric.

Capillary

Microscopic vessel where exchange of gases and nutrients occurs between blood and tissues.

Vein

Blood vessel returning blood to the heart; usually deoxygenated except pulmonary, umbilical, vitelline, omphalomesenteric.

Tunica Intima

Innermost endothelial layer of a blood vessel.

Tunica Media

Middle smooth-muscle layer of a blood vessel responsible for vasoconstriction and dilation.

Tunica Adventitia

Outer elastic connective tissue layer of a blood vessel.

Red Blood Cell (Erythrocyte)

Biconcave, anucleate cell containing hemoglobin to transport oxygen.

Neutrophil

Multilobed granulocyte; first responder to bacterial infection.

Eosinophil

Bilobed granulocyte elevated in parasitic infections and allergies.

Basophil

Granulocyte with large basophilic granules; becomes tissue mast cell and mediates allergic reactions.

Lymphocyte

Mononuclear agranulocyte; includes T and B cells involved in adaptive immunity.

Monocyte

Large agranulocyte that differentiates into tissue macrophage for phagocytosis.

Platelets (Thrombocytes)

Cell fragments from megakaryocytes that initiate clot formation via platelet plug.

Kidney

Paired organ that filters blood, forms urine, and maintains fluid-electrolyte balance.

Renal Hilus

Indented medial area of kidney where vessels and ureter enter or exit.

Nephron

Structural and functional microscopic unit of the kidney that produces urine.

Glomerulus

Capillary tuft in renal corpuscle where plasma is filtered.

Bowman’s Capsule

Double-walled cup around the glomerulus that collects filtrate.

Loop of Henle

U-shaped part of nephron important for water reabsorption and concentration of urine.

Ureter

Muscular tube transporting urine from renal pelvis to urinary bladder.

Urinary Bladder

Distensible pelvic organ that temporarily stores urine.

Trigone

Triangular area in bladder neck containing stretch receptors initiating micturition.

Urethra

Canal conveying urine from bladder to exterior; pelvic and penile segments in males.