Physiology Vocabulary

noun a type of body tissue composed of fat cells

adjective relating to or consisting of fat

• Adipose tissue is a type of connective tissue that stores fat for insulation and energy.
• I need to cut back on my adipose intake if I want to lose weight.
• I swear, all that junk food goes straight to my adipose!
• His adipose personality made it hard for others to get close to him.

adjective relating to or situated near an artery

• The surgeon carefully repaired the damaged arterial wall during the procedure.
• I heard that John had to undergo surgery to fix a problem with his arterial flow.
• I need to start eating healthier to keep my arteries clean and clear.
• The arterial road through town is always busy with traffic during rush hour.

noun a similar organ in other animals, as the wasp or other insects.

• The bladder is a hollow muscular organ located in the pelvis.
• I really need to go to the bathroom, my bladder is about to burst!
• I drank so much water, now my bladder is killing me.
• Her laughter was so contagious, it felt like my bladder was going to burst.

noun the flowing blood in a person's circulatory system

• The medication is designed to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
• After the injection, the medicine goes straight into your bloodstream.
• I heard he's got some crazy stuff running through his bloodstream.
• The excitement of the concert sent adrenaline coursing through her bloodstream.

adjective relating to or characteristic of body fluids, especially blood

• The humoral theory of medicine posits that bodily health is determined by the balance of four humors.
• Some people believe in the humoral theory of medicine, where your health depends on the balance of different bodily fluids.
• I don't buy into that whole humoral theory stuff, it sounds like pseudoscience to me.
• In a figurative sense, the humoral balance of a person's emotions can greatly impact their overall well-being.

noun a slimy substance, typically found in the nose and throat, that helps to protect and lubricate the mucous membranes

• The mucus lining in the respiratory tract helps to trap and remove bacteria and other particles.
• I hate it when I have a runny nose and the mucus just won't stop flowing.
• I can't believe he sneezed and got mucus all over his shirt.
• The corruption in the government is like a thick layer of mucus, difficult to remove and constantly causing problems.

noun a quick and automatic response to a stimulus that does not involve conscious thought

• A reflex action is an involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus.
• When you accidentally touch something hot, the reflex action makes you pull your hand away quickly.
• My reflex action when someone scares me is to scream and jump.
• His reflex action to any criticism is to become defensive and argumentative.

noun not applicable

verb not applicable

adjective marked with striae; furrowed or striped

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The striated muscle tissue showed clear banding under the microscope.
• The striped muscle looked cool under the microscope.
• The muscle with stripes was lit under the microscope.
• Her emotions were like striated patterns, alternating between joy and sorrow.

noun the act of making sudden, quick movements

verb to make a sudden, quick movement

adjective characterized by sudden, quick movements

• The doctor observed the patient's twitching muscles as a possible sign of nerve damage.
• I noticed your eye twitching when you get stressed out.
• Her leg was twitching like crazy during the scary movie.
• The constant twitching of his eyebrows revealed his nervousness during the interview.

noun a type of body tissue that stores fat for energy and insulation

• The adipose body is composed of adipose tissue, which stores energy in the form of fat.
• I've been trying to reduce my adipose body by going to the gym more often.
• I need to work on getting rid of this excess adipose body before summer.
• His adipose body reflected years of indulgence and lack of exercise.

noun a type of connective tissue that stores fat in the body

• Adipose tissue is a type of connective tissue that stores energy in the form of fat.
• Adipose tissue is basically fat storage in your body.
• Adipose tissue is like the body's storage unit for extra fluff.
• Think of adipose tissue as your body's cushioning system.

adjective relating to or situated near the outer surface of an organ, structure, or part

• The adventitial layer of the blood vessel provides support and protection.
• I learned about the adventitial layer in my anatomy class.
• I never knew blood vessels had an adventitial layer, cool!
• The adventitial layer acts as a shield, guarding the blood vessel from harm.

noun the process of transmitting information from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system

• Afference refers to the transmission of sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system.
• When you touch something hot, afference signals travel from your hand to your brain to let you know it's hot.
• My body's afference system is on point - I can feel everything!
• Her afference towards his emotions was evident in the way she could sense his mood without him saying a word.

noun a nerve or nerve impulse that conducts impulses toward the central nervous system

adjective relating to or conducting inward or toward something, especially a nerve impulse that moves toward the central nervous system

• The afferent nerves carry sensory information from the body to the brain.
• When you touch something hot, the afferent nerves send a signal to your brain to move your hand away.
• My afferent nerves are on high alert after that scary movie!
• Her afferent intuition told her not to trust him.

adverb in a manner relating to the transmission of sensory information towards the central nervous system

• The sensory neurons carry information afferently from the body to the brain.
• The nerve signals travel afferently to the brain to tell it what's going on.
• The messages are sent afferently to the brain to let it know what's up.
• Her emotions were being transmitted afferently, causing her to feel overwhelmed.