The process of contracting the inspiratory muscles to move air into the body.
Inspiration
A system of the body, also known as the circulatory system, that transports blood to tissues of the body.
Cardiovascular System
Superior chamber(s) of the heart that gathers blood returning to the heart.
Atrium (atria)
Vessels that transport blood away from the heart.
Arteries
The amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each contraction.
Stroke Volume
Cells that release substances into the bloodstream (such as hormones) or other surface of the body.
Glands
A gland located in the brain that communicates with the pituitary gland.
Hypothalamus
A hormone secreted by the pancreas that is responsible for glucose metabolism.
Insulin
The mechanical process whereby the oral muscles break down food.
Mastication
A semifluid mass of digested food that is passed from the stomach to the small intestine.
Chyme
The process of actively or passively relaxing the inspiratory muscles to move air out of the body.
Expiration
A system of the body composed of the heart, blood, blood vessels, lungs, and airways.
Cardiorespiratory System
Inferior chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs and body.
Vessels that transport blood back to the heart.
Veins
The filled volume of the ventricle before contraction.
End-Diastolic Volume
Chemical messenger released from a gland that travels to cells to activate a specific function.
Hormones
A small gland in the brain that secretes the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate sleep cycles.
Pineal Gland
A hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose and functions opposite to insulin.
Glucagon
The act of taking food, liquid, or other substances into the body in preparation for digestion.
Ingestion
Part of the small intestine that resides between the stomach and the jejunum.
Duodenum
Composed of skeletal structures (bones) and soft tissues (muscles) that work together to allow for proper respiratory mechanics as well as pumping blood back to the heart during inspiration.
Respiratory Pump
Chamber within the chest that contains the heart and lungs.
Thoracic Cavity
Found in the heart, these formations help hold together muscle cells
Intercalated Discs
The smallest blood vessels and the site of exchange of elements between the blood and the tissues.
Capillaries
The volume of blood remaining in the ventricle after ejection.
End-Systolic Volume
A substance in the body that causes a specific reaction or change.
An endocrine gland, located in the anterior neck, responsible for the secretion of many hormones, including thyroxin and calcitonin.
Thyroid Gland
Glucose that is deposited and stored in bodily tissues, such as the liver and muscle cells; the storage form of carbohydrate.
Glycogen
Multistep process that describes the passage of food through the body.
Digestion
Part of the small intestine that resides between the duodenum and the ileum.
Jejunum
A process that involves expiring against a closed windpipe, creating additional intra-abdominal pressure and spinal stability.
Valsalva Maneuver
The space in the chest between the lungs that contains all the internal organs of the chest (e.g., heart, esophagus) except the lungs.
Mediastinum
Located in the right atrium, this node initiates an electrical signal that causes the heart to beat.
Sinoatrial Node (SA node)
Small arteries that eventually divide into capillaries.
Arterioles
When the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute.
Bradycardia
The breakdown and utilization of fat for energy.
Lipolysis
An endocrine gland that controls the secretion of many hormones, including growth hormone.
Pituitary Gland
Intermediate forms of nutrients used in metabolic reactions to create adenosine triphosphate.
Substrates
The anatomical part of the digestive tract that allows food to pass from oral cavity to stomach.
Esophagus
The final section of the small intestine, located between the jejunum and the cecum and leads to the large intestine.
Ileum
The process of getting oxygen from the environment to the tissues of the body.
Diffusion
The structural unit of a myofibril, composed of actin and myosin filaments between two Z-lines.
Sarcomere
Located between the atria and ventricles, this node delays the impulse from the sinoatrial node before allowing it to pass to the ventricles.
Atrioventricular node (AV node)
Small veins that allows blood to drain from capillaries into the larger veins.
Venules
The overall performance of the heart (heart rate × stroke volume).
Cardiac Output
Cell that receives a message from a hormone or enzyme. Target cells exert an action after being stimulated or activated.
Target (receptor) Cell
A gland, located just above the kidneys, responsible for the secretion of catecholamines and cortisol.
Adrenal Gland
Hormones produced by the adrenal glands that are part of the stress response known as the fight-or-flight response.
Catecholamines
The muscle action of the gastrointestinal system that pushes food through the body during digestion.
Peristalsis
the duodenum, jejunum, and the ileum make up what?
Small Intestine