Key Terms
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bone- the hard connective tissue forming the substance of the skeleton of most
vertebrates; composed of a collagen-rich organic matrix impregnated with calcium,
phosphate, and other minerals.
muscle- a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces
movement in the body.
joint- the movable or fixed place or part where two bones or elements of a skeleton join.
brain- the part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and
other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of gray and white matter and
serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions.
skeleton- the bones of a human or an animal considered as a whole, together forming the
framework of the body.
ball-and-socket joint- a joint in which the rounded end of one bone fits into a cuplike
end of the other bone, allowing for relatively free rotary motion, as at the hip or shoulder.
hinge joint- two bones move as if there were a gate hinge between them. Found at the
elbow and knee, and in several locations in the fingers and toes.
gliding joint- two bones slide past each other in some way.
pivot joints- allow head to move from side to side.
fixed joints- between two bones and do not move at all.
cartilage- a firm, elastic, flexible type of connective tissue of a translucent whitish or
yellowish color; gristle.
vertebrate- backbone and spinal column.
contract- to shorten.
tissue- an aggregate of similar cells and cell products forming a definite kind of
structural material with a specific function, in a multicellular organism.
tendon- a cord or band of dense, tough, inelastic, white, fibrous tissue, serving to connect
a muscle with a bone or part; sinew.
ligament- a band of tissue, usually white and fibrous, serving to connect bones, hold
organs in place, etc.
rib- one of a series of curved bones that are articulated with the vertebrae and occur in
pairs, 12 in humans, on each side of the vertebrate body, certain pairs being connected
with the sternum and forming the thoracic wall.
skull- the bony framework of the head, enclosing the brain and supporting the face; the
skeleton of the head.
torso- the trunk of the human body.
coordination- balanced and effective interaction of movement, actions, etc.
voluntary- can be controlled.
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involuntary- cannot be controlled.
cerebrum- the anterior and largest part of the brain, consisting of two halves or
hemispheres and serving to control voluntary movements and coordinate mental actions.
cerebellum- a large portion of the brain, serving to coordinate voluntary movements,
posture, and balance in humans, being in back of and below the cerebrum and consisting
of two lateral lobes and a central lobe.
brain stem- the portion of the brain that is continuous with the spinal cord and
comprises the medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, and parts of the hypothalamus,
functioning in the control of reflexes and such essential internal mechanisms as
respiration and heartbeat.
pituitary gland- very small, only about the size of a pea. It produces and releases
hormones into the body.
hypothalamus -the brain's inner thermostat and knows what temperature the body should
be (about 98.6° Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius). If the body is too hot, the hypothalamus tells
it to sweat. If it is too cold, the hypothalamus gets it shivering.
obtuse angle- An angle whose measure is between 90° and 180°.
acute angle- An angle whose measure is between 0° and 90°.
right angle- an angle of 90°.
mass- a body of coherent matter, usually of indefinite shape and often of considerable
size.
conversion- a change in the units or form of a number or expression.
periosteum- a thin, dense membrane that contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish
the bone.
compact bone- dense bone in which the bony matrix is solidly filled with organic ground
substance and inorganic salts, leaving only tiny spaces that contain the osteocytes, or
bone cells.
cancellous bone- light, porous bone enclosing numerous large spaces that give a
honeycombed or spongy appearance.
smooth muscle- involuntary muscle tissue in the walls of viscera and blood vessels,
consisting of nonstriated, spindle-shaped cells.
cardiac muscle- a specialized form of striated muscle occurring in the hearts of
vertebrates.
skeletal muscle- striated muscle that is usually attached to the skeleton and is usually
under voluntary control.
x-ray- a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to light but of shorter wavelength and
capable of penetrating solids and of ionizing gases.
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