| adrenal glands | Two small glands, located on top of the kidneys, that are part of the endocrine system and secrete several hormones, including cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, that are involved in responses to stress.
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| angina pectoris | Chest pain that occurs because the muscle tissue of the heart is deprived of adequate oxygen or because removal of carbon dioxide and other wastes interferes with the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
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| atherosclerosis | A major cause of heart disease; caused by the narrowing of the arterial walls due to the formation of plaques that reduce the flow of blood through the arteries and interfere with the passage of nutrients from the capillaries into the cells.
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| autoimmunity | A condition in which the body produces an immune response against its own tissue constituents.
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| blood pressure | The force that blood exerts against vessel walls.
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| cardiovascular system | The transport system of the body responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body and carrying away carbon dioxide and other wastes to the kidneys for excretion; composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
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| catecholamines | The neurotransmitters, epinephrine and norepinephrine, that promote sympathetic nervous system activity; released in substantial quantities during stressful times.
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| cell-mediated immunity | Slow acting immune response, involving T lymphocytes, that operates at the cellular level.
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| cerebellum | The part of the hindbrain responsible for the coordination of voluntary muscle movement, the maintenance of balance and equilibrium, and the maintenance of muscle tone and posture.
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| cerebral cortex | The main portion of the brain, responsible for intelligence, memory, and the detection and interpretation of sensation.
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| endocrine system | A bodily system of ductless glands that secrete hormones into the blood to stimulate target organs; interacts with nervous system functioning.
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| humoral immunity | Fast acting immune response that defends the body against bacterial and viral infections that have not yet invaded the cells; mediated by B lymphocytes.
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| hypothalamus | The part of the forebrain responsible for regulating water balance and controlling hunger and sexual desire; assists in cardiac functioning, blood pressure regulation, and respiration regulation; has a major role in regulation of the endocrine system, which controls the release of hormones, including those related to stress.
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| immunity | The body's resistance to injury from invading organisms, acquired from the mother at birth, through disease, or through vaccinations and inoculations.
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| kidney dialysis | A procedure in which blood is filtered to remove toxic substances and excess fluid from the blood of patients whose kidneys do not function properly.
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| lymphatic system | The drainage system of the body; believed to be involved in immune functioning.
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| medulla | Part of the brain that regulates heart rate, constriction of blood vessels, and rate of breathing.
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| myocardial infarction (MI) | A heart attack produced when a clot has developed in a coronary vessel, blocking the flow of blood to the heart.
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| nervous system | The system of the body responsible for the transmission of information from the brain to the rest of the body and from the rest of the body to the brain; it is composed of the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (which consists of the remainder of the nerves in the body).
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| neurotransmitters | Chemicals that regulate nervous system functioning.
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| nonspecific immune mechanisms | A set of responses to infection or a disorder that is engaged by the presence of a biological invader.
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| parasympathetic nervous system | The part of the nervous system responsible for vegetative functions, the conservation of energy, and the damping down of the effects of the sympathetic nervous system.
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| phagocytosis | The process by which phagocytes ingest and attempt to eliminate a foreign invader.
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| pituitary gland | A gland located at the base of and controlled by the brain that secretes the hormones responsible for growth and organ development.
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| platelets | Small disks found in vertebrate blood that contribute to blood coagulation.
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| pons | Link between the hindbrain and the midbrain; it helps control respiration.
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| renal system | Part of the metabolic system; responsible for the regulation of bodily fluids and the elimination of wastes; regulates bodily fluids by removing surplus water, surplus electrolytes, and waste products generated by the metabolism of food.
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| respiratory system | The system of the body responsible for taking in oxygen, excreting carbon dioxide, and regulating the relative composition of the blood.
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| specific immune mechanisms | Responses designed to respond to specific invaders; includes cell-mediated and humoral immunity.
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| sympathetic nervous system | The part of the nervous system that mobilizes the body for action.
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| thalamus | The portion of the forebrain responsible for the recognition of sensory stimuli and the relay of sensory impulses to the cerebral cortex.
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