Human Anatomy and Physiology Terminology Reference

Essential Terminology in Human Anatomy and Physiology

Skeletal System and Musculature

• Scapula: A flat, triangular bone that forms the back of the shoulder.
• Tibia: The inner bone of the lower leg.
• Femur: A bone in the leg extending from the pelvis to the knee.
• Ulna: The bone in the forearm located on the side opposite the thumb.
• Radius: The bone in the forearm located on the side of the thumb.
• Humerus: The long bone in the arm running down from the shoulder to the elbow.
• Skull: The bones of the head, which surround the brain and give the head its shape.
• Pelvis: The bones below the abdomen that support the lower back and are connected to the bones of the leg.
• Hip: The joint and surrounding region connecting the leg to the trunk.
• Deltoid: A large muscle located on the shoulder joint, responsible for raising the arm.

Internal Organs and Circulation

• Heart: The organ that controls the flow of blood in the body.
• Ventricle: A space in the heart that holds blood.
• Artery: A tube that carries blood from the heart to the body.
• Capillary: A small tube that allows blood and tissue to exchange nutrients.
• Liver: A large organ in the body that secretes bile and cleanses the blood.
• Spleen: An organ near the stomach that has various roles in purifying and storing the blood.
• Pancreas: An organ that regulates blood sugar and secretes insulin.
• Gland: A bodily organ that creates a substance and releases it (e.g., hormones or enzymes).
• Tonsil: Either of a pair of oval masses of lymphoid tissue, one on each side of the throat at the back of the mouth.
• Bladder: The organ that holds urine before it is expelled.

Nervous System and Head Structure

• Brain: The large organ that controls bodily functions, thought, and movement.
• Hypothalamus: The part of the brain that connects the nervous system to the endocrine system.
• Spinal Cord: A long bundle of nerve cells that extends downward from the brain.
• Head: The body part that contains the brain and skull.

Digestive and Respiratory Systems

• Small Intestine: The part of the digestive system where most of the digestion and absorption of food takes place.
• Large Intestine: The final part of the digestive system.
• Bile: A bitter fluid that aids in digestion.
• Diaphragm: The muscle that separates the chest from the lower part of the body.
• Alveoli: The sacs that bring oxygen into the bloodstream.
• Oxygen: A chemical element that is a gas with no smell or color.
• Emphysema: A condition characterized by damage to the lungs, preventing the body from properly expelling gases.

Cellular Biology and Medical Conditions

• Cell: The smallest basic unit of a plant or animal.
• Osteocalcin: A hormone released by bone cells, which contributes to the regulation of blood sugar and fat deposition.
• Cancer: The condition characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells, often referenced here in the context of the lungs.
• Arrhythmia: The condition produced when the heart does not pump blood with a regular rhythm.
• Kidney Stones: Mineral deposits that form crystal-like structures in the urinary tract.
• Infertility: The inability to have children.
• Intercourse: The sexual act in which the male penis enters the female vagina.
• Waste: The unneeded substances produced by the body.
• Small: Lower portion of the back. (This term typically refers to the lumbar region or 'small of the back'.)