Anatomy Key Words: Lines of Defense, Blood, and Immunity

• This document is a list of key words covering the following topics: the lines of defense, agglutination, anemia, antibodies, antigens, valves, blood vessels, the heart, hematology, hemostasis, inflammatory response, immunity, hormones, glands, and anatomy.

1st, 2nd, 3rd lines of defense

• Refers to the body’s defense mechanisms against pathogens and other harmful substances.
• The first line of defense includes physical and chemical barriers, the second is non-specific or innate immunity, and the third is adaptive immunity.

Agglutination

• Process by which cells or other particles adhere to each other to form clumps.
• Can occur in blood when antibodies bind to antigens on red blood cells.

Anemia

• Condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.

Antibody

• A blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen.

Antigen

• Toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.

Aortic Valve

• Valve in the heart that controls blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.

Arteries

• Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Arterioles

• Small branch of an artery leading into capillaries.

Atrioventricular Bundle of His

• Bundle of specialized muscle fibers that transmit electrical impulses from the AV node in the right atrium to the ventricles.

AV Node

• Located between the atria and ventricles, the node delays the electrical impulse through the heart to allow the atria to contract before the ventricles.

Basophil

• A type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that has coarse, dark-staining granules in the cytoplasm and releases substances (such as histamine) to promote inflammation.

B-cells

• Lymphocyte that produce antibodies.

Bicuspid Valve

• Known as the mitral valve, located in the left side of the heart.

Blood type (ABO)

• Classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells.
• The ABO blood group system is based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens.

Buffy Coat

• Thin layer of leukocytes and platelets that forms between the plasma and red blood cells in a centrifuged sample of blood.

Calor

• Increase in temperature, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation.

Capillaries

• Smallest blood vessels and connect arterioles and venules.

Cardiac Output

• Volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute (mL/min = SV x HR, where SV = Stroke Volume and HR = Heart Rate).

Cardinal Signs of Inflammation

• Rubor (redness), tumor (swelling), calor (heat), dolor (pain), and functio laesa (loss of function).

Coagulation

• Process blood clot formation, which involves platelets and clotting factors.

Diastole

• Phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood.

Dolor

• Pain, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation.

Endocardium

• Innermost layer of the heart, and lines the heart chambers and valves.

Eosinophil

• White blood cell characterized by granules that stain readily with eosin.

Epicardium

• Serous membrane that forms the outer layer of the heart.

Erythrocyte

• Red blood cell that transports oxygen.

Erythropoietin

• Hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Fibrin

• Insoluble protein formed from fibrinogen during blood clotting and forms a fibrous mesh that impedes blood flow.

Fibrinogen

• Soluble protein present in blood plasma, from which fibrin is produced by the action of thrombin.

Formed Elements

• Refers to the cellular components of blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Functio Laesa

• Loss of function, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation.

Hematocrit

• Percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.

Hematopoiesis

• Process of blood cell formation and differentiation.

Hemostasis

• Process by which the body stops bleeding; involves coagulation, vasoconstriction, and platelet plug formation.

Inflammatory Response

• Complex reaction in the body to injury, infection, or irritation.

Leukocytes

• White blood cells, and are involved in fighting infection and disease.

Lt AV valve

• Known as the mitral valve, located in the left side of the heart.

Lymph

• Fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system.

Lymph Nodes

• Small, bean-shaped structure that filters lymph, and contains lymphocytes to fight infection.

Lymphocyte

• Type of white blood cell that includes B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells.

Mast Cells

• Type of immune cell found in connective tissue.

Matrix

• Extracellular matrix that provides structural support to cells in tissues and organs.

Medulla Oblongata

• Region of the brainstem that controls autonomic functions, including heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

Memory Cells

• Long-lived lymphocyte that recognizes an antigen upon re-exposure, leading to a faster and stronger immune response.

Mitral Valve

• Also known as the bicuspid valve, located on the left side of the heart between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Monocyte

• Type of white blood cell that differentiates into macrophages or dendritic cells in response to inflammation and infection.

Myocardium

• Muscular tissue of the heart responsible for contraction.

Negative Feedback

• Self-regulating that reduces the response to maintain homeostasis.

Neutrophil

• White blood cell with granules that are neutral in color that engulfs and kills bacteria and fungi.

Non-Specific Immunity

• Innate immune response that includes mechanisms such as physical barriers, inflammation, and phagocytosis to protect the body from pathogens.

Non-Steroidal Hormones

• Hormones derived from amino acids or peptides, rather than cholesterol.

Parietal Pericardium

• Outer layer of the pericardium and surrounds the heart.

Plasma

• Liquid component of blood that contains water, proteins, electrolytes, and other solutes.

Plasma Cells

• Differentiated B cells that produce and secrete large amounts of antibodies.

Platelets

• Also known as thrombocytes that are small, anucleated blood cells that play a role in blood clotting.

Positive Feedback

• Mechanism that amplifies a response and moves a system further away from its initial state.

Primary Immune Response

• Immune response that occurs upon initial exposure to an antigen; characterized by a lag phase before antibodies are produced.

Prion

• Infectious agent composed of misfolded protein.

Prothrombin Activator

• Complex of factors that converts prothrombin to thrombin, a key enzyme in blood clot formation.

Pulmonic Valve

• Valve in the heart that controls blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.

Purkinje Fibres

• Specialized conducting fibers in the ventricles that rapidly transmit electrical impulses to the myocardium.

Renin

• Enzyme secreted by the kidneys that helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance.

Rt AV Valve

• Also known as the tricuspid valve, located on the right side of the heart between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Rt/Lt Bundle Branches

• Branches of the atrioventricular bundle that transmit electrical impulses to the right and left ventricles, respectively.

Rubor

• Redness, one of the cardinal signs if inflammation.

SA Node

• Known as the hearts natural pacemaker, located in the right atrium that initiates the electrical impulses that drive heart rate.

Secondary Immune Response

• Faster and stronger immune response that occurs upon subsequent exposure to an antigen.

Specific Immunity

• Adaptive immune response that involves the recognition of specific antigens that cause them to secrete antibodies.

Steroidal Hormones

• Hormones derived from cholesterol.

Stroke Volume

• The amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle in a single contraction.

Systole

• Phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood.

T-cells

• Lymphocyte that play a role in cell-mediated immunity.

Thoracic Duct

• Main lymphatic vessel that drains lymph from the lower extremities.

Thrombopoietin

• Hormone produced by the liver that stimulates the production of platelets.

Thrombus

• Blood clot that forms in a blood vessel or in the heart.

Tricuspid Valve

• Atrioventricular valve located on the right side of the heart, between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Tumor

• Swelling, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation.

Tunica Adventitia

• Outer layer of a blood vessel.

Tunica Intima

• Innermost layer of a blood vessel.

Tunica Media

• Middle layer of a blood vessel.

Universal Donor

• Person with type O negative blood, which can be transfused to individuals with any blood type.

Universal Recipient

• Person with type AB positive blood, which can receive blood transfusions from individuals with any blood type.

Varicose Veins

• Enlarged, twisted veins that from damaged valves.

Veins

• Blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart.

Venules

• Small vessels that collect blood from capillaries and empty into veins.

Visceral Pericardium

• Inner layer of the pericardium directly covers the heart.

Hormones and Glands

• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) is produced by the Anterior Pituitary Gland.
• Aldosterone is produced by the Adrenal Cortex.
• Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) is produced by the Posterior Pituitary Gland.
• Calcitonin is produced by the Thyroid gland.
• Cortisol is produced by the Adrenal Cortex.
• Epinephrine is produced by the Adrenal Medulla.
• Estrogen/Progesterone is produced by the Ovaries.
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is produced by the Anterior Pituitary Gland.
• Glucagon is produced by the Pancreas.
• Growth Hormone (GH) is produced by the Anterior Pituitary Gland.
• Insulin is produced by the Pancreas.
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is produced by the Anterior Pituitary Gland.
• Melatonin is produced by the Pineal gland.
• Nor-Epinephrine is produced by the Adrenal Medulla.
• Oxytocin is produced by the Posterior Pituitary Gland.
• Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) is produced by the Parathyroid gland.
• Prolactin is produced by the Anterior Pituitary Gland.
• Somatostatin is produced by the Pancreas.
• Triiodothyronine (T3) is produced by the Thyroid gland.
• Testosterone is produced by the Testes.
• Thymosins, Thymopoietin is produced by the Thymus.
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is produced by the Thyroid gland.
• Thyroxine produced by the Thyroid gland.

Heart Anatomy Structures

• Aorta
• Aortic Arch
• Aortic Valve
• Atrioventricular Node
• Bicuspid Valve
• Chordae Tendineae
• Endocardium
• Epicardium
• Inferior Vena Cava
• Interventricular Bundle of His
• Interventricular Septum
• Left Atrium
• Left AV Valve
• Left Pulmonary Artery
• Left Pulmonary Vein
• Left Ventricle
• Mitral Valve
• Myocardium
• Papillary Muscle
• Pulmonary Trunk
• Pulmonic Valve
• Purkinje Fibres
• Right Atrium
• Right AV Valve
• Right Pulmonary Artery
• Right Pulmonary Vein
• Right Ventricle
• Sinoatrial Node
• Superior Vena Cava
• Tricuspid Valve