Unit 1 Vocabulary — Human Anatomy I

Noun (thing)
Adrenal glands
a pair of organs located above the kidneys responsible for producing various hormones and steroids, such as aldosterone and cortisol
Overproduction of cortisol in the adrenal glands can lead to Cushing's syndrome.
Noun (thing)
Antrum
the lower section of the stomach, that helps move food into the intestines
Unlike the rest of the stomach, the antrum does not produce acid.
Noun (thing)
Aorta
the largest artery in the body, carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body
The aorta is divided into five segments.
Noun (thing)
Areola
the circular pigmented area surrounding the nipple
The areola secretes oil to lubricate the nipple.
Adjective
Aural
related to the ear or the sense of hearing
Certain aural drops have severe side-effects including rash, itching, and dizziness.
Noun (thing)
Bladder
a sac, which holds urine, before it is expelled from the body through the urethra
After the physical exam, the doctor diagnosed him with an overactive bladder.
Noun (thing)
Blood vessels
a common name for veins, arteries, and capillaries
Strokes are most commonly caused by blocked blood vessels.
Noun (thing)
Bone marrow
soft tissue inside bones which produce blood cells
A bone marrow transplant is also known as a stem cell transplant.
Noun (thing)
Bowel
refers to both the small and large intestines
His bowel was partially blocked, so the doctor recommended waiting until it cleared before proceeding with the examination.
Noun (thing)
Breasts
soft organs in females that produce milk for feeding babies
It is common for breasts to swell during pregnancy.
Noun (thing)
Cartilage
flexible connective tissue found between joints
His doctor advised him not to train for the next 3 months while the cartilage in his knee healed.
Noun (thing)
Cerebellum
the area of the brain responsible for controlling movement and balance
The cerebellum receives information from the sensory system and regulates motor movements.
Noun (thing)
Cerebrum
the largest part of the brain, responsible for complex sensory and neural functions
The accident caused damage to her cerebrum, which resulted in a mild personality disorder.
Noun (thing)
Cervix
the narrow passage at the lower end of the uterus
Cells were collected from the cervix to perform the PAP test.
Noun (thing)
Clitoris
sensitive tissue on the female genitals that plays a key role in sexual pleasure
The piercing on her clitoris became infected and had to be removed.
Noun (thing)
Coccyx
a triangular bone at the base of the spine, also known as the tailbone.
Sitting on a hard surface can result in coccyx pain.
Noun (thing)
Cochlea
a spiral-shaped structure inside the ear that turns sound vibrations into signals the brain can understand
Listening to headphones too loudly can damage the tiny hairs in the cochlea.
Noun (thing)
Cornea
the transparent layer at the front of the eye that helps light focus
A small stone flew up from the road and scratched his cornea.
Noun (thing)
Corpus
the main part of an organ or structure in the body
The heart, kidney and lungs are all located in the corpus.
Noun (thing)
Cortex
the external layer of an organ that protects and helps it function
The cerebral cortex is made up of 6 layers.