SCIENTIFIC GLOSSARY OF TERMS Abduction Moving away from the body Absorption The movement of a fluid or a dissolved substance across a cell membrane Actin Muscle protein Adduction Moving towards the body Adipose tissue Fat tissue in the body Aerobic Requiring oxygen for life and growth Aerobic respiration The enzymatic release of energy from the oxidation of organic compounds in living cells in a process requiring oxygen Afferent nerve fibres carry nerve impulses towards the central nervous system Amphiarthrosis (cartilaginous joints) are slightly movable Anabolic reaction A reaction in which chemical substances are built up and energy is used Anaemia A deficiency in the number of circulating red blood cells or haemoglobin concentration in the blood Anaerobic Not requiring oxygen Anaerobic respiration The partial oxidation of organic compounds in the cell to release energy, in a process which does not require oxygen Antibody A globular protein or immunoglobulin, made by plasma cells and secreted into the plasma in response to a specific antigen, in order to destroy and eliminate the antigen from the body. Antigen A substance that is foreign to the body and stimulates an immune response. Apical surface Surface of epithelial tissue exposed to the external environment Apnoea Absence of breathing Arrhythmia An abnormal heart rhythm Artery Blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart Asystole No electrical activity in the heart – a ‘flat line’ on the ECG Atom Smallest particle capable of existing on its own or as molecules when in combination with other atoms ATP Adenosine triphosphate, a high energy phosphate molecule used to store and release energy for work within the body Autonomic nervous system Part of the peripheral nervous system that supplies stimulation to the cardiac and smooth muscles and the glands of the body, involved in unconscious control Axon Fibre of neuron which transmits nerve impulses Basolateral surface Side of epithelial tissue attached to the basement membrane Basophil Type of granular white blood cell Blood plasma Fluid surrounding the blood cells and transported by the blood-vascular system Bolus A ball of chewed food bound together with saliva that is formed in the mouth by the action of the tongue Bradycardia A slower than normal heart rate Calculus Stone like deposits of mineral salts found in hollow organs or on the teeth. In the urethra they can result in blockage of the passage of urine. Capillary refill time Time taken for blood capillaries to refill after flow in them has been disrupted in some way Cardiac Pertaining to the heart Catabolic reaction A reaction in which chemical substances are broken down and energy is released Cavity An empty space within a solid object Cell A structure bound by a plasma membrane, containing cytoplasm and organelles; the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms. Central Nervous System The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord Chrondrocytes Cartilage cells Chromosome Thread-like structure made up of DNA and histones, containing a series of genes, found in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell Cilia Short hair-like structures found on the surfaces of some cells and organisms; used for either propelling trapped material out of the body or for locomotion Condyle A rounded protuberance at the send of some bones forming an articulation with another bone Connective tissue Tissue that binds structures together, made up of cells and an intercellular matrix and its functions include support, protection and repair Cranium The skull containing the brain Dense connective Includes the tendons and ligaments tissue Dermal papilla Structure situated at the base of the hair follicle containing nerves and blood vessels, which supply nutrients necessary for hair growth Dermis Layer of dense connective tissue lying beneath the epidermis Diarthroses (Synovial joints) are freely movable Diastole Relaxation stage of the cardiac cycle. The term applies to both atrial and ventricular relaxation. Digestion The process by which food materials are broken down into small soluble chemical units DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic material found inside the nucleus of the cell Duodenum Dysphagia Difficulty swallowing Dystocia Difficult parturition; difficulty giving birth Dysuria Difficulty in passing urine Ectoparasite A parasite that lives on the outside of the host Efferent nerve fibres Carry nerve impulses away from the central nervous system Embolism A clot, air bubble or debris (embolus) which is carried in the blood stream from one point in the circulation to lodge at another point Embryo Stage of development in the zygote in which the external and internal structures are developing Endocardium The innermost layer of the heart Endocrine gland Ductless gland whose secretions (hormones) reach their target organ via the bloodstream Endoparasite A parasite that lives inside the host Endothermic Regulation of body temperature by internal heat production Eosinophil Increased number of circulating eosinophils in the blood. May be seen in cases of allergy or parasite infestation Epicondyle A protuberance above or on the condyle of a long bone, especially of the two at the elbow end of the humerus Epidermis The tough outer protective layer of the skin Epithelial tissue Covers the surface of the body Excretion The process by which waste materials are removed from the body Exocrine gland Gland whose secretions reach their target organ by means of a duct Exothermic Regulation of body temperature by the external environment rather than by internal metabolism Expiration The process by which gas is expelled from the lungs - breathing out Extension Straightening Exteroreceptors Sensory cells that receive information from the environment outside the body Extracellular fluid (ECF) Fluid found outside the cells Flexion Bending Fluid tissue connective Blood Foetus Stage of development in the zygote in which all the organs are fully developed Foramen An opening, hole or passage especially in bone Fossa A shallow depression or hollow Fibrin Derived from fibrinogen, an insoluble protein which forms a mesh across areas of damaged capillaries that traps cells and platelets to form a clot Fibrinogen One of the plasma proteins; involved in the blood clotting mechanism Flagella Long cell appendages used for locomotion in some micro-organisms (i.e. sperm). Singular - flagellum. Ganglion Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system Gaseous exchange The movement of gases between an organism and its environment; often takes place across a specialized surface, for example the alveoli of the lungs Gastritis Inflammation of the stomach Genetics The science of inheritance. Physical characteristics and abilities are largely determined by ‘genetic makeup’. In the 1860s, Mendel carried out studies which showed that each organism has physical traits which correspond to invisible elements within the cell. Gestation The period of development of the young from fertilization to birth Glial cells Cells such as Schwann cells which work with neurons, found in nervous tissue which provides metabolic and structural support for neurons Goblet cells Secrete mucous Haemorrhage Loss of blood Haversian canal Central canal in compact bone Hepatic Pertaining to the liver Homeostasis The maintenance of a constant internal environment Hyperglycaemia Increased blood glucose level Hyperkalaemia Increased blood potassium level Hypertension Higher than normal blood pressure Hyperthermia Higher than normal body temperature Hypoglycaemia Decreased blood glucose level Hypotension Lower than normal blood pressure Hypothermia Lower than normal body temperature Hypoxaemia Decreased level of oxygen in the blood Hypoxia Decreased level of oxygen in the body tissues Immunity Ability to resist specific types of disease Infection Capable of causing disease between animals Inflammation The body's reaction to injury and infection characterized by pain, swelling and heat Ingestion The taking in of food Intracellular fluid (ICF) Fluid found inside the cells Intussusception Telescoping of part of the intestine into itself causing an obstruction Jejunum Part of the small intestine between the duodenum and the ileum Lactation Production of milk from the mammary glands Larynx Part of the respiratory tract between the pharynx and trachea. It is made up of cartilages, ligaments and muscles and lined with mucus membrane. Leukocyte White blood cell Loose tissue connective Provides padding for the body Lymphocyte Type of agranular white blood cell, responsible for the production of antibodies Malleolus A bony projection with a shape likened to a hammer head especially either side of the hock joint Mastication Chewing Metabolism The sum of the physical and chemical changes that take place in living organisms. These changes include both synthesis (anabolism) and breakdown (catabolism) of substances in the body Murmur Abnormal heart sound created by alteration of blood flow through the hear Myoblast Muscle cell Myosin Muscle protein Myofibril Muscle fibre Neuron Nerve cell. They transmit information as electrical signals around the body. Nodes of Ranvier Gaps in the myelin sheath Notch An indentation on an edge or surface Nucleolus Small structure inside the nucleus of a cell, where ribosomes are manufactured Oedema Excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues or body cavities; often results in swelling of the area Oestrogen Female sex hormone secreted by the ovary Olfactory Smell sense Origin Point at which muscle is attached to a bone Osteoblasts Cells that form bone Osteoclasts Cells that break down bone Osteocytes Mature bone cells Osteons Found in compact bone Parasite An agent that lives with and at the expense of an animal host Parasympathetic nervous system Part of the autonomic nervous system Pathogen A disease-producing organism Peripheral nervous system Part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord Peristalsis Waves of muscular contractions that occur in tubular structures to move contents forwards, e.g. food and other ingested material is moved along the gastrointestinal tract towards the anus. Peristalsis also occurs in the uterine tubes and the ureters. Plasma The fluid part of blood Plasma membrane The membrane that surrounds a living cell; it consists of a double layer of phospholipids with embedded proteins Platelets Also called thrombocytes, these are small particles derived from megakaryocytes, found in plasma, that are involved in the clotting mechanism of blood Process A natural outgrowth on an organism such as a protuberance on a bone Proprioceptors sensory cells that receive information about the position of limbs or the tension of muscles and tendons within the body Psuedo stratified Simple epithelium that gives the impression that it is stratified when this is not epithelium the case Pulmonary Pertaining to the lungs Receptors Sensory cells that receive information from the environment, in the form of a stimulus, and transfer this information to the brain or spinal cord as a nerve impulse Respiration Breathing; exchange of gases - oxygen and carbon dioxide Respiratory tract The conducting pathway of air in and out of the body, from the nose to the pulmonary alveoli Rhythmic segmentation Muscular contractions which break up and mix the food within the gastrointestinal tract. These movements do not push the food along the tract. Saltatory conduction Transmission of nerve impulses from one node of Ranvier to the next Sarcolemma Membrane surrounding a skeletal muscle fibre Sebaceous Relating to glands found in the dermis of the skin, that produce sebum Sebum An oily substance produced by sebaceous glands in the skin Sensory fibres Nerve fibres that carry impulses towards the central nervous system Simple epithelium Epithelium with a single layer of cells Smooth muscle Muscle tissue with no striations that is not under voluntary control Somatic motor nerve Nerve fibres that carry impulses from the central nervous system to a somatic structure Somatic sensory nerve Nerve fibres that carry impulses from a somatic structure to the central nervous system Sphincter Muscular ring that controls flow in and out of an organ Spinal nerves Any of the pairs of nerves that arise from the spinal cord Squamous epithelium Epithelium made up of flat ‘pavement’ cells Stratified epithelium Epithelium with a single layer of cells Striated muscle Muscle fibres that have striations and are under voluntary control; also called skeletal muscle Styloid process A slender projection of bone such as those at the lower end of the radius Subcutaneous Under the skin Subcutis The deepest layer of skin composed mainly of adipose tissue Sympathetic nervous system Part of the autonomic nervous system Synapses Points where two axons meet Synarthroses (Fibrous or fixed joints) are immovable Systole Contraction stage of the cardiac cycle. The term applies to both atrial and ventricular contraction. Tachycardia A faster than normal heart rate Tachypnoea Rapid respiration Tactile hair Long thick hairs such as the whiskers that are highly sensitive to pressure and touch and which provide sensory information about the environment Tidal volume The volume of air that passes in and out of the lungs in one breath during normal respiration Toxaemia The presence of toxins in the blood Transitional epithelium Found in the bladder and urinary tract Trochanter Any of a number of bony protuberances by which muscles are attached to the upper part of the femur Trochlear Relating to a part of the body resembling a pulley Tuberosity A rounded protuberance at the end of a bone to which a muscle or tendon is attached. Tubercle A small rounded projection especially on bone or on the surface of an animal Upper neuron motor A motor neuron that starts in the brain and transfers information to the spinal cord Vasoconstriction Narrowing of blood vessels Vasodilation Widening of blood vessels Vein Blood vessel carrying blood towards the heart Virus An microscopic infectious agent that requires the cells of a host animal (or plant) in which to reproduce Visceral motor nerve Nerve fibres that carry impulses from the central nervous system to an organ Visceral peritoneum Thin layer of epithelial tissue covering all the organs in the peritoneal cavity Visceral sensory nerve Nerve fibres that carry impulses from an organ to the central nervous system
