Human Anatomy and Physiology

Thromboplastin

A chemical found in platelets and cell tissue needed to clot blood

Prothrombin

A chemical involved in the clotting process of blood which is converted to thrombin

Thrombin

A chemical involved in the process of blood clotting produced from prothrombin

Hormone

A chemical messenger produced in one part of the body which has its effect in another part like insulin and corticoids

Fibrinogen

A compound involved in blood clotting which is converted to fibrin

Fibrin

A compound involved in blood clotting, produced by fibrinogen

Jaundice

A condition resulting from the bile in the blood, the patient has a yellow color to his skin

Loop of Henle

A descending and ascending limb of the kidney tubules

Sickle Cell Anemia

A hereditary disease in African-Americans which causes the red blood cells to curve or sickle

Hemophilia

A hereditary disease in which the victim has blood which does not clot well

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the pancreas which lowers the level of the blood sugar

Albumin

A protein found in the blood serum similar to that in the white of an egg

Hemoglobin

A red pigment which allows the erythrocytes to pick up and drop off oxygen molecules

Urinary Bladder

A sac which temporarily stores urine until it is excreted

Glomerulus

A tiny ball of capillaries within Bowman's capsule of the kidney nephron through which the impurities are extracted from the blood

Leukocytes

A white blood cell

Spleen

An organ concerned with the storage of blood, its final destruction, and the production of lymphocytes

Renal Artery

Arteries taking blood into the kidneys

Intestinal Flora

Bacteria within the large intestine which helps break down the digested food material

Lymph Node

Bead-like structures within the lymphatic system that purify the lymph

Leukemia

Cancer of the leukocytes, a disease more common in children

Elephantiasis

Edema due to small roundworms blocking the lymph vessels

Exhalation

Expelling gases from the lungs

Bronchial Tubes

Further branching of the bronchi within the bronchi in the lungs

Arteries (artery)

Heavy walled vessels which bring blood away from the heart

Atria (atrium)

One of the two thin-walled chambers that receive blood into the heart from the veins

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the body to combat foreign particles

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells

Cilia

Short filaments which beat to cause motion

Absorption

Taking in nutrients through the small intestine

Larynx

The "voice box", which contains the vocal cords in the neck

Inhalation

The act of breathing air into the lungs

Pharynx

The back part of the throat cavity

Edema

The back up of lymph, causing swelling

Pelvis

The central region or cavity of the kidney where urine collects before entering the ureter

Thoracic Cavity

The chest cavity containing the heart and lungs

Respiration

The exchange of two gases between your body and the environment

Lymph

The fluid which cleanses the body tissues

Medulla

The innermost layer of a body organ like the kidney or adrenal gland

Plasma

The liquid portion of the blood

Cortex

The outer part of an organ, like the adrenal gland, cerebrum, or kidney

Bowman's Capsule

The part of the nephron in the kidney that receives the wastes from the blood in the glomerulus

Phagocytosis

The process of a cell engulfing it's food, sometimes called "cell eating"

Filtration

The process of the kidneys taking out the impurities from the blood

Pericardium

The sac around the heart

Nephron

The smallest unit of the kidney for the urine production

Platelets

The solid structures within the blood which are important in clotting

Metabolism

The sum of all body chemistry

Ventricles

The thick, muscular cavities which pump the blood. This word is also used to refer to the four cavities within the brain

Urethra

The tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside

Bronchi

The two tubes into which the trachea divide to go into each lung

Alveoli (alveolus)

Tiny sacs within the lungs which increase the respiratory surface

Capillaries (capillary)

Tiny vessels through which diffusion takes place between the blood and the body tissues

Bronchioles

Very tiny tubes which dead end in a sac within the lungs

Veins

Vessels which bring blood back to the heart