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Anatomy and Physiology
Circulation and respiration
Glossary of terms used in this chapter
Acidosis
an over-acid condition in bodily tissues or fluids
Actin
contractile protein that makes up the thin filaments of muscle fibres
Actomyosin
the protein that enables muscles to contract
Adenosine
triphosphate
(ATP)
molecule found in all living organisms that is the main immediate source of usable energy for
the activities of the cells
Aerobic
describing a pathway that utilises oxygen
Aerobics
vigorous exercise designed to increase the body’s oxygen uptake
Alactic
used to describe activities in which lactic acid is not being accumulated in the muscle cells
Albumin
water-soluble protein found in egg-white, milk and blood. In the blood it is found in plasma
Alveolar air
air remaining in the lungs that cannot be exhaled. same as residual air
Alveoli
tiny air sacs of the lungs that allow for rapid exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Amino acids
organic compounds occurring naturally in plant and animal tissues and forming the basic
constituents of proteins
Anaerobic
growing or existing without oxygen
Arteriosclerosis
a loss of elasticity and thickening of the walls of the arteries (hardening of the arteries)
Atrium
one of the 2 upper chambers of the heart, receiving blood from the veins (plural is atria)
Beta-oxidation
the first step in fatty acid oxidation which results in the conversion of fatty acids to acetyl
coenzyme A for entry into the Krebs cycle
Blood pressure
the pressure of the blood against the walls of blood vessels
Blood sugar
another term for glucose
Bronchiole
a very small division of a bronchus
Bronchus
branches of the respiratory pathway (plural bronchi)
Calorie
a calorie (cal) is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1g of water through
1°C
a kilocalorie (kcal) is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1kg of water
through 1°C. The kilocalorie is the unit used to measure the energy value of foods
Carbohydrate
an energy-producing organic compound containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen e.g. starch,
glucose and other sugars
Cardiovascular
of or relating to the heart and blood vessels
Catalyst
a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without itself undergoing any permanent
change
Cholesterol
a steroid occurring naturally in body cells and fluids, high levels of which can cause
hardening of the arteries. Levels of cholesterol are increased by eating too much saturated fat
Ciliated
having cilia
Cilium
a small hair-like vibrating structure on the surface of some cells, which create currents in the
surrounding fluid (plural cilia)
Circulatory
system
system that governs the circulation of blood
Collagen
a protein found in connective tissue (yields gelatin on boiling)
Creatine
phosphate (CP)
molecule in skeletal muscle fibres that contains high energy phosphate bonds used to
generate ATP
Creatine
phosphokinase
(CPK)
an enzyme used in the breakdown of creatine phosphate to form ATP
Diaphragm
a muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen
Diastole
the period between 2 contractions of the heart when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the
chambers to fill with blood (see also systole)
Diastolic
pressure
the blood pressure during diastole (ventricular relaxation)
Electron
transport chain
a series of chemical reactions that converts the hydrogen ion generated by glycolysis and the
Krebs cycle into water and produces energy for oxidative phosphorylation
Endothelium
a layer of cells lining the blood-vessels and heart
Energy
capacity for work; the capacity of matter to do work; the means of doing work
Enzyme
a protein acting as a catalyst in a specific biochemical reaction
Epiglottis
a flap or fold of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which covers the windpipe during
swallowing
Erythrocytes
red blood cells
Essential amino
acids
standard amino acids that humans and other animals must obtain from their diet in order to
survive. Essential amino acids for humans include lysine, tryptophan, valine, histidine,
leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, methionine and arginine
Expiration
breathing out
Expiratory
reserve volume
air that can be exhaled during a forced expiration
Fats
natural esters of glycerol and various fatty acids existing as solids at room temperature
Fatty acids
organic compounds that consist of a hydrocarbon chain and a terminal carboxyl group
Fibrinogen
a soluble protein found in blood plasma that aids clotting
Fructose
a simple sugar found in fruits and honey
Glucose
a major energy source for every cell in the body, for the production of ATP
Glycerol
(also called glycerine) an alcohol that is found in human and animal cells. Simple fats and
oils are esters of fatty acids and glycerol
Glycogen
a polysaccharide that serves as a store of carbohydrates such as glucose in the body
Glycolysis
the breakdown of glucose by enzymes to release energy
Heart rate (HR)
the rate of beating of the heart
Heart rate
recovery period
the time it takes for the heart rate to return to its resting rate
Hypertension
abnormally high blood pressure
Hyperventilation
breathing at an unusually fast rate, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide
Hypoglycaemia
an abnormally low level of glucose in the bloodstream
Inferior vena
cava
the lower of 2 main veins carrying blood to the heart. See superior vena cava
Inspiration
breathing in
Joule (J)
the unit of work or energy equal to the work done by a force of one newton when its point of
application moves one metre in the direction of action of the force, equivalent to a wattsecond
Keratin
a fibrous protein occurring in hair, feathers, etc
Krebs cycle
a series of chemical reactions that involve the complete oxidation of acetyl CoA and produce
2 moles of ATP, and hydrogen and carbon, which combine with oxygen to form H2 O and
CO2
Lactate
a salt or ester of lactic acid
Lactate threshold
the level of work that starts the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle cells
Lactic acid
an acid formed in muscle tissues during strenuous exercise
Larynx
chamber at the front or upper part of the windpipe, leading from the lower portion of the
pharynx to the trachea, in which the voice is produced
Leucocytes
white blood cells
Lobus inferior
lower lobe of the lung
Lobus medius
middle lobe of the lung
Lobus superior
upper lobe of the lung
Lungs
large spongy respiratory organs in the thorax which bring air into contact with the blood
Metabolism
all the chemical processes that occur within a living organism, that result in energy
production and growth
Mucous
membrane
a mucus-secreting epithelial (outer layer) tissue lining many body cavities and tubular organs
Mucous
membrane
a mucus-secreting tissue that lines many body cavities and tubular organs
Myosin
contractile protein that makes up the thick filaments of muscle fibres
Oesophagus (or
gullet)
the tract from the mouth to the stomach
Oils
viscous liquids insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents
Oxygen debt
recovery oxygen intake in excess of resting following exercise
Pathway
a specific sequence of reactions within cells, catalysed by enzymes, in which one compound
is converted to another one that is important biologically
Peptide
organic compound that consists of 2 or more amino acids bonded in sequence
Pharynx
a cone-shaped opening behind the nose and mouth, common to both the digestive and
respiratory systems
Pleural
membranes (or
pleura)
serous membranes lining the thorax and enveloping the lungs
Portal vein
a vein that carries blood to the liver from the spleen, stomach, pancreas and intestines
Protein
organic compound composed of one or more chains of amino acids and forming an essential
part of all living organisms
Pulmonary
of or relating to the lungs
Pulmonary artery the artery carrying blood from the heart to the lungs
Reaction
(in biology or chemistry) the interaction of substances undergoing chemical change
Residual air
same as alveolar air
Respiration
the exchange of gases between the atmosphere, blood and body cells
Sphygmomanometer
an instrument for measuring blood pressure
Stroke volume
(SV)
the volume of blood per beat
Superior vena
cava
the upper of 2 main veins carrying blood to the heart. See inferior vena cava
Systemic
referring to the whole body, rather than a particular part
Systole
the contraction of the heart when blood is pumped into the arteries (see diastole)
Systolic pressure
the blood pressure during systole (ventricular contraction)
Thorax wall
the bones of the thorax consisting of the thoracic spinal column, the ribs, and the sternum
Thrombocytes
blood platelets
Tidal volume
the air inhaled and exhaled at each breath
Tissue
any of the coherent collections of specialized cells of which animals or plants are made, such
as muscular tissue; nervous tissue
Trachea (or
windpipe)
the passage through which air reaches the bronchial tubes from the larynx. It is reinforced
with rings of cartilage
Ventilation
the volume of air inhaled or exhaled per minute
Vital capacity
the total quantity of air that can be inhaled and exhaled by an individual