Anatomy
Known as the "kneecap", this is the largest sesamoid bone in the body.
Patella
In the human body, a lever system consists of a bone, a joint, and this force-generating soft tissue.
What is a muscle?
This macronutrient is the body's preferred and most efficient source of energy during high-intensity exercise.
What are carbohydrates?
These blood vessels carry blood away from the heart to the tissues of the body.
What are arteries?
This law states that a nerve or muscle fiber will respond completely to a stimulus if the stimulus reaches a certain threshold, or not at all if it falls below that threshold
What is the all-or-none law?
The "abs" or "six-pack" muscle, clinically and anatomically known as the _________
What is the rectus abdominis?
The three primary anatomical planes are the sagittal, frontal (coronal), and this one, which divides the body into top and bottom halves.
What is the transverse plane?
This mineral is a key component of hemoglobin and myoglobin, making it essential for oxygen transport in the blood and muscles.
What is iron?
These are the two lower chambers of the heart, responsible for pumping blood out to the lungs and the rest of the body.
What are the ventricles?
These microscopic air sacs in the lungs are the site of gas exchange, where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide leaves it.
What are alveoli?
This anatomical landmark on the proximal femur, a common site for fractures in the elderly, is clinically significant as a major point for muscle attachment.
What is the greater trochanter?
According to the law of inertia (Newton's First Law), a body at rest will stay at rest, and a body in motion will stay in motion, unless acted upon by this.
What is an external force?
This condition, often seen in endurance athletes who overhydrate with plain water, results from dangerously low sodium levels in the blood.
What is hyponatremia? (Accept: water intoxication)
This wave on an ECG represents the depolarization of the atria, triggering atrial contraction just before ventricular filling.
What is the P wave?
This hormone, produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, lowers blood glucose levels by promoting cellular uptake and storage as glycogen.
What is insulin?
Often called the "boxer's muscle," this muscle is the primary protractor and stabilizer of the scapula, drawing it forward and upward.
What is the serratus anterior?
During a bicep curl, the elbow flexes. This type of muscle contraction occurs when the muscle shortens while generating force.
What is concentric?
This essential amino acid, often taken as a supplement by athletes, is a precursor to serotonin and can be converted to niacin (vitamin B3) in the body.
What is tryptophan?
This autoregulatory mechanism states that the more the ventricular walls are stretched during diastole, the more forceful the subsequent contraction will be.
What is the length-tension relationship of the heart? (Accept: Starling's law of the heart; starling relationship)
This law of physics states that the pressure of a gas in a mixture is equal to the sum of the pressures of the individual gases, which explains how gases diffuse down their pressure gradients in the lungs and tissues.
What is Dalton's law? (Accept: Law of partial pressures)
Damage to this nerve, often caused by fractures of the humerus or prolonged pressure in the armpit ("Saturday Night Palsy"), results in the inability to extend the wrist and fingers, a condition known as "wrist drop.
What is the radial nerve?
This mechanical property of bone describes its ability to resist twisting forces, or torque. It is highest in bones with a larger diameter, even if the wall thickness is relatively thin.
What is torsional rigidity? (Accept: Torsional strength)
This metabolic process, named after the scientist who discovered it, describes the cycling of lactate from anaerobic muscles to the liver, where it is converted back into glucose and returned to the muscles.
What is the Cori cycle?
This reflex, named after the physiologist who described it, causes a drop in heart rate and peripheral vasodilation in response to increased blood pressure, helping to regulate normal blood pressure levels.
What is the baroreceptor reflex? (or Baroreflex)
This renal structure, consisting of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule, is responsible for the initial filtration of blood to form urine.
What is the renal corpuscle? (Accept: Malpighian corpuscle)