Chapter 1 - Structure and Function of Body Systems Flashcards
A-band
Region of a sarcomere where thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments overlap; maintains constant length during muscle contraction
Atrium
Heart chamber that receives blood and pumps it to the ventricles; right atrium handles deoxygenated blood, left atrium handles oxygenated blood
Acetylcholine
Neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction to initiate muscle contraction
Action Potential
Electrical impulse that travels along the nerve and muscle membranes, triggering muscle contraction
All-or-none principle
Motor units contract maximally when stimulated, or not at all
Alveolar Pressure
Air pressure within the alveoli; decreases during inhalation, increases during exhalation
Alveoli
Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs between air and blood
Aortic Valve
Valve between the left ventricle and the aorta; prevents backflow of blood into the heart
Appendicular skeleton
Includes bones of the limbs and girdles (shoulder and pelvis) that attach them to the axial skeleton
Arterial system
Network of arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to body tissues
Artery
Blood vessel carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart, except for the pulmonary artery
Atrioventricular (AV) Bundle
Specialized muscle fibers that conduct electrical impulses from the AV node to the ventricles
Atrioventricular (AV) Node
Electrical relay station between the atria and ventricles; delays the impulse to ensure proper ventricular filling
Atrioventricular (AV) Valves
Valves that prevent backflow of blood into the atria during ventricular contraction; includes tricuspid and mitral valves
Axial skeleton
Central part of the skeleton, consisting of the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage
Biaxial joints
Joints that allow movement in two planes, such as the wrist (flexion/extension and radial/ulnar deviation).
Bone periosteum
Dense connective tissue covering the outer surface of bones, providing attachment for tendons and ligaments and housing bone-forming cells.
Bradycardia
A resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute; common in well-trained athletes.
Bronchi
The primary passageways for air entering the lungs; branch off the trachea into each lung.
Bronchiole
Smaller airways in the lungs that branch off the bronchi and lead to alveoli.
Capillary
The smallest blood vessels where gas, nutrient, and waste exchange occurs between blood and tissues.
Cartilaginous Joints
Joints connected by cartilage, allowing limited movement, such as intervertebral discs.
Crossbridge
The connection formed between actin and myosin filaments during muscle contraction, allowing for force generation.
Depolarization
The process by which a cell membrane’s electrical charge becomes less negative, initiating an action potential in muscle or nerve cells.