49 results found

Search Results for: contract

Contract

Contract 1. To shorten; to become reduced in size; in the case of muscle, either to shorten or to undergo an increase in... Read More

Involuntary muscle

A muscle act typically either under the control of the will or without conscious control. Muscles that can be controlled at... Read More

Tissue

Tissue Definition What is tissue in the body? The body tissue is an aggregation of cells that function together and have a... Read More

Smooth muscle

The smooth muscle can be described as a type of muscle in the human body that is non-striated and involuntary in action.... Read More

Circulation

Blood Blood is composed of a liquid, plasma, and blood cells such as erythrocytes (red blood cells,) leukocytes (white... Read More

Agonist muscle

Definition noun A muscle that contracts while another muscle relaxes Supplement Muscles may be classified according to the... Read More

Peristalsis

What is Peristalsis? Peristalsis is the series of involuntary, wave-like muscle movements in the cylindrical, hollow tube... Read More

An introduction to Homeostasis

Researched and Written by Jonjo Minns Submitted to biologyonline.com on February 25, 2009. Published in biologyonline.com... Read More

Semilunar valve

The human heart structure consists of heart chambers (2 atria and 2 ventricles) that differ functionally from each other.... Read More

Antagonistic Muscle

Definition of Antagonistic Muscle What does the term “antagonistic” mean? As the name suggests, the word antagonistic... Read More

Egestion

Egestion is the act or process of voiding or discharging undigested food as faeces. To egest means to discharge undigested... Read More

Nectophore

Definition noun, plural: nectophores The swimming bell in (the colony of) siphonophores Supplement The nectophores are the... Read More

Jaw jerk reflex

Definition noun A stretch reflex that manifests as the contraction of the masseter and the temporalis muscles in response to... Read More

Leaves

Leaves are highly efficient solar energy converters. They capture light energy and through the process of photosynthesis.... Read More

Respiration

Organization of the Respiratory System Each lung is composed of air sacs called alveoli - the sites of gas exchange with... Read More

Depolarization

Depolarization is the removal of polarity by a process or action. It might also be used to describe how such activity leads... Read More

Atrial syncytium

Definition noun A network of cardiac muscle cells connected by gap junctions that allows coordinate contraction of the... Read More

Ventricular syncytium

Definition noun A network of cardiac muscle cells connected by gap junctions that allows coordinate contraction of the... Read More

Muscular system

Muscular System Definition What is the muscular system? The muscular system is a system that includes muscle cells and... Read More

Starlings law

Definition noun Starling’s law states that the force of contraction depends on the length of muscle fibers of the heart... Read More

Neuromuscular junction

Definition noun A chemical synapse between a motoneuron and a muscle fiber, through which a signal is transmitted that... Read More

Penis erection of the

penis, erection of the When the penis fills with blood and is rigid. The penis contains two chambers, called the corpora... Read More

Amaurotic pupil

Amaurotic pupil pupil in an eye that is blind because of ocular or optic nerve disease; this pupil will not contract to... Read More

Wrinkles

wrinkle 1. A small ridge, prominence, or furrow formed by the shrinking or contraction of any smooth substance; a... Read More

Digestion and Absorption of Food

The gastrointestinal (GI) system includes the gastrointestinal tract (mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine,... Read More

Human Reproduction

Terminology and Concepts Primary reproductive organs are called gonads - testes in the male and ovaries in the female.... Read More

Directed case study method for teaching human anatomy and physiology

DIRECTED CASE STUDY METHOD FOR TEACHING HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY William H. Cliff and Ann W. Wright Department of... Read More

Unstriated muscle

unstriated muscle --> smooth muscle (Science: anatomy, pathology, physiology) muscle tissue in vertebrates made up from... Read More

Reproductive system

What is the Reproductive System? The reproductive system of an organism is the biological system made up of all the... Read More

Ventilation

Ventilation Definition Often when persons think of ventilation, they think of getting clean or enough air into a room. This... Read More

Felis

Definition noun (taxonomy) A genus of the family Felidae and includes domestic cat, sand cat, black-footed cat, wildcat,... Read More

Isotonic

Isotonic Definition What does isotonic mean? The term "isotonic" is used in physiology, anatomy, and physical chemistry.... Read More

Epithelium

An epithelium is a type of animal tissue made up of densely packed cells (called epithelial cells) that rest on a basement... Read More

Anatomy

Anatomy Definition Often we hear the term 'anatomy' while learning about the body and how it works. What is anatomy? What... Read More

Crown of head

Crown of Head Definition The crown of the head is the upper dorsal part (or area) of the head. Several creatures have... Read More

Respiration rate

Respiration Rate Definition Respiration rate is a vital life process that expresses the breathing rate in an organism... Read More

Residual volume

Residual volume is a term that is most often seen in lung physiology where it is defined as the amount of air remaining in... Read More

Gag reflex

Definition noun, plural: gag reflexes A reflex contraction characterized by retching or gagging when a foreign body comes in... Read More

Expiration

Expiration (Science: physiology) The act of breathing out or expelling air from the lungs. Origin: L. Spirare = to breathe a... Read More

Motor point

Definition noun, plural: motor points The most electrically excitable area of the muscle wherein a minimum amount of... Read More