Pat DuPree

You’ve likely had your blood pressure taken before—the strap wrapped around your upper arm then inflated just to the point that you consider ripping it off from the pain.The purpose of this contraption is to block blood flow to your forearm. Then, as air is let out, blood begins to flow turbulently creating the audible sounds of Kortokoff (that’s why the stethoscope is positioned on your antecubital region, or inner elbow).

Innate, or non-specific, defenses are the tools our bodies use to attack foreign invaders regardless of their ilk. Adaptive, or specific, defense is part of the lymphatic system that protects our bodies from foreign invaders. How our innate defenses protect us Germs can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other microorganisms, and other foreign particles (pollen, toxins) can be problematic.

Respiration, or the exchange of gases between an organism and its environment, occurs in three distinct processes: breathing, exchanging gases, and cellular respiration. Here’s a breakdown: Breathing: The technical term is pulmonary ventilation, or the movement of air into and out of the lungs. Breathing is comprised of two distinct actions: inspiration and expiration.

Lymph nodes are the site of filtration in the lymphatic system. Also sometimes incorrectly referred to as lymph glands—they don’t secrete anything, so technically they’re not glands—these bean-shaped sacs are surrounded by connective tissue (and therefore are tough to spot). A lymph node.Lymph nodes contain macrophages, which destroy bacteria, cancer cells, and other matter in the lymph fluid.

To successfully study anatomy and physiology, you'll want to understand all the Latin and Greek roots, prefixes and suffixes. Also, make sure to get a good foundational knowledge of anatomic cavities, anatomic positions (standard positions when looking at an anatomical drawing), and anatomic planes.Latin and Greek in anatomy and physiologyScience, especially medicine, is permeated with Latin and Greek terms.

Atoms tend to arrange themselves in the most stable patterns possible, which means that they have a tendency to complete or fill their outermost electron orbits. They join with other atoms to do just that. The force that holds atoms together in collections known as molecules is referred to as a chemical bond. There are two main types and some secondary types of chemical bonds:Ionic bondIonic bonding involves a transfer of an electron, so one atom gains an electron while one atom loses an electron.

It may look like cells are living out their useful lives simply doing whatever specialized jobs they do best, but in truth mitosis is a continuous process. When the cell isn’t actively splitting itself in two, it’s actively preparing to do so. DNA and centrioles (arrays of microtubules) are being replicated, and the cell is bulking up on cytoplasm to make sure there’s enough for both daughter cells.

Science, especially medicine, is permeated with Latin and Greek terms. Latin names are used for every part of the body; and since the Greeks are the founders of modern medicine, Greek terms are common in medical terminology, as well. Latin and Greek roots This table represents some common Latin and Greek root