Anatomy & Physiology, ECT-GIZ
Human beings have long been curious about the way that things work, and that curiosity includes wondering about how we ourselves work. The fields of anatomy and physiology involve studying the structures of bodies and the way that those structures and bodies function.
Anatomy & Physiology Encyclopedia Articles By Title
ectomorph, a human somatotype (physical type) tending toward linearity, as determined by the since discredited......
ectopic pregnancy, condition in which the fertilized ovum (egg) has become imbedded outside the uterine cavity.......
ectotherm, any so-called cold-blooded animal—that is, any animal whose regulation of body temperature depends on......
ectropion, outward turning of the border (or margin) of the eyelid (usually the lower eyelids). The condition most......
egg, in biology, the female sex cell, or gamete. In botany, the egg is sometimes called a macrogamete. In zoology,......
egg tooth, tooth or toothlike structure used by the young of many egg-laying species to break the shell of the......
ejaculation, the release of sperm cells and seminal plasma from the male reproductive system. Ejaculation takes......
ejaculatory duct, either of two hollow tubes, each formed by union of the ampulla of a ductus deferens (q.v.) and......
elastic fibre, any of the yellowish branching fibres composed primarily of the protein elastin, frequently arranged......
elbow, in human anatomy, hinge joint formed by the meeting of the humerus (bone of the upper arm) and the radius......
electroreception, the ability to detect weak naturally occurring electrostatic fields in the environment. Electroreception......
embryo, the early developmental stage of an animal while it is in the egg or within the uterus of the mother. In......
emotional development, emergence of the experience, expression, understanding, and regulation of emotions from......
enamel, in anatomy, the hardest tissue of the body, covering part or all of the crown of the tooth in mammals.......
end-plate potential (EPP), chemically induced change in electric potential of the motor end plate, the portion......
endocrine system, any of the systems found in animals for the production of hormones, substances that regulate......
human endocrine system, group of ductless glands that regulate body processes by secreting chemical substances......
endocrinology, medical discipline dealing with the role of hormones and other biochemical mediators in regulating......
endoderm, the innermost of the three germ layers, or masses of cells (lying within ectoderm and mesoderm), which......
endomorph, a human somatotype (physical type) tending toward roundness, as determined by the now discredited physique-classification......
endoplasmic reticulum (ER), in biology, a continuous membrane system that forms a series of flattened sacs within......
endotherm, so-called warm-blooded animals; that is, those that maintain a constant body temperature independent......
entropion, inward turning of the border (or margin) of the eyelid (usually the lower eyelids), occurring most often......
enuresis, elimination disorder characterized by four factors: the repeated voluntary or involuntary voiding of......
enzyme, a substance that acts as a catalyst in living organisms, regulating the rate at which chemical reactions......
eosinophil, type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that is characterized histologically by its ability to be stained......
ependymal cell, type of neuronal support cell (neuroglia) that forms the epithelial lining of the ventricles (cavities)......
epicanthic fold, fold of skin across the inner corner of the eye (canthus). The epicanthic fold produces the eye......
epidermal tooth, any of several hard, horny projections analogous to but not homologous with true teeth (see tooth).......
epidermis, in zoology, protective outermost portion of the skin. There are two layers of epidermis, the living......
epididyme, either of a pair of elongated crescent-shaped structures attached to each of the two male reproductive......
epididymitis, inflammation of the epididymis, the cordlike structure that runs along the posterior of the testis......
epiphysis, expanded end of the long bones in animals, which ossifies separately from the bone shaft but becomes......
epithelium, in anatomy, layer of cells closely bound to one another to form continuous sheets covering surfaces......
erection, enlargement, hardening, and elevation of the male reproductive organ, the penis. Internally, the penis......
erector spinae, a deep muscle of the back; it arises from a tendon attached to the crest along the centre of the......
erythroblast, nucleated cell occurring in red marrow as a stage or stages in the development of the red blood cell,......
esophagus, relatively straight muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. The esophagus......
estrogen, any of a group of hormones that primarily influence the female reproductive tract in its development,......
estrus, the period in the sexual cycle of female mammals, except the higher primates, during which they are in......
eustachian tube, hollow structure that extends from the middle ear to the pharynx (throat). The eustachian tube......
excretion, the process by which animals rid themselves of waste products and of the nitrogenous by-products of......
- Introduction
- Metabolic, Nonmetabolic, Waste
- Waste Disposal, Elimination, Excretory System
- Photosynthesis, Transpiration, Metabolism
- Waste Removal, Metabolism, Animals
- Metabolites, Waste, Urine
- Water, Salt, Balance
- Nephridia, Malpighian Tubules, Coelomocytes
- Mollusks, Renal Glands, Urine
- Malpighian Tubules, Insects, Waste
- Mammalian Urine, Sweat, Feces
- Amphibian Glands, Urea, & Osmoregulation
- Vertebrate, Kidney, Urea
exophthalmos, abnormal protrusion of one or both eyeballs. The most common cause for unilateral or bilateral exophthalmos......
exoskeleton, rigid or articulated envelope that supports and protects the soft tissues of certain animals. The......
extensor muscle, any of the muscles that increase the angle between members of a limb, as by straightening the......
external auditory canal, passageway that leads from the outside of the head to the tympanic membrane, or eardrum......
extracellular fluid, in biology, body fluid that is not contained in cells. It is found in blood, in lymph, in......
eye colour, heritable phenotypic (observable) trait determined by pigmentation and light scattering in the iris......
eye disease, any of the diseases or disorders that affect the human eye. Some conditions that affect the eye are......
- Introduction
- Malposition, Lids, Treatment
- Conjunctivitis, Blepharitis, Keratitis
- Sclera Inflammation
- Uveal Tract Tumors
- Retinal Detachment, Symptoms, Treatment
- Optic Nerve, Vision Loss, Glaucoma
- Glaucoma, Causes, Treatment
- Ocular Injuries, Trauma, Prevention
- Arteriosclerosis, Hypertension, Vascular
- Night Blindness, Colour Defects
- Optical Aids, Treatment, Prevention
human eye, in humans, specialized sense organ capable of receiving visual images, which are then carried to the......
- Introduction
- Extraocular Muscles
- Uvea, Retina, Optic Nerve
- Retina, Optic Nerve, Vision
- Vision, Retina, Optics
- Eye Movements, Vision, Coordination
- Eye Movements, Vision, Anatomy
- Pupil, Iris, Retina
- Retina, Optics, Vision
- Retina, Rods, Cones
- Temporal Summation
- Retina, Optics, Vision
- Colour Vision, Retina, Optics
- Nervous Messages, Optics, Anatomy
- Vision, Perception, Anatomy
- Optics, Retina, Corpus Callosum
- The perception of depth
- Electrophysiology, Visual Centres
eyeball, spheroidal structure containing sense receptors for vision, found in all vertebrates and constructed much......
eyelid, movable tissue, consisting primarily of skin and muscle, that shields and protects the eyeball from mechanical......
eyespot, a heavily pigmented region in certain one-celled organisms that apparently functions in light reception.......
face, front part of the head that, in vertebrates, houses the sense organs of vision and smell as well as the mouth......
facial nerve, nerve that originates in the area of the brain called the pons and that has three types of nerve......
fallopian tube, either of a pair of long narrow ducts located in the human female abdominal cavity that transport......
fascia, network of connective tissue that envelops and supports the various structures and organs of the body,......
The cell is the most basic unit of life on Earth, and the development of the cell membrane (or plasma membrane)......
feather, the component structure of the outer covering and flight surfaces of all modern birds. Unique to birds,......
feces, solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine through the anus during defecation. Feces are normally......
feedback, in biology, a response within a system (molecule, cell, organism, or population) that influences the......
femur, upper bone of the leg or hind leg. The head forms a ball-and-socket joint with the hip (at the acetabulum),......
fertility, ability of an individual or couple to reproduce through normal sexual activity. About 90 percent of......
fertility rate, average number of children born to women during their reproductive years. For the population in......
fertilization, union of a sperm nucleus, of paternal origin, with an egg nucleus, of maternal origin, to form the......
fetus, the unborn young of any vertebrate animal, particularly of a mammal, after it has attained the basic form......
fibrin, an insoluble protein that is produced in response to bleeding and is the major component of the blood clot.......
fibroblast, the principal active cell of connective tissue. Fibroblasts are large, flat, elongated (spindle-shaped)......
fibrocartilage, type of connective tissue that provides structural support for the musculoskeletal system. Fibrocartilage......
fibrocystic disease of the breast, noncancerous cysts (harmless swellings caused by fluid trapped in breast tissues)......
fibromyalgia, chronic syndrome that is characterized by musculoskeletal pain, often at multiple anatomical sites,......
fibula, outer of two bones of the lower leg or hind limb, presumably so named (fibula is Latin for “brooch”) because......
fingerprint, impression made by the papillary ridges on the ends of the fingers and thumbs. Fingerprints afford......
flatulence, the presence of excessive amounts of gas in the stomach or intestine, which sometimes results in the......
flavor, attribute of a substance that is produced by the senses of smell, taste, and touch and is perceived within......
flexor muscle, any of the muscles that decrease the angle between bones on two sides of a joint, as in bending......
fluid, in physiology, a water-based liquid that contains the ions and cells essential to body functions and transports......
foot, in anatomy, terminal part of the leg of a land vertebrate, on which the creature stands. In most two-footed......
forearm, region of the upper limb located between the elbow and the wrist, consisting of two long bones—the radius......
forebrain, region of the developing vertebrate brain; it includes the telencephalon, which contains the cerebral......
freckle, a small, brownish, well-circumscribed, stainlike spot on the skin occurring most frequently in red- or......
fructose, a member of a group of carbohydrates known as simple sugars, or monosaccharides. Fructose, along with......
galactorrhea, excessive flow of milk from the breast, or lactation that is not associated with childbirth or nursing.......
galactose, a member of a group of carbohydrates known as simple sugars (monosaccharides). It is usually found in......
gallbladder, a muscular membranous sac that stores and concentrates bile, a fluid that is received from the liver......
gamete, sex, or reproductive, cell containing only one set of dissimilar chromosomes, or half the genetic material......
gametogenesis, in embryology, the process by which gametes, or germ cells, are produced in an organism. The formation......
gamma globulin, subgroup of the blood proteins called globulins. In humans and many of the other mammals, antibodies,......
ganglion, dense group of nerve-cell bodies present in most animals above the level of cnidarians. In flatworms......
gastric gland, any of the branched tubules in the inner lining of the stomach that secrete gastric juice and protective......
gastrocnemius muscle, large posterior muscle of the calf of the leg. It originates at the back of the femur (thighbone)......
gastrointestinal tract, pathway by which food enters the body and solid wastes are expelled. The gastrointestinal......
gastrula, early multicellular embryo, composed of two or more germinal layers of cells from which the various organs......
germ layer, any of three primary cell layers, formed in the earliest stages of embryonic development, consisting......
gestation, in mammals, the time between conception and birth, during which the embryo or fetus is developing in......
gestational age, length of time that a fetus grows inside the mother’s uterus. Gestational age is related to the......
gestational diabetes mellitus, temporary condition in which blood sugar (glucose) levels increase during pregnancy......
gigantism, excessive growth in stature, well beyond the average for the individual’s heredity and environmental......
gill, in biology, type of respiratory organ found in many aquatic animals, including a number of worms, nearly......
gizzard, in many birds, the hind part of the stomach, especially modified for grinding food. Located between the......