This page gathers the 272 dictionary entries belonging to the domain “Physiology”, as labelled by Wiktionary. Each word leads to its full entry: definitions, etymology, pronunciation, examples. Page 1 of 3: from “A.C.” to “excitosecretory”.
- A.C. adj acromioclavicular
- abductory adj Relating to abduction
- absorbent noun The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.
- absorption noun in living organisms, the process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed and conveyed to the tissues and organs; taking…
- accelerator noun A muscle or nerve that speeds the performance of an action.
- acceptor noun A cluster of skin cells that respond to pain
- accommodation noun The adaptation or adjustment of an organism, organ, or part.
- accrementition noun The process of generation by development of blastema, or fission of cells, in which the new formation is in all respect like the individual…
- acrophase noun The time period in a cycle during which the cycle crests or peaks, especially the upper part of a sine wave fitted to a measurement of a…
- action potential noun A short-term change in the electrical potential that travels along a cell such as a nerve or muscle fiber.
- adduct verb To draw towards a center or a middle line.
- aggresome noun A proteinaceous inclusion body that forms when cellular degradation machinery is impaired or overwhelmed
- alcohol clamp noun A research procedure where ethanol is administered intravenously in order to keep a constant blood alcohol concentration over time.
- allocrine adj Relating to or denoting foreign hormones being taken up and eliciting a response in an organism (for example, hormones in breast milk.)
- aminostasis noun The maintenance of a constant level of amino acids in the blood (by means of satiety)
- anatomic dead space noun The volume of inspired gas that does not mix with alveolar gas, as measured in vivo by gas dilution, by the method of Fowler.
- animalcule noun A sperm cell or spermatozoon; also, the embryo that was formerly thought to be contained inside a spermatozoon in a fully developed state.
- anion gap noun The difference between the levels of cations and anions in serum, plasma or urine (not counting hydrogen ions, bicarbonate and similar ions…
- anoxybiosis noun A biological response triggered by a lack of oxygen in which an organism takes in water and becomes turgid and immobile; possibly a form of…
- antidiuretic noun an agent that prevents or counteracts diuresis
- antidrop adj Preventing or counteracting a drop in body temperature.
- antihormonal adj Of or pertaining to antihormones
- antiperistalsis noun reversed peristalsis
- antiperistaltic adj Of or relating to antiperistalsis.
- arterialization noun The conversion of venous blood into arterial blood (by absorption of oxygen in the lungs, gas exchange, and reoxygenation).
- ascendant adj Of a part of an organism: synonym of ascending (“leading or sloping upwards”).
- atriohisian adj Of or pertaining to an atrium and the His bundle in the electrical conduction system of the heart, as (usually, more specifically) an…
- auxotonic adj Of or involving muscular contraction against resistance in which the length of the muscle changes and the tension differs due to an…
- axipetal adj Seeking the axon
- baleen noun keratinous material that makes up the plates in the mouth of the baleen whale (Mysticeti), which it uses to trap its food; formerly used in…
- barrier noun A separation between two areas of the body where specialized cells allow the entry of certain substances but prevent the entry of others.
- basal metabolic rate noun The amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state.
- bathyphase noun The time period in a cycle during which the cycle is low, especially the lower part of a sine wave fitted to a measurement of a circadian…
- Bayliss effect noun A special manifestation of the myogenic tone in the vasculature, whereby in the event that blood pressure is increased in the arterioles…
- beige fat noun A form of brown fat which can function akin to white fat under normal circumstances, but can function as brown fat under cold conditions.
- binocular vision noun A vision system in which two eyes work together to produce a unified field of view which is wider and stereoscopic, and in which objects…
- biofeedback noun A technique of gaining greater awareness of the many physiological functions of one's own body by using electronic or other instruments…
- blastema noun A clump of undifferentiated cells or blasts, from which an organ or body part will develop, either during the normal growth of an embryo or…
- blood sugar noun Glucose in the blood.
- bodily function noun A normal physical process that occurs in the body.
- borborygm noun A gurgling or rumbling noise produced by gas in the bowels.
- brown adipose tissue noun One of the two types of adipose tissue present in many newborn or hibernating mammals which primarily serves to generate body heat, and…
- calcemia noun The presence of calcium in the blood, and (usually, especially) the degree (that is, its concentration).
- calciostat noun The mechanism whereby parathyroid hormone production keeps the level of calcium in the blood stable.
- calorifacient adj heat-producing; applied to foods which, being rich in carbon, as the fats, are supposed to give rise to heat in the animal body by…
- capsule noun A membranous envelope.
- carcinoembryonic adj Describing any material (but especially a glycoprotein) that is present in patients with some cancers and also in healthy fetuses
- cardiac output noun The volume of blood ejected from the left ventricle of the heart per unit time, typically per minute.
- cardioskeletal adj Relating to the heart and the skeleton.
- cardiotropic adj That affects the heart
- cardioventilatory adj Relating to the (statistical) relationship between the onset of either inspiration or expiration and the timing of heartbeats
- catacrotic adj Relating to, or characterized by, that form of pulse tracing, or sphygmogram, in which the descending portion of the curve is marked by…
- cerebral localization noun The localization of the control of special functions, as of sight or of the various movements of the body, in special regions of the brain.
- cerebrifugal adj Applied to those nerve fibers, or veins, which go from the brain to the spinal cord, and so transfer cerebral impulses (centrifugal…
- cerebripetal adj Going from the spinal cord to the brain, so as to transfer sensations (centripetal impressions) from the exterior inwards.
- chemoreceptor trigger zone noun An area of the medulla oblongata, located in the area postrema, that receives inputs from blood-borne drugs or hormones, and communicates…
- chloremia noun The presence of chloride in the bloodstream (which is always true, in some amount or other).
- cholecystokinetic adj That stimulates emptying of the gallbladder.
- chondrification noun The formation of, or conversion into, cartilage; a cartilaginous formation resulting from this process.
- circulatory system noun The parts of an animal body comprising the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), and blood, which circulate the blood…
- con-sensual adj Occurring simultaneously, or almost so, with sensory perception.
- concentric adj Of a motion, in the direction of contraction of a muscle. (e.g. the extension of the lower arm by means of the elbow joint while…
- contractility noun The performance of cardiac muscle.
- convergence noun The coordinated focusing of the eyes, especially at short range.
- cotyledon noun Each of the patches of villi on the foetal chorion in the placenta of ruminants and some other mammals.
- cryptogenetic adj Relating to cryptogenesis
- cupremia noun The presence of copper (Cu) in the blood, and (usually, especially) the degree (that is, its concentration).
- dead space noun The portion of the respiratory tract that is ventilated but not perfused by pulmonary circulation.
- deep breathing noun A form of breathing where the expansion of the lungs results from using the diaphragm rather than using the muscles of the upper chest.
- deorphanized adj Describing an orphan receptor whose endogenous ligand has now been identified (producing an "adopted orphan").
- depression noun A lowering, in particular a reduction in a particular biological variable or the function of an organ, in contrast to elevation.
- depressor noun A nerve or nerve fiber that decreases the activity or the tone of the organ or the part it innervates, such as lowering the blood pressure.
- derecruitment noun The failure of the lungs to be fully aerated, typically as a result of closure of an airway, and especially in the setting of ARDS.
- descend verb Of a body part: to move downwards, especially during development of the embryo; specifically, of the testes of a mammal: to move downwards…
- despeciation noun The loss of antigenic specificity in an antigen or an antibody thereto.
- diaphoresis noun The formation and excretion of sweat.
- diastole noun The phase or process of relaxation and dilation of the heart chambers, between contractions, during which they fill with blood; an instance…
- dicrotic adj Denoting a pulse in which a double beat is detectable for each beat of the heart.
- dominance noun The superior development of or preference for one side of the body or one of a pair of organs; such as being right-handed.
- dominant adj Of a body part, preferred and used with greater dexterity than the other, as the right hand of a right-handed person or the left hand of a…
- drop verb Of the testicles: to hang further away from the body and begin producing sperm due to puberty.
- dysnatremia noun The presence of an unusual (high or low) amount of sodium in the blood; abnormal serum sodium level.
- eccentric adj Of a motion, against or in the opposite direction of contraction of a muscle (such as results from flexion of the lower arm (bending of the…
- ectostosis noun A process of bone formation in which ossification takes place in the perichondrium and either surrounds or gradually replaces the cartilage.
- eigenvolume noun A volume determined by molecular refraction measurements, based on the assumption that the molecular packing coefficient is constant.
- electrolyte noun Any of the various biometal ions (such as sodium or chloride) that regulate the electric charge on cells and the flow of water across their…
- eliminate verb To excrete (waste products).
- endocrine system noun A control system of ductless glands that secrete hormones which circulate via the bloodstream to affect cells within specific organs.
- endocrinology noun The study of the endocrine glands of the human body, the hormones produced by them, and their related disorders.
- endostosis noun A process of bone formation in which ossification takes place within the substance of the cartilage.
- entoperipheral adj Being, or having its origin, within the external surface of the body; especially applied to feelings, such as hunger, produced by internal…
- epiperipheral adj Connected with, or having its origin upon, the external surface of the body; especially applied to feelings that originate at the…
- erection noun The physiological process by which erectile tissue, such as a penis or clitoris, becomes erect by being engorged with blood.
- ergotropic adj That energizes the body's systems
- estrous cycle noun The repeating physiological changes that are influenced by hormones controlling reproduction in placental mammals other than human beings…
- euthyroidism noun Normal functioning of the thyroid or the physiological state as a result thereof, usually determined by the level of TSH and other…
- evert verb To turn inside out (like a pocket being emptied) or outwards.
- excitation noun The activity produced in an organ, tissue, or part, such as a nerve cell, as a result of stimulation.
- excitomotory adj Exciting motion; said of that portion of the nervous system concerned in reflex action, by which impressions are transmitted to a nerve…
- excitosecretory adj Triggering secretion; said of the influence exerted by reflex action on the function of secretion, by which the various glands are…