TEAS Vocab

reference planes

planes divding the body to describe locations: sagittal, coronal, and transverse

organ

a structure formed from various tissues that performs a specific function in an organism

arteries

vessels that carry blood away from the heart towards other body parts

veins

vessels that carry blood towards the heart from other body parts

cardiac muscle

involuntary muscle found in the heart cardiovascular system

• system comprised of the heart and blood vessels

systole

the portion of the cardiac cycle in which the heart expels blood

relaxation

release of tension in a muscle

plasma

clear pale yellow component of blood that carries red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets throughout the body

hemoglobin

protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body

buffer

a solution of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid.

• maintain the proper pH of the body

lymphocyte

a category of white blood cells that inculdes natural killer cells, B cells, helper T cells, and cytotoxic T cells

lymph

clear fluid that moves throughout the lymphatic system to fight disease

macrophage

a large white blood cell that ingests foreign material

leukocyte

white blood cells, which protect the body against disease

peristalsis

a series of muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract

mouth

the oral cavity at the entry to the alimentary canal

anus

the opening of the rectum from which solid waste is expelled

gland

an organ that secretes a substance

enzymatic digestion

the breakdown of food by enzymes for absorption

smooth muscle

muscle that can be found in the walls of hollow organs, such as the stomach and intestines

nervous system

a complex system that controls and affect every part of the body in daily life functions and in the constant drive to maintain homeostatsis

stomach

the organ between the esophagus and small intestine in which the major portion of digestion occurs

large intestine

compromised of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal, it is where vitamins and water are absorbed before feces is stored prior to elimination

rectum

the last section of the large intestine, ending with the anus

enzyme

a substance produced by a living thing that acts as a catalyst

• speeds up a chemcial reaction by lowering the activation energy; in cells, most are proteins

saliva

the clear liquid found in the mouth, also known as spit

lipase

pancreatic enzyme that breaks down fat

lipids

fatty acids and their derivatives that are insoluble in water

bolus

a mass of food that has been chewed and swallowed

chyme

the semifluid mass of partly digested food that moves from the stomach to the small intestine

pepsin

enzyme that breaks down proteins

small intestine

the part of the GI tract between the stomach and large intestine that includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, where digestion and absorption of food occurs

hydrophilic

water loving

liver

the organ that produces bile, regulates glycogen storage, and performs other bodily functions

amino acids

the monomers that make up proteins

salt

a chemical compound formed from the reaction of an acid with a base, with at least part of the hydrogen of the acid replaced by a cation

bacteria

unicellular organisms that are capable of causing disease

insulin

a hormone that triggers the influx of glucose into cells, thus lowering blood glucose levels

glucagon

a hormone secreted by the pancreas that stimulates its target cells in the liver to convert hepatic glycogen stores into glucose and release that glucose into the blood

nerve

a long bundle of neuronal axons that transmits signals to and from the central nervous system

negative feedback

a mechanism that includes the monitoring for specific homeostatic levels and a signal to a gland

• signal stimulates or inhibits the gland’s secretion in order to maintain homeostasis or cause compensations that returns the level to homeostasis

thyroid gland

the gland in the neck that secretes hormones that regulate growth, development, and metabolic rate

parathyroid

an endocrine gland in the neck that produces parathyroid hormone

thymus

the lymphoid organ that produces T cells

adrenal

a gland above the kidney that produces hormones to regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and other functions

pancreas

the gland of the digestive and endocrine systems that produces insulin and secretes pancreatic juices

pineal gland

a small gland near the center of the brain that secretes melatonin

sugars

the monomers used to build polysaccharides; also molecules made of two or a few monosaccharide units that are used for fuel in the body

endocrine gland

a gland that secretes hormones, a duct-less gland

epinephrine

a polar, water-soluble hormone released by the adrenals in reponse to stress, also known as adrenaline

diabetes

pathologically high blood sugar levels that result from a pancreatic hormone regulation malfunction diastole

• the portion of the cardiac cycle in which the heart refills with blood

hyperthyroidism

a malfunction of regulatory feedback loops leading to the overproduction of thyroid hormone

gigantism

excessive growth resulting from overproduction of growth hormone

growth hormone

a secretion of the anterior pituitary that stimulates tissue growth

• somatotropin

antidiuretic hormone

a secretion from the pituitary gland that increases the amount of water able to be reabsorbed from a collecting duct

postive feedback

a mechanism that stimulates glandular secretions to continue to increase, temporarily pushing levels further out of homeostasis, until a particular biological effect is reached (expulsion of the fetus during childbirth)

oxytocin

a hormone made by the hypothalmus and stored in the posterior pituitary

• function: to stimulate uterine contractions during childbirth

cervix

the passage that forms the lower part of the uterus

releasing hormones

chemical messengers that stimulate the production of certain hormones

inhibiting hormones

chemical messengers that restrict the production of certain hormones

innate defense

a nonspecific reponse to pathogens by the immune system

adaptive defense

a specific reponse by the immune system to a given pathogen

innate immune system

a collection of nonspecific barriers and cellular responses that serve as an inborn first and second line of defense aganist pathogens

adaptive immune system

a kind of passive or active immunity in which antibodies to a particular antigen are present in the body

B cells

lymphocytes that mature in bone marrow and make anitbodies in response to antigens

T cells

white blood cells that mature in the thymus and participate in an immune responseco

commensal micro-organisms

microscopic organisms that live in or on human body without causing it harm

histamine

a white blood cell secretion that triggers capillary permeability and vascodilation

interferons

proteins secreted by leukocytes when they are infected with viruses

antimicrobial

a substance that kills or inhibits growth of micro-organisms wuth minimal damage to the host

antigens

substances on the surfaces of agents that act to identify them, to the body, as being native or foregin

antigen-presenting cells

a cell that displays foregin antigens with major histicompatibilty complexes on their surfaces

helper T cells

a type of lymphocyte that secretes interleukins, a protein that triggers the action of other cells, including the attack of foregin cells by the cytotoxic T cell

cytotoxic T cells

the category of lymphocyte that attacks foreign cells

cytokines

cell signaling molecules released primarily by helper T cells and macrophages

• certain ones activate cytotoxic T cells

antibody

a blood protein that counteracts a specific antigen

memory cell

a lymphocyte that responds to an antigen upon reintroduction

active immunity

protection aganist a specific pathogen resulting from the production of antibodies in response to the presence of specific antigens

passive immunity

temporary immunity gained by a body that has acquired anitbodies from an outside source

autoimmune disease

a pathology that results from the immune system mistaking part of the body as a pathogenr

rheumatoid arthritis

a progressive autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation and painbon

bone marrow

a soft material within sponey bone and medullary cavity of long bone

skeletal system

the system of bones in the body that provides protection for delicate organs and serves as the scaffold aganist which muscles pull for movement

• Functions:

  • movement

  • protection

  • storage of minerals and fats

integmentary system

an organ system comprised of skin and its associated organs

excretion

elimination of metabolic waste from the body

homeostasis

the maintenance of a constant internal enviroment

sebaceous glands

accessory structures originating in the dermis that secrete sebum onto hair emerging from the hair follicle

ceruminous glands

acessory structures that produce ear wac

• only found in the dermis of the ear canal

hair follicles

tubes arising from the dermis surrounded by invaginations of epithealial tissue, from which hair growth occurs

apocrine sweat gland

accessory structures of the dermis that are in physical association with hair follicles, producing a secretion with odor (possibly a sex pheromone to humans)

eccrine sweat glands

accessory structures originating throughout the dermis of the human body that secretes sweat, used primarily for regulation of body temperature

epidermis

the outer layer of the skin

dermis

the middle layer of skin

subcutaneous

under the dermis

hypodermis

the deepest layer of the skin

sweat

perspiration excreted by sweat glands through the skin

vitamin D

a vitamin made by the skin that helps the intestine absorb dietary calcium

cutaneous vasoconstriction

a decrease in the diameter of blood vessels in the dermis that reduces blood flow through the skin

muscular system

an integrated system in the body that is vital for controlling involuntary and voluntary movement

tissue

a group of cells with similar structure that function together as a unit, but at a lower level than organsb