Anatomical Terms

muscular system

body system that allows for body movement, maintains posture, and produces heat

nervous system

body system that responds to sensory information and coordinates body responses

endocrine system

body system that contains glands that produce hormones to control body functions, such as growth and reproductive development

cardiovascular system

body system that pumps blood and transports it to the body cells, delivering nutrients and carrying away wastes

respiratory system

body system that keeps blood supplied with fresh oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the body

digestive system

body system that breaks down food into nutrition for body cells and eliminates leftover wastes

urinary system

body system that eliminates waste products and controls water balance in the body

reproductive system

body system that produces offspring

lymphatic system

body system that defends the body against infection and disease

skeletal system

body system that provides a framework for the body, and protects and supports its organs

integumentary system

body system that acts as an external casing for the body, protecting the structures embedded within it

anatomical terminology

a set of vocabulary used by health professionals to refer to parts, regions, directions, and planes on the human body

gross anatomy

the field of science concerned with the study of anatomical structures

pharynx

muscular tube that connects the mouth and nasal passages to the esophagus

larynx

box-shaped organ in the neck that contains the vocal cords and functions as an airway to the lungs

trachea

known as the windpipe; a tube that joins the pharynx and larynx to the lungs

bronchi

one of the main tubes for air passage into the lungs

lungs

respiratory organ that assists in breathing

heart

a muscular organ located in the center of the chest that pumps blood around the body

Blood vessels

network of hollow tubes that carries blood throughout the body

blood

fluid that circulates in the body and delivers nutrients and oxygen to cells

pancreas

organ that secretes fluid into the small intestine

liver

largest organ that filters unsafe material from the blood

kidney

organ that filters blood and removes waste

ducts

tubes in the body that carry fluids secreted by glands

glands

organs that secrete specific chemical substances for use in the body or elimination

thymus gland

a glandular organ in the upper chest cavity that produces T-cells

spleen

organ located on the left side of the abdomen that filters, stores, and destroys blood cells

lymph nodes

small bean-shaped glands that produce lymphocytes and filter lymph

bones

hard structures that create the frame of the body

cartilage

flexible connective tissue found in many areas of the human body

ligaments

a band of tissue that connects bones or cartilage

muscles

tissues that contract to help move different parts of the body

tendons

strong tissues that connects muscle to bone

ureter

muscular ducts that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder

testes

male reproductive glands that produce sperm

penis

external organ of a male used in the process of discharging semen and urine

ovaries

female reproductive organs that generate eggs

uterus

hollow, pear-shaped organ in the pelvic cavity of the female human body

vagina

elastic, lubricated muscular canal that connects the cervix of the womb to the vulva

bladder

organ that stores liquid or gas

esophagus

muscular tube that allows food to pass from the throat to the stomach

stomach

the hollow organ of the digestive system that stores food

small intestine

section between the stomach and the large intestine where the digestion of food takes place

large intestine

section of intestinal tract that absorbs water from food matter and aids in the transmission of the waste removal from the body

gallbladder

small sac where bile is stored

brain

control center of the nervous system that receives, directs, and interprets sensory information through the body

spinal cord

nervous tissue extending from the bottom of the brain through the spinal column that is the main pathway for information

nerves

fibers transmitting impulses in the nervous system between the brain, spinal cord and the body's organs out to the muscles and glands