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