Anatomy & Physiology Final Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the major topics of the Anatomy & Physiology semester review, including special senses, muscular system, skeletal system, and urinary system.

Retina

The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye that contains sensory receptors.

Cornea

The clear, protective outer layer at the front of the eye.

Lens

The eye structure that focuses light onto the retina.

Optic nerve

The nerve that transmits visual information from the eye to the brain.

Pupil

The opening in the center of the iris that dilates to allow more light into the eye.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that regulates the size of the pupil.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear involved in hearing.

Olfactory receptors

Sensory receptors used to detect stimuli for the sense of smell.

Taste buds

Sensory organs located on the tongue that detect chemical stimuli for taste.

Equilibrium

The sense of balance, which is managed by structures in the inner ear.

Tapetum lucidum

A reflective layer in the eyes of some animals that helps them see better at night by reflecting light.

Sclera

The white, tough outer layer of the eye.

Vitreous humor

The clear gel-like substance that fills the space inside the eye.

Skeletal muscle

Voluntary muscle tissue attached to bones that facilitates movement and maintains posture.

Smooth muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue found in the walls of internal organs.

Cardiac muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue found exclusively in the heart.

Excitability

The characteristic of muscle tissue that allows it to respond to a stimulus.

Contractility

The ability of muscle tissue to shorten or contract.

Extensibility

The ability of muscle tissue to be stretched.

Elasticity

The ability of muscle tissue to return to its original shape after being stretched.

Opposing muscle pairs

Muscles that work together, such as the biceps and triceps, because muscles can only pull and not push.

Actin

The thin protein filament involved in the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction.

Myosin

The thick protein filament in muscle fibers that interacts with actin to cause contraction.

Sarcomere

The fundamental functional unit of a muscle fiber.

Fascicle

A bundle of individual muscle fibers.

Tendon

A type of connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.

Ligament

A type of connective tissue that connects bone to bone.

Cartilage

Flexible connective tissue that provides cushioning at joints.

Synovial joint

A joint type characterized by a fluid-filled cavity that allows for smooth movement.

Hinge joint

A type of joint, like the elbow, that allows movement in a single plane.

Ball-and-socket joint

A type of joint, like the shoulder, that allows for the greatest range of motion.

Flexion

A joint movement that decreases the angle between two body parts.

Extension

A joint movement that increases the angle between two body parts.

Origin

The attachment point of a muscle that remains relatively stationary during contraction.

Insertion

The attachment point of a muscle to the bone that moves during contraction.

Deltoid

A muscle named for its triangular shape.

Biceps brachii

A muscle named for having two heads (bi-) and being located in the arm (brachii).

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney responsible for forming urine.

Filtration

The process by which the kidneys remove waste products from the blood.

Reabsorption

The process where the kidney reclaims water and electrolytes back into the bloodstream.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining internal stability, such as pH and fluid balance, within the body.

Renal pelvis

The funnel-like structure in the kidney that collects urine before it enters the ureter.

Ureter

The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Villi

Small, finger-like projections in the digestive system that increase surface area for absorption.

Amylase

An enzyme found in the digestive system that breaks down starches.

B cells

Specialized cells in the immune system that assist in protecting the body.

Atherosclerosis

A condition characterized by the hardening or narrowing of the arteries.