anatomy (copy)

Cardiovascular System

The system in the body that includes the heart and blood vessels, responsible for circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body.

Right Atrium

One of the chambers of the heart, located on the right side, that collects oxygen-poor blood from the body.

Left Ventricle

One of the chambers of the heart, located on the left side, that pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Systole

The contraction phase of the heartbeat, when the ventricles contract and force blood into the vessels.

Diastole

The relaxation phase of the heartbeat, when the ventricles relax and fill with blood.

Coronary Arteries

Blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.

Electrical Conduction System

The system in the heart that generates electrical impulses to regulate the heartbeat.

Digestive System

The system in the body responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.

Peristalsis

The process of wave-like muscle contractions that propel food through the digestive tract.

Small Intestine

The part of the digestive system where most of the nutrients are absorbed.

Pancreas

An organ that produces digestive enzymes and regulates blood sugar levels.

Large Intestine

The part of the digestive system where water is absorbed and waste is formed.

Nervous System

The control center of the body, responsible for perceiving, interpreting, and responding to changes in the environment.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The part of the nervous system that includes all the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.

Topographic Anatomy

The superficial landmarks of the body that serve as guides to the structures beneath them.

Anatomic Position

The position of reference in which the patient stands facing forward with arms at the side and palms forward.

Frontal Plane

The plane that divides the body into a front and back portion.

Transverse Plane

The plane that divides the body into a top and bottom portion.

Sagittal Plane

The plane that divides the body into left and right portions.

Axial Skeleton

The part of the skeleton that forms the foundation to which the arms and legs are attached.

Appendicular Skeleton

The part of the skeleton that includes the arms, legs, and their connection points.

Cranium

The part of the skull that protects and holds the brain.

Vertebrae

The bones of the spine that protect the spinal cord.

Thorax

The part of the body between the neck and the abdomen, containing the heart and lungs.

Joint

The point where two bones come together, allowing movement.

Articular Cartilage

The thin layer of cartilage that covers the ends of bones in a joint, allowing smooth movement.

Synovial membrane

The inner lining of the joint capsule responsible for producing synovial fluid.

Synovial fluid

A thick lubricant produced by the synovial membrane that helps reduce friction in joints.

Ball-and-socket joint

A type of joint, like the shoulder joint, that allows rotation and bending.

Hinge joint

A type of joint, like the finger joints, elbows, and knees, that restricts motion to flexion (bending) and extension (straightening).

Joint limitations

All joints have a definite limit beyond which motion cannot occur, preventing excessive movement that could lead to injury.

Upper extremities

The parts of the body extending from the shoulder girdle to the fingertips, including the arm, forearm, hand, and fingers.

Shoulder girdle

The area where the clavicle, scapula, and humerus come together, allowing movement of the arm.

Arm

The part of the upper extremity supported by the humerus bone, which serves as an effective lever for heavy lifting.

Forearm

The part of the upper extremity composed of the radius and ulna bones, with the ulna forming the elbow joint and the radius lying on the lateral side.

Wrist

A modified ball-and-socket joint formed by the ends of the radius, ulna, and several small wrist bones.

Hand

The part of the upper extremity composed of the carpal bones and metacarpals, with the fingers (phalanges) extending from the metacarpals.

Pelvis

The bony structure formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis bones, which protects the organs in the lower abdomen and supports the weight of the upper body.

Femur

The longest and one of the strongest bones in the body, located in the thigh.

Patella

Also known as the knee cap, a specialized bone located anterior to the knee joint.

Tibia

The larger bone in the lower leg, located on the anterior side.

Fibula

The smaller bone in the lower leg, located on the lateral side.

Tarsal bones

The seven bones in the foot, including the talus and calcaneus.

Metatarsals

The five bones that make up the middle of the foot.

Phalanges

The bones that form the toes, with two phalanges in the great toe and three in each of the smaller toes.

Skeletal system

The system in the body that provides shape, protection, movement, and stores calcium, with special cells in the marrow that can transform into blood cells.

Musculoskeletal system

Refers to the bones and voluntary muscles in the body, protecting internal organs and allowing movement.

Skeletal muscle

Also known as voluntary or striated muscle, it attaches to the bones and forms the major muscle mass of the body.

Smooth muscle

Involuntary muscle found within blood vessels and intestines, responsible for rhythmic contractions.

Cardiac muscle

Muscle found only in the heart, able to create and conduct its own electrical impulses.

Antagonistic pairs

Most muscles operate in pairs, with one muscle contracting while the other relaxes, such as the biceps and triceps in the upper arm.

Respiratory system

The system in the body responsible for respiration, consisting of the upper and lower airways and the lungs.

Upper airway

The structures located anteriorly and at the midline, including the nose, mouth, tongue, jaw, pharynx, and larynx.

Trachea

The windpipe, a semirigid air tube made up of rings of cartilage that keeps it from collapsing.

Esophagus

Located posterior to the trachea, it carries food and liquids to the stomach.

Epiglottis

A thin, leaf-shaped flap that protects the opening of the esophagus, allowing air to pass into the trachea but preventing food and liquid from entering the airway.

Lower airway

The structures below the larynx, including the trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

Lungs

The organs responsible for respiration, divided into lobes and containing alveoli where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.

Pulmonary capillaries

Tiny blood vessels in the walls of the alveoli that carry carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs and oxygen from the lungs to the body.

Pleura

Smooth tissue that covers each lung and lines the inside of the chest cavity. Consists of visceral pleura (covering the lungs) and parietal pleura (lining the chest wall).

Pleural space

The space between the parietal pleura and visceral pleura, containing a small amount of fluid for smooth gliding of tissues.

Diaphragm

Primary muscle of breathing, dividing the thorax from the abdomen. Can act as both voluntary and involuntary muscle.

Intercostal muscles

Muscles between the ribs involved in breathing.

Abdominal muscles

Muscles in the abdomen that assist the diaphragm in moving air during exhalation.

Ventilation

Movement of air between the lungs and the environment, requiring chest rise and fall.

Respiration

Process of gas exchange, providing oxygen to cells and removing carbon dioxide.

Diffusion

Passive process where molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Chemical control of breathing

Automatic control of breathing by the brain in response to changes in carbon dioxide or oxygen levels in the arterial blood.

Nervous system control of breathing

Medulla oblongata and pons in the brain responsible for initiating and regulating the ventilation cycle.

Tidal volume

Amount of air moved into or out of the lungs during a single breath.

Dead space

Portion of the respiratory system without alveoli, where little or no gas exchange occurs.

Minute volume

Measure of the amount of air moved in and out of the lungs in one minute, calculated by multiplying respiratory rate by tidal volume.

Normal breathing patterns

Regular rate and depth of breaths, clear breath sounds, regular rise and fall movement of the chest, and movement of the abdomen.

Labored breathing

Requires effort and may involve accessory muscles, with breathing slower or faster than normal.

Agonal gasps

Occasional, gasping breaths that occur in cardiac arrest, which are slow and shallow and require artificial ventilations.

Systemic circulation

Carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle through the body and back to the right atrium.

Pulmonary circulation

Carries oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle through the lungs and back to the left atrium.

Myocardium

Specialized muscle tissue of the heart responsible for its contractions.

Coronary arteries

Tricuspid valve

A valve that allows blood to pass from the right atrium to the right ventricle and prevents backflow.

Pulmonic valve

A valve that allows blood to flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.

Mitral valve

A valve that allows blood to pass from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

Aortic valve

A valve that allows blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.

Chordae tendineae

Thin bands of fibrous tissue that attach to the valves and prevent them from inverting.

Resting heart rate

The number of heartbeats per minute when the body is at rest.

Stroke volume

The amount of blood moved in one heartbeat.

Cardiac output

The amount of blood moved in one minute, calculated by multiplying heart rate and stroke volume.

Electrical conduction system

Specialized tissue that conducts electrical signals throughout the heart, causing contractions.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues.

Capillaries

Small, fragile vessels that allow for exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between blood and tissues.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Spleen

A solid organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen that filters blood and assists in the immune response.

Plasma

The liquid portion of blood that carries blood cells and nutrients.

Red blood cells

Blood cells that contain hemoglobin and are responsible for carrying oxygen.

White blood cells

Blood cells involved in the body's immune defense mechanisms.

Platelets

Tiny disc-shaped elements involved in blood clot formation.

Blood pressure

The pressure exerted by blood against the walls of arteries as it passes through them.

Systole

The contraction phase of the heart when blood is pumped out of the ventricles.

Diastole

The relaxation phase of the heart when the ventricles fill with blood.