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abdominal cavity
Located inferior to the thoracic cavity and is separated from it by the diaphragm; contains most other internal organs except the heart and the lungs.
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alveolus (pl., alveoli)
In humans, terminal, microscopic, grapelike air sac found in lungs.
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anus
Outlet of the digestive tube.
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aortic body
Structure located in the walls of the aorta; contains chemoreceptors sensitive to hydrogen ion and carbon dioxide concentrations in the blood.
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appendix
In humans, small, tubular appendage containing lymphatic tissue, that extends outward from the cecum of the large intestine; a part of the immune system.
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bicarbonate ion
Ion that participates in buffering the blood, and the form in which carbon dioxide is transported in the bloodstream.
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bile
Secretion of the liver that is temporarily stored and concentrated in the gallbladder before being released into the small intestine, where it emulsifies fat.
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bolus
Mass of chewed food mixed with saliva.
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bronchiole
In terrestrial vertebrates, small tube that conducts air from a bronchus to the alveoli.
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bronchus (pl., bronchi)
In terrestrial vertebrates, branch of the trachea that leads to the lungs.
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carnivore
Consumer in a food chain that eats other animals.
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carotid body
Structure located at the branching of the carotid arteries; contain chemoreceptors sensitive to hydrogen ion and carbon dioxide concentrations in blood.
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chyme
Thick, semiliquid food material that passes from the stomach to the small intestine.
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coelom
Body cavity lying between the digestive tract and body wall that is completely lined by mesoderm.
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collecting duct
Duct within the kidney that receives fluid from several nephrons; the reabsorption of water occurs here.
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continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
Dialysis that takes place inside the body using the peritoneum, the natural lining of the abdomen, as the dialysis membrane.
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dialysate
Material that passes through the membrane in dialysis.
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diaphragm
In mammals, dome-shaped muscularized sheet separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity important in inhalation. Also, a birth control device consisting of a soft rubber or latex cup that fits over the cervix.
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diarrhea
Excessively frequent and watery bowel movements.
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distal tubule
Final portion of a nephron that joins with a collecting duct; associated with tubular secretion.
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duodenum
First part of the small intestine where chyme enters from the stomach.
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edema
Swelling due to tissue fluid accumulation in the intercellular spaces.
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emulsification
Breaking up of fat globules into smaller droplets by the action of bile salts or any other emulsifier.
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endocrine gland
Ductless organ that secretes hormone(s) into the bloodstream.
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epiglottis
Structure that covers the glottis and closes off the air tract during the process of swallowing.
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esophagus
Muscular tube for moving swallowed food from the pharynx to the stomach.
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exocrine gland
Gland that discharges its secretion into ducts; the pancreas is an exocrine gland when it secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum.
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filtration
Movement of small molecules from a blood capillary into the nephron capsule due to the action of blood pressure.
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gallbladder
Organ attached to the liver that serves to store and concentrate bile.
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glottis
Opening for airflow in the larynx.
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glucagon
Hormone secreted by the pancreas, which causes the liver to break down glycogen and raises the blood glucose level.
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heme
Iron-containing group found in hemoglobin.
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hemodialysis
Cleansing of blood by using an artificial membrane that causes substances to diffuse from blood into a dialysis fluid.
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herbivore
Primary consumer in a grazing food chain; a plant eater.
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insulin
Hormone secreted by the pancreas that lowers the blood glucose level by promoting the uptake of glucose by cells and the conversion of glucose to glycogen by the liver and skeletal muscles.
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intestinal enzyme
Enzyme, produced by the epithelial cells on the surface of villi, which functions in the digestion of small organic molecules.
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kidneys
Paired organs of the vertebrate urinary system that regulate the chemical composition of the blood and produce a waste product called urine.
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lacteal
Lymphatic vessel in an intestinal villus; aids in the absorption of fats.
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large intestine
In vertebrates, portion of the digestive tract that follows the small intestine; in humans, consists of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal.
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larynx
Cartilaginous organ located between the pharynx and the trachea; in humans, contains the vocal cords; sometimes called the voice box.
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lipase
Fat-digesting enzyme secreted by the pancreas.
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liver
Large, dark red internal organ that produces urea and bile, detoxifies the blood, stores glycogen, and produces the plasma proteins, among other functions.
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lungs
Internal respiratory organs containing moist surfaces for gas exchange.
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Malpighian tubule
Blind, threadlike excretory tubule near the anterior end of an insect's hindgut.
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maltase
Enzyme produced in small intestine that breaks down maltose to two glucose molecules.
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microvillus (pl., microvilli)
Cylindrical process that extends from an epithelial cell of a villus and serves to increase the surface area of the cell.
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mouth
In humans, organ of the digestive tract where food is chewed and mixed with saliva.
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nasal cavity
One of two canals in the nose, separated by a septum.
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nephron
Microscopic kidney unit that regulates blood composition by filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.
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nephron capsule
Cuplike structure that is the initial portion of a nephron.
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nephron loop
Portion of a nephron between the proximal and distal tubules; functions in water reabsorption.
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nuclease
Enzyme that catalyzes decomposition of nucleic acids.
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omnivore
Organism in a food chain that feeds on both plants and animals.
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pancreas
Internal organ that produces digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon.
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pancreatic amylase
Enzyme that digests starch to maltose.
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pepsin
Enzyme secreted by gastric glands that digests proteins to peptides.
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peptidase
Intestinal enzyme that breaks down short chains of amino acids to individual amino acids that are absorbed across the intestinal wall.
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peristalsis
Wavelike contractions that propel substances along a tubular structure such as the esophagus.
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pharynx
In vertebrates, common passageway for both food intake and air movement; located between the mouth and the esophagus.
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polyp
Small, abnormal growth that arises from the epithelial lining.
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proximal tubule
Portion of a nephron following the nephron capsule where reabsorption of filtrate occurs.
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reabsorption
Movement of primarily nutrient molecules and water from the contents of the nephron into blood at the proximal tubule.
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renal cortex
Outer portion of the kidney that appears granular.
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renal medulla
Inner portion of the kidney that consists of renal pyramids.
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renal pelvis
Hollow chamber in the kidney that lies inside the renal medulla and receives freshly prepared urine from the collecting ducts.
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respiration
Sequence of events that results in gas exchange between the cells of the body and the environment.
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salivary amylase
In humans, enzyme in saliva that digests starch to maltose.
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salivary gland
In humans, gland associated with the mouth that secretes saliva.
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secretion
In the cell, release of a substance by exocytosis from a cell that may be a gland or part of a gland; in the urinary system, movement of certain molecules from blood into the distal tubule of a nephron so that they are added to urine.
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sinus
Cavity into which hemolymph flows and baths the organs in an open circulatory system. Also, air-filled spaces in nasal cavities.
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small intestine
In vertebrates, the portion of the digestive tract that precedes the large intestine; in humans, consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum; responsible for most digestion and absorption.
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stomach
In vertebrates, muscular sac that mixes food with gastric juices to form chyme, which enters the small intestine.
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thoracic cavity
Located in the ventral cavity above the abdominal cavity and is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm; contains the heart and the lungs.
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trachea (pl., tracheae)
In tetrapod vertebrates, air tube (windpipe) that runs between the larynx and the bronchi.
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trypsin
Protein-digesting enzyme secreted by the pancreas.
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ureter
Tubular structure conducting urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder.
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urethra
Tubular structure that receives urine from the bladder and carries it to the outside of the body.
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urinary bladder
Organ system consisting of the kidneys and urinary bladder; rids the body of nitrogenous wastes and helps regulate the water-salt balance of the blood.
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urine
Liquid waste product made by the nephrons of the vertebrate kidney through the processes of filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.
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villus (pl., villi)
Small, fingerlike projection of the inner small intestinal wall.
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vocal cord
In humans, folds of tissue within the larynx; create vocal sounds when they vibrate.
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