Lab questions to review

Teeth

Mastication; located in the sockets (alveoli) in gum covered margins of the mandible and maxilla.

Gingiva

Soft tissue that surrounds the neck of each tooth and lines the alveolar process of the mandible and maxillary bones; also known as Gums, located around the neck of the tooth.

Crown

The exposed enamel-covered part of the tooth about the gum; located above the gums and surrounds a tooth.

Enamel

Ceramic like material that directly bears force of chewing, can crack or decay, does not heal, needs to be artificially filled; located on the outer tooth.

Root

Portion of tooth embedded in jawbone, teeth may have more than one root; located below the gums surrounded by bone.

Dentin

Protein rich, bonelike matter; located underneath the enamel cap and forms the bulk of a tooth.

Cement

A calcified connective tissue that covers the outer surface of the root and attaches the tooth to a thin periodontal ligament; located on the root of the tooth, beneath the gum line.

Mouth

Initial part of digestion that is bounded by lips and cheeks; includes subdivisions: Oral vestibule (recess internal to the lips and cheeks, external to teeth and gums) and Oral cavity proper (lies within teeth and gums).

Pharynx

Funnel-shaped muscular tube connecting nasal cavity and mouth to larynx and esophagus; includes subdivisions: Nasopharynx (portion located posterior to and continuous with the nasal cavity), Laryngopharynx (portion located posterior to the larynx), and Oropharynx (portion located posterior to and continuous with the oral cavity).

Esophagus

Flat muscular tube that runs from laryngopharynx to stomach.

Stomach

Temporary food storage area in the upper left quadrant of the peritoneal cavity under the diaphragm; includes subdivisions: Cardiac region (area surrounding the cardiac orifice where food enters), Fundus (dome-shaped portion under the diaphragm), Body (midportion), and Pyloric region (inferior portion leading to the small intestine).

Pyloric sphincter

Circular smooth muscle around pylorus that controls stomach emptying into the duodenum of the small intestine.

Cardiac region

Area of stomach surrounding the cardiac orifice where food enters.

Fundus

Dome-shaped portion of stomach under the diaphragm.

Body (of the stomach)

Midportion of the stomach.

Pyloric region

Inferior portion of the stomach that directly leads to the small intestine.

Greater curvature

Convex lateral surface of the stomach.

Lesser curvature

Concave medial surface of the stomach.

Cardiac sphincter

Sphincter at the esophagus.

Pyloric sphincter (valve)

Sphincter at the duodenum.

Sphincters

Muscular structures that control the passage of food between different parts of the digestive tract.

Valves

Structures that regulate the flow of digestive contents.

GI tract

Continuous tube running from mouth to anus, consisting of various organs.

Oral vestibule

Recess internal to the lips and cheeks, external to teeth and gums.

Oral cavity proper

Space within the teeth and gums.

Nasopharynx

Portion of the pharynx located posterior to and continuous with the nasal cavity.

Laryngopharynx

Portion of the pharynx located posterior to the larynx.

Oropharynx

Portion of the pharynx located posterior to and continuous with the oral cavity.

Rugae

Folds in the mucosa when the stomach is empty

Small Intestine

Extends from the pyloric sphincter to the ileocecal valve, where it joins the large intestine.

Duodenum

Continuous with stomach, wraps around head of pancreas. About 10 inches long.

Jejunum

Middle section, extends from duodenum to the ileum. About 8 feet long.

Ileum

End section that joins to the large intestine. About 12 feet long.

Large Intestine

Surrounds the small intestine on the superior and lateral sides, extending from the ileocecal valve to the anus.

Cecum

Saclike portion below the ileocecal valve.

Appendix

Attached to the cecum.

Ascending colon

Travels up the right side of the abdominal cavity.

Transverse colon

Travels horizontally across the abdominal cavity.

Descending colon

Travels down the left side of the abdominal cavity.

Sigmoid colon

S-shaped portion, travels through the pelvis.

Rectum

Continuous with the sigmoid colon, extends to the anus.

Anal canal

Last segment, in the perineum, ending at the anus.

Anus

The opening of the anal canal to the external environment.

Levator ani muscle

Divided into pubococcygeus, puborectalis, and iliococcygeus. Supports pelvic organs and forms sphincters and anorectal junction.

Accessory organs

Liver, gallbladder, pancreas.

Liver

Processes nutrient-rich blood, detoxifies chemicals, metabolizes drugs, produces bile (aid in digestion), stores vitamins/minerals, and converts ammonia to urea.

Liver location

Right hypochondriac and epigastric regions, under the diaphragm, mostly under the rib cage.

Right and left hepatic ducts

Drain bile from liver lobes.

Common hepatic duct

Carries bile toward duodenum.

Cystic duct

Connects gallbladder to common hepatic duct, forming bile duct.

Falciform ligament

Separates liver's right and left lobes, suspends liver from diaphragm and anterior abdominal wall.

Round ligament

Fibrous remnant of fetal umbilical vein, running along inferior edge of falciform ligament. Aka ligamentum teres.

Porta hepatis

Gateway to the liver allowing passage of blood and bile.

Gallbladder

Stores and concentrates bile.

Gallbladder

Releases bile into digestive tract when needed, particularly after eating fatty foods.

Location of Gallbladder

Beneath the right lobe of the liver.

Cystic duct

Connects gallbladder to bile duct.

Bile duct

Formed by union of cystic duct and common hepatic duct from the liver, leading to hepatopancreatic ampulla.

Hepatopancreatic ampulla

Where the bile duct and pancreatic duct unite, allowing bile and pancreatic juices to enter the duodenum.

Pancreas

Soft tadpole-shaped gland located in the abdomen, lying deep to the greater curvature of the stomach.

Exocrine function of Pancreas

Produces pancreatic juice containing enzymes that breakdown proteins, fats, and carbs.

Endocrine function of Pancreas

Releases hormones like insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels.

Main pancreatic duct

Carries pancreatic juice from pancreas to the duodenum.

Accessory pancreatic duct

Empties directly into the duodenum.

Beta oxidation

Converts fatty acids to acetyl CoA.

Lipolysis

Breaks down lipids (stored fats) to fatty acids and glycerol (reverse of lipogenesis).

Lipogenesis

Forms lipids from acetyl CoA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (triglyceride synthesis from glycerol and fatty acids).

Renal cortex

Where blood filtration occurs within the kidneys.

Renal Medulla

Where concentration of urine occurs.

Renal Pelvis

Where several minor calyces combine to form two or more major calyces.

Renal Corpuscle

Located in the renal cortex. Specific part of the kidney that filters the blood.

Glomerulus

Bunch of capillaries made of fenestrated endothelium, allowing passage of all elements in plasma EXCEPT blood cells.

Glomerulus capsule

Hollow, cup-shaped structure that surrounds the glomerulus, also called Bowman's capsule.

PCT (Proximal Convoluted Tubule)

First part of the tubule after it leaves the glomerular, where most reabsorption of ions and nutrients occurs.

Nephron loop

Hairpin loop that drops from the end of the proximal convoluted tubule.

Descending limb of Nephron loop

H₂O can leave; solutes cannot (water reabsorption).

Ascending limb of Nephron loop

H₂O cannot leave; solutes can (Na⁺, Cl⁻, K⁺ reabsorption).

DCT (Distal Convoluted Tubule)

After the nephron loop, regulates reabsorption of Na+ (aldosterone) and Ca2+ (parathyroid), and regulates secretion of K+ (aldosterone).

Collecting ducts

Found in the renal cortex; receive filtrate/urine from the distal convoluted tubule portion of the renal tubule.

Cortical nephrons

Mostly in the renal cortex, make up 85% of nephrons, have short nephron loops.

Juxtamedullary nephrons

Not isolated to the renal cortex, have long nephron loops that reach into the renal medulla, important for concentrating urine.

Nephron loop

Closely wrapped around vasa recta.

Trigone

The smooth triangular area on the inferior portion of the bladder that contains the openings for the ureters and urethra.

Mucosa

Layer in contact with urine inside the bladder, composed of transitional epithelial mucosa.

Muscular layer

Composed of thick detrusor muscle, which itself consists of three layers of smooth muscle (inner and outer longitudinal layers with a circular middle layer).

Fibrous adventitia

Outer layer of bladder, superior surface of the bladder that is covered by the peritoneum.

Prostatic urethra

2.5 cm long, within the prostate.

Intermediate part of the urethra (membranous urethra)

2 cm in length, passes through the urogenital diaphragm from prostate to the beginning of the penis.

Spongy urethra

15 cm long, portion that passes through the penis, opens via the external urethral orifice.

Epididymis

Comma-shaped organ that arches over the posterior and lateral side of the testis; sperm matures and is stored here until ejaculation.

Ductus deferens

Muscular tube playing a crucial role in the male reproductive system; transports sperm from epididymis to the ejaculatory duct during ejaculation.

Pampiniform venous plexus

Network of veins found in the male reproductive system; regulates temperature of the testes, maintaining optimal temp for sperm production.

Seminiferous tubules

Highly coiled structures within the testes, known as the sperm factories; responsible for sperm production.

Prostate gland

Single, doughnut-shaped gland about the size of a peach pit; contracts during ejaculation to release milky, slightly acidic fluid into the prostatic urethra.

Bulbo-urethral gland

Pea-sized structures in the male reproductive system; primarily produce mucus, lubricating the urethra and neutralizing acidity that might harm sperm.

Seminal gland

Large, hollow, pouch-like structures; produce yellowish, viscous alkaline fluid making up about 70% semen volume.

Ovary

Female gonads, almond-shaped structures that flank the uterus; produce female gametes (ova) and secrete female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone).

Fallopian (uterine) tubes

Tubes that receive the ovulated oocytes from the ovary; site of fertilization.

Uterus

The organ in which a fertilized egg implants and develops.

Vagina

The muscular tube leading from the external genitals to the cervix of the uterus.