Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Energy Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, and energy systems based on human anatomy lecture notes.

Skeletal System

The body system consisting of $206$ bones that provides support and shape, enables movement, protects vital organs, stores minerals such as calcium, and produces red and white blood cells through bone marrow.

Flat Bones

Bones consisting of spongy bone surrounded by a smooth, flat plate of compact bone that protect internal organs and provide attachment sites for larger skeletal muscles (e.g., the skull).

Irregular Bones

Various shaped and sized bones that cannot be classified into any other shape category, such as the vertebrae.

Short Bones

Compact bones that are rounded and irregular in shape, allowing for fine motor movement and withstanding heavy impacts (e.g., carpals and tarsals).

Long Bones

Bones featuring a long hollow shaft filled with bone marrow and flared or bulging ends, functioning predominantly as weight-bearing levers (e.g., the tibia and femur).

Appendicular Skeleton

The component of the skeleton consisting of hinged limbs and appendages attached to the axial skeleton by the pectoral girdle in the upper body and the pelvic girdle in the lower body.

Axial Skeleton

The central component of the skeleton consisting of the skull, thorax (sternum and ribs), and the vertebral column.

Spinal Column

A flexible support structure forming part of the axial skeleton, composed of $33$ vertebrae separated by shock-absorbing cartilage discs, which supports the head and allows bending and twisting.

Cervical Vertebrae

The uppermost section of the spinal column consisting of $7$ vertebrae.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The middle section of the spinal column consisting of $12$ vertebrae.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The lower section of the spinal column consisting of $5$ vertebrae.

Sacrum

A section of the spinal column composed of $5$ fused vertebrae.

Coccyx

The tailbone section at the base of the spinal column composed of $4$ fused vertebrae.

Joint (Articulation)

The point where two bones meet, formed with the assistance of muscles and connective tissue such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

Fibrous Joints (Immovable Joints)

Joints where bones are fused together so that no movement is possible, such as the bones of the skull and pelvis.

Cartilaginous Joints (Slightly Movable Joints)

Joints that allow slight movement only, separated by a tough layer of cartilage between the bones.

Synovial Joints (Freely Movable Joints)

Joints that allow free movement in one or multiple directions, characterized by smooth cartilage on articulating ends, a joint capsule filled with synovial fluid, and strong supporting ligaments (e.g., hip, shoulder, knee, elbow).

Sagittal Plane

An anatomical plane (midline) that runs down through the body, dividing it into left and right portions.

Coronal Plane

An anatomical frontal plane running perpendicular to the sagittal plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal anatomical plane (cross section) that divides the body into upper and lower portions.

Skeletal Muscle

Elongated, transversely striated muscle tissue connected to bone via connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves, making up approximately $35\text{\%}$ of female and $45\text{\%}$ of male body weight.

Antagonist-Agonist Relationship

The paired arrangement of skeletal muscles around a joint where one muscle contracts to move the joint in one direction and the other contracts to move it back.

Isometric Contraction

A muscle contraction in which the muscle gains tension but does not change in length (e.g., planks).

Isotonic Contraction

A muscle contraction where the muscle changes length while pulling with a constant force (e.g., bicep curl).

Concentric Contraction

A variation of isotonic contraction in which the muscle gains tension and shortens in length during motion.

Eccentric Contraction

A variation of isotonic contraction in which the muscle gains tension and increases in length during motion.

Cardiovascular System Components

The body system comprising the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries), and blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, plasma).

Diaphragm

A round sheet of muscle enclosing the bottom of the rib cage that contracts and flattens during inspiration to increase lung volume.

Resting Ventilation Rate

The volume of air ventilated per minute at rest, calculated as $12\text{ breaths/min} \times 0.5\text{ L/breath} = 6\text{ L/min}$.

Aerobic

Physiological processes or exercises occurring 'with oxygen'.

Anaerobic

Physiological processes or energy production occurring 'without oxygen'.

VO2 Max

The maximal amount of oxygen that can be taken up into the body and utilized during maximal exertion.

Partial Pressure

The individual pressure exerted independently by a specific gas within a mixture of gases, calculated as total atmospheric pressure multiplied by the gas's fractional composition.

Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER)

The ratio calculated as the amount of $\text{CO}_2$ produced by the body divided by the amount of $\text{O}_2$ consumed by the body.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A specialized energy molecule consisting of one molecule of adenosine and three molecules of phosphate used to drive muscle contractions.

Aerobic Energy System

A slow energy production system that utilizes oxygen to completely break down stored carbohydrates and fats into carbon dioxide and water to rebuild ATP.

ATP/PC System

An anaerobic energy system that rapidly rebuilds ATP using phosphocreatine (PC) stored in the muscle, providing maximum energy for approximately $10\text{ seconds}$.

Lactic Acid System

An anaerobic energy system that incompletely breaks down carbohydrates to rebuild ATP during medium-intensity activities, producing lactic acid and lasting $2\text{--}3\text{ minutes}$.

Rehydration Amount Formula

The calculation used by athletes to replenish lost fluids post-exercise: $\text{Rehydration Amount} = \text{Fluid Lost} \times 1.5$.