Body Systems Development and Aging Practise Flashcards Chp.9

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the development, structure, and age-related changes of the skeletal, muscular, adipose, endocrine, and nervous systems based on the lecture transcript.

Skeletal System

The individual's structure, which starts as a cartilage model in the embryo.

Muscular System

The system that allows an individual's movement and follows a sigmoid growth pattern.

Adipose System

The system responsible for energy storage, insulation, and protection, commonly known as fat.

Endocrine System

A system that exerts control over certain cellular functions using chemical substances called hormones.

Nervous System

The system that controls movement, cognition, and speech.

Ossification Centers

The sites within the cartilage model where bone is deposited.

Primary Ossification Center

An area in the midportion of the shafts of long bones where bone cells are formed; this process begins at $2$ months of fetal age.

Secondary Ossification Centers

Sites, typically at the ends of bones, where bone growth occurs following primary growth to increase bone length.

Appositional Growth

An increase in bone girth.

Osteoporosis

A disease characterized by bone loss that can lead to rib cage collapse, stooped posture, and reduced height.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the absolute number of cells.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the relative sizes of individual cells.

Myofibrils

The basic unit of muscle cells.

Sarcomeres

The basic unit of striated muscle tissue.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle found in organs such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, and uterus.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary, striated muscle found in the heart.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary, striated muscle attached to bones by tendons.

Slow Twitch Fibers (Type I)

Muscle fibers that are efficient for endurance activities.

Fast Twitch Fibers (Type IIa, IIb)

Muscle fibers utilized for intense short-duration activities.

Internal/Visceral Fat

Adipose tissue located around the internal organs.

Subcutaneous Fat

Adipose tissue located directly under the skin.

Growth Hormone

A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that is necessary for normal growth.

Thyroid Hormones

Hormones secreted by the thyroid gland that regulate metabolism and promote muscle growth.

Hyperthyroidism

A disorder caused by increased levels of thyroid hormone.

Hypothyroidism

A disorder caused by an insufficiency of thyroid hormone.

Gonadal Hormones

Hormones secreted by the gonads (androgens and estrogens) that influence sexual maturation and hasten the closure of the epiphyseal growth plate.

Insulin

A hormone produced in the pancreas vital for carbohydrate metabolism and necessary for the full functioning of Growth Hormone.

Type $1$ Diabetes

A disorder resulting from the pancreas's failure to produce enough insulin due to the loss of beta cells.

Type $2$ Diabetes

A condition beginning with insulin resistance, where cells fail to respond to insulin properly.

Neurons

The primary cells of the nervous system that receive and transmit information.

Synapse

The connection between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released from an axon.

Myelin

A lipid-rich substance that surrounds the axon, forming an insulating layer that allows for faster conduction of neural impulses.

Neurogenesis

The division and propagation of neurons from stem cells, which is most active in the embryonic stage.

Pruning

The process of weakening or eliminating synaptic connections that are not frequently used to make the neural network more efficient.