| A | B |
|---|
| abdomen | The body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion and excretion. It is located below the diaphragm and above the pelvis. |
| abduction | Motion of a limb away from the midline. |
| acetabulum | The depression on the lateral pelvis where its three component bones join, in which the femoral head fits snugly. |
| Adam''s apple | The firm prominence in the upper part of the larynx formed by the thyroid cartilage. |
| adduction | Motion of a limb toward the midline. |
| agonal respirations | Slow, gasping respiration, sometimes seen in dying patients. |
| alveoli | The air sacs of the lungs in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. |
| anatomic position | The position of reference in which the patient stands facing you, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands forward. |
| angle of Louis | A ridge on the sternum that lies at the level where the second rib is attached to the sternum; provides a constant and reliable bony landmark on the anterior chest wall. |
| anterior | The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position. |
| anterior superior iliac spines | The bony prominences of the pelvis (ilium) at the front on each side of the lower abdomen just below the plane of the umbilicus. |
| aorta | The principal artery leaving the left side of the heart and carrying freshly oxygenated blood to the body. |
| apex (apices) | The pointed extremity of a conical structure. |
| appendix | A small tubular structure that is attached to the lower border of the cecum in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. |
| arteriole | The smallest branch of an artery leading to the vast network of capillaries. |
| atrium | One of two (right and left) upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives blood from the vena cava and delivers it to the right ventricle. The left atrium receives blood from pulmonary veins and delivers it to the left ventricle. |
| autonomic nervous system | The part of the nervous system that regulates functions, such as digestion and sweating, that are not controlled voluntarily. |
| ball-and-socket joint | A joint that allows internal and external rotation as well as bending. |
| biceps | The large muscle that covers the front of the humerus. |
| bilateral | A body part that appears on both sides of the midline. |
| bile ducts | Ducts that convey bile between the liver and the intestine. |
| blood pressure (BP) | The pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them. |
| brachial artery | The major vessel in the upper extremity that supplies blood to the arm. |
| brain | The controlling organ of the body and center of consciousness; functions include perception, control of reactions to the environment, emotional responses, and judgment. |
| brain stem | The area of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebrum, surrounded by the cerebellum; controls functions that are necessary for life, such as respirations. |
| capillary vessels | The fine end-divisions of the arterial system that allow contact between cells of the body tissues and the plasma and red blood cells. |
| carotid artery | The major artery that supplies blood to the head and brain. |
| carpometacarpal joint | The joint between the wrist and the metacarpal bones; the thumb joint. |
| cecum | The first part of the large intestine, into which the ileum opens. |
| central nervous system (CNS) | The brain and spinal cord. |
| cerebellum | One of the three major subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the "little brain"; coordinates the various activities of the brain, particularly fine body movements |
| cerebrum | The largest part of the three subdivisions of the brain, sometimes called the "gray matter"; made up of several lobes that control movement, hearing, balance, speech, visual perception, emotions, and |
| cervical spine | The portion of the spinal column consisting of the first seven vertebrae that lie in the neck. |
| circulatory system | The complex arrangement of connected tubes, including the arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins, that moves blood, oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and cellular waste throughout the body. |
| clavicle | The collarbone; it is lateral to the sternum and medial to the scapula. |
| coccyx | The last three or four vertebrae of the spine; the tailbone. |
| connecting nerves | Nerves that connect the sensory and motor nerves in the spinal cord. |
| costal arch | A bridge of cartilage that connects the ends of the sixth through tenth ribs with the lower portion of the sternum. |
| costovertebral angle | An angle that is formed by the junction of the spine and the tenth rib. |
| cranium | The area of the head above the ears and eyes; the skull. The cranium contains the brain. |
| cricoid cartilage | A firm ridge of cartilage that forms the lower part of the larynx. |
| cricothyroid membrane | A thin sheet of fascia that connects the thyroid and cricoid cartilages that make up the larynx. |
| deep | Further inside the body and away from the skin. |
| dermis | The inner layer of the skin, containing hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels. |
| diaphragm | A muscular dome that forms the undersurface of the thorax, separating the chest from the abdominal cavity. Contraction of the diaphragm (and the chest wall muscles) brings air into the lungs. Relaxation allows air to be expelled from the lungs. |
| diastole | The relaxation, or period of relaxation, of the heart, especially of the ventricles. |
| digestion | The processing of food that nourishes the individual cells of the body. |
| distal | Structures that are farther from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity. |
| dorsal | The posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand. |
| dorsalis pedis artery | The artery on the anterior surface of the foot between the first and second metatarsals. |
| endocrine system | The complex message and control system that integrates many body functions, including the release of hormones. |
| enzymes | Protein catalysts designed to speed up the rate of specific biochemical reactions. |
| epidermis | The outer layer of skin that acts as a watertight protective covering. |
| epiglottis | A thin, leaf-shaped valve that allows air to pass into the trachea but prevents food or liquid from entering. |
| esophagus | A collapsible tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach; contractions of the muscle in the wall of the esophagus propel food and liquids through it to the stomach. |
| extend | To straighten |
| extension | The straightening of a joint. |
| fallopian tube | Long, slender tube that extends from the uterus to the region of the ovary on the same side, and through which the ovum passes from ovary to uterus. |
| fascia | A sheet or band of tough fibrous connective tissue; lies deep under the skin and forms an outer layer for the muscles. |
| femoral artery | The principal artery of the thigh, a continuation of the external iliac artery. It supplies blood to the lower abdominal wall, external genitalia, and legs. It can be palpated in the groin area. |
| femoral head | The proximal end of the femur, articulating with the acetabulum to form the hip joint. |
| femur | The thighbone; the longest and one of the strongest bones in the body. |
| flex | To bend |
| flexion | The bending of a joint. |
| floating ribs | The eleventh and twelfth ribs, which do not attach to the sternum through the costal arch. |
| foramen magnum | The large opening at the base of the skull through which the brain connects to the spinal cord. |
| Fowler''s position | The position in which the patient is sitting up with the knees bent. |
| gallbladder | A sac on the undersurface of the liver that collects bile from the liver and discharges it into the duodenum through the common bile duct. |
| genital system | The male and female reproductive systems. |
| greater trochanter | A bony prominence on the proximal lateral side of the thigh, just below the hip joint. |
| hair follicles | The small organs in the skin that produce hair. |
| heart | A hollow muscular organ that receives blood from the veins and propels it into the arteries. |
| heart rate (pulse) | The wave of pressure that is created by the heart''s contracting and forcing blood out the left ventricle and into the major arteries. |
| hinge joints | Joints that can bend and straighten but cannot rotate; they restrict motion to one plane. |
| humerus | The supporting bone of the upper arm. |
| hypoxic drive | A "backup system" to control respiration; senses drops in the oxygen level in the blood. |
| iliac crest | The rim, or wing, of the pelvic bone. |
| ilium | One of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring. |
| inferior | The part of the body, or any body part, nearer to the feet. |
| inferior vena cava | One of the two largest veins in the body; carries blood from the lower extremities and the pelvic and the abdominal organs into the heart. |
| inguinal ligament | The tough, fibrous ligament that stretches between the lateral edge of the pubic symphysis and the anterior superior iliac spine. |
| involuntary muscle | Muscle over which a person has no conscious control. It is found in many automatic regulating systems of the body. |
| ischium | One of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring. |
| joint (articulation) | The place where two bones come into contact. |
| joint capsule | The fibrous sac that encloses a joint. |
| kidneys | Two retroperitoneal organs that excrete the end products of metabolism as urine and regulate the body''s salt and water content. |
| large intestine | The portion of the digestive tube that encircles the abdomen around the small bowel, consisting of the cecum, the colon, and the rectum. It helps regulate water and eliminate solid waste. |
| lateral | Parts of the body that lie farther from the midline. Also called outer structures. |
| ligament | A band of the fibrous tissue that connects bones to bones. It supports and strengthens a joint. |
| liver | A large solid organ that lies in the right upper quadrant immediately below the diaphragm; it produces bile, stores sugar for immediate use by the body, and produces many substances that help regulate immune responses. |
| lumbar spine | The lower part of the back, formed by the lowest five nonfused vertebrae; also called the dorsal spine. |
| lumbar vertebrae | Vertebrae of the lumbar spine. |
| mandible | The bone of the lower jaw. |
| manubrium | The upper quarter of the sternum. |
| mastoid process | The prominent bony mass at the base of the skull about 1" posterior to the external opening of the ear. |
| maxillae | The bones that form the upper jaw on either side of the face; they contain the upper teeth and form part of the orbit of the eye, the nasal cavity, and the palate. |
| medial | Parts of the body that lie closer to the midline; also called inner structures. |
| metabolism | The sum of all the physical and chemical processes of living organisms; the process by which energy is made available for the uses of the organism. |
| midaxillary line | An imaginary vertical line drawn through the middle of the axilla (armpit), parallel to the midline. |
| midclavicular line | An imaginary vertical line drawn through the middle portion of the clavicle and parallel to the midline. |
| midline | An imaginary vertical line drawn from the middle of the forehead through the nose and the umbilicus (navel) to the floor. |
| motor nerves | Nerves that carry information from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body. |
| mucous membranes | The lining of body cavities and passages that communicate directly or indirectly with the environment outside the body. |
| mucus | The opaque, sticky secretion of the mucous membranes that lubricates the body openings. |
| musculoskeletal system | The bones and voluntary muscles of the body. |
| myocardium | The heart muscle. |
| nasopharynx | The part of the pharynx that lies above the level of the roof of the mouth, or soft palate. |
| nervous system | The system that controls virtually all activities of the body, both voluntary and involuntary. |
| occiput | The most posterior portion of the cranium. |
| orbit | The bony eye socket. |
| oropharynx | A tubular structure that extends vertically from the back of the mouth to the esophagus and trachea. |
| ovary | A female gland that produces sex hormones and ova (eggs). |
| palmar | The front region of the hand. |
| pancreas | A flat, solid organ that lies below the liver and the stomach; it is a major source of digestive enzymes and produces the hormone insulin. |
| parietal regions | The areas between the temporal and occiput regions of the cranium. |
| patella | The kneecap. |
| perfusion | The flow of blood through body tissues and vessels. |
| peripheral nervous system | The part of the nervous system that consists of 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves. These peripheral nerves may be sensory nerves, motor nerves, or connecting nerves. |
| peristalsis | The wave-like contraction of smooth muscle by which the ureters or other tubular organs propel their contents. |
| pinna | The external, visible part of the ear. |
| plantar | The bottom of the foot. |
| plasma | A sticky, yellow fluid that carries the blood cells and nutrients and transports cellular waste material to the organs of excretion. |
| platelets | Tiny, disk-shaped elements that are much smaller than the cells; they are essential in the initial formation of a blood clot, the mechanism that stops bleeding. |
| pleura | The serous membrane covering the lungs and lining the thoracic cavity, completely enclosing a potential space known as the pleural space. |
| pleural space | The potential space between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura. It is described as "potential" because under normal conditions, the lungs fill this space. |
| posterior | The back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position. |
| posterior tibial artery | The artery just posterior to the medial malleolus; supplies blood to the foot. |
| priapism | A continuous and painful erection of the penis caused by certain spinal injuries and some diseases. |
| prone position | The position in which the body is lying face down. |
| prostate gland | A small gland that surrounds the male urethra where it emerges from the urinary bladder; it secretes a fluid that is part of the ejaculatory fluid. |
| proximal | Structures that are closer to the trunk. |
| pubic symphysis | A hard bony prominence that is found in the midline in the lowermost portion of the abdomen. |
| pubis | One of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring. |
| pulmonary artery | The major artery leading from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs; it carries oxygen-poor blood. |
| pulmonary veins | The four veins that return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. |
| pulse | The wave of pressure created as the heart contracts and forces blood out the left ventricle and into the major arteries. |
| quadrants | The way to describe the sections of the abdominal cavity. Imagine two lines intersecting at the umbilicus dividing the abdomen into four equal areas. |
| radial artery | The major artery in the forearm; it is palpable at the wrist on the thumb side. |
| radius | The bone on the thumb side of the forearm; important in both wrist and function. |
| rectum | The lowermost end of the colon. |
| red blood cells | Cells that carry oxygen to the body''s tissues; also called erythrocytes. |
| renal pelvis | A cone-shaped collecting area that connects the ureter and the kidney. |
| respiratory system | All the structures of the body that contribute to the process of breathing, consisting of the upper and lower airways and their component parts. |
| retroperitoneal | Behind the abdominal cavity. |
| sacrum | One of three bones (sacrum and two pelvic bones) that make up the pelvic ring; consists of five fused sacral vertebrae. |
| salivary glands | The glands that produce saliva to keep the mouth and pharynx moist. |
| scalp | The thick skin covering the cranium, which usually bears hair. |
| scapula | The shoulder blade. |
| sebaceous glands | Glands that produce an oily substance called sebum, which discharges along the shafts of the hairs. |
| semen | Seminal fluid ejaculated from the penis and containing sperm. |
| seminal vesicles | Storage sacs for sperm and seminal fluid, which empty into the urethra at the prostate. |
| sensory nerves | The nerves that carry sensations of touch, taste, heat, cold, pain, or other modalities from the body to the central nervous system. |
| shock position | The position that has the head and torso (trunk) supine and the lower extremities elevated 6" to 12". This helps to increase blood flow to the brain; also referred to as the modified Trendelenburg''s position. |
| shoulder girdle | The proximal portion of the upper extremity, made up of the clavicle, the scapula, and the humerus. |
| skeletal muscle | Muscle that is attached to bones and usually crosses at least one joint; striated, or voluntary, muscle. |
| skeleton | The framework that gives us our recognizable form; also designed to allow motion of the body and protection of vital organs. |
| small intestine | The portion of the digestive tube between the stomach and the cecum, consisting of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. |
| smooth muscle | Nonstriated, involuntary muscle; it constitutes the bulk of the gastrointestinal tract and is present in nearly every organ to regulate automatic activity. |
| somatic nervous system | The part of the nervous system that regulates activities over which there is voluntary control. |
| spinal cord | An extension of the brain, composed of virtually all the nerves carrying messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It lies inside of, and is protected by, the spinal canal. |
| sternocleidomastoid muscles | The muscles on either side of the neck that allow movement of the head. |
| sternum | The breastbone. |
| striated muscle | Muscle that has characteristic stripes, or striations, under the microscope; voluntary, or skeletal, muscle. |
| subcutaneous tissue | Tissue, largely fat, that lies directly under the dermis and serves as an insulator of the body. |
| superficial | Closer to or on the skin. |
| superior | The part of the body, or any body part, nearer to the head. |
| superior vena cava | One of the two largest veins in the body; carries blood from the upper extremities, head, neck, and chest into the heart. |
| supine position | The position in which the body is lying face up. |
| sweat glands | The glands that secrete sweat, located in the dermal layer of the skin. |
| systole | The contraction, or period of contraction, of the heart, especially that of the ventricles. |
| temporal regions | The lateral portions on each side of the cranium. |
| temporomandibular joint | The joint where the mandible meets with the temporal bone of the cranium just in front of each ear. |
| testicle | A male genital gland that contains specialized cells that produce hormones and sperm. |
| thoracic cage | The chest or rib cage. |
| thoracic spine | The 12 vertebrae that lie between the cervical vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae. One pair of ribs is attached to each of the thoracic vertebrae. |
| thorax | The chest cavity that contains the heart, lungs, esophagus, and great vessels (the aorta and the two venae cavae). |
| thyroid cartilage | A firm prominence of cartilage that forms the upper part of the larynx; the Adam''s apple. |
| tibia | The shinbone, the larger of the two bones of the lower leg. |
| topographic anatomy | The superficial landmarks of the body that serve as guides to the structures that lie beneath them. |
| torso | The trunk without the head and limbs. |
| trachea | The windpipe; the main trunk for air passing to and from the lungs. |
| Trendelenburg''s position | The position in which the body is supine with the head lower than the feet. |
| triceps | The muscle in the back of the upper arm. |
| ulna | The bone on the small finger side of the forearm; most important for elbow function. |
| ulnar artery | One of the major arteries of the forearm; it can be palpated at the wrist on the ulnar side (at the base of the fifth finger). |
| ureter | A small, hollow tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder |
| urethra | The canal that conveys urine from bladder to outside the body. |
| urinary bladder | A sac behind the pubic symphysis made of smooth muscle that collects and stores urine. |
| urinary system | The organs that control the discharge of certain waste materials filtered from the blood and excreted as urine. |
| vagina | The outermost cavity of a women"s reproductive system; the lower part of the birth canal. |
| vasa deferentia | The spermatic duct of the testicles; also called vas deferens. |
| ventral | The anterior surface of the body. |
| ventricle | Lower chamber of the heart. |
| vertebrae | The 33 bones that make up the spinal column. |
| voluntary muscle | Muscle that is under direct voluntary control of the brain and can be contracted or relaxed at will; skeletal, or striated, muscle. |
| white blood cells | Blood cells that play a role in the body"s immune defense mechanisms against infection; also called leukocytes. |
| xiphoid process | The lower tip of the sternum. |
| zygomas | The quadrangular bones of the cheek, articulating with frontal bone, the maxillae, the zygomatic processes of the temporal bone, and the great wings of the sphenoid bone. |
