GLOSSARY FOR ANATOMY AND FISIOLOGY: S SACCADIC EYE MOVEMENT very rapid eye movements that occur constantly

and that change the focus on the retina from one point to another. SACCULE a saclike cavity in the membranous labyrinth inside the vestibule of the inner ear that contains a vestibular organ for equilibrium. SACRAL pertaining to the sacrum. SACRAL PLEXUS a network of nerve fibers that arises from spinal nerves l4 through s3. Nerves arising from the sacral plexus merge with those from the lumbar plexus to form the lumbosacral plexus and supply the lower extremity. SADDLE JOINT a synovial joint in which the articular surfaces of both bones are concave in one plane and convex or saddle shaped, in the other plane, such as in the distal carpometacarpal joint of the thumb. SAGITTAL PLANE a vertical plane, running parallel to the midsagittal plane, that divides the body into unequal right and left portions. SALIVARY GLAND an accessory digestive gland that secretes saliva into the oral cavity.

SALTATORY CONDUCTION the rapid passage of action potentials from one node of ranvier (neurofibril node) to another in myelinated axons. SARCOLEMMA the cell membrane of a muscle fiber. SARCOMERE the portion of a striated muscle fiber between the two adjacent z lines that is considered the functional unit of a myofibril. SACROPLASM the cytoplasm within a muscle fiber. SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM the smooth or agranular endoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells. It surrounds each myofibril and stores ca++ when the muscle is at rest. SCALA TYMPANI the lower channel of the cochlea that is filled with perilymph. SCALA VESTIBULI the upper channel of the cochlea that is filled with perilymph. SCHWANN CELL see neurolemmocyte.

SCLERA the outer white layer of fibrous connective tissue that forms the protective covering of the eyeball. SCLERAL VENOUS SINUS a circular venous drainage for the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber; located at the junction of the sclera and the cornea; also called the canal of schlemm. SCROTUM a pouch of skin that contains the testes and their accessory organs. SEBACEOUS GLAND an exocrine gland of the skin that secretes sebum. SEBUM an oily, waterproofing secretion of the sebaceous glands. SECOND MESSENGER a molecule or ion whose concentration within a target cell is increased by the action of a regulatory compound (e.g., a hormone or neurotransmitter) and which stimulates the metabolism of that target cell in a way that mediates the intracellular effects of that regulatory compound. SECRETIN a polypeptide hormone secreted by the small intestine in response to acidity of the intestinal lumen. Along with cholecystokinin, secretin stimulates the secretion of pancreatic juice into the small intestine.

SEMEN the thick, whitish secretion of the reproductive organs of the male, consisting of spermatozoa and additives from the prostate and seminal vesicles. SEMICIRCULAR CANALS tubule channels within the inner ear that contain receptors for equilibrium. SEMILUNAR VALVE crescent- or half-moon-shaped heart valves positioned at the entrances to the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. SEMINAL VESICLES a pair of accessory male reproductive organs lying posterior and inferior to the urinary bladder that secrete additives to spermatozoa into the ejaculatory ducts. SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES numerous small ducts in the testes, where spermatozoa are produced. SEMIPERMEABLE MEMBRANE a membrane with pores of a size that permits the passage of solvent and some solute molecules while restricting the passage of other solute molecules. SENESCENCE the process of aging. SENSORY AREA a region of the cerebral cortex that receives and interprets sensory nerve impulses.

SENSORY NEURON a nerve cell that conducts an impulse from a receptor organ to the central nervous system; also called an afferent neuron. SEPTUM a membranous or fleshy wall dividing two cavities. SEROUS MEMBRANE an epithelial and connective tissue membrane that lines body cavities and covers visceral organs within these cavities; also called serosa. SERTOLI CELLS see sustentacular cells. SERUM blood plasma with the clotting elements removed. SESAMOID BONE a membranous bone formed in a tendon in response to joint stress (e.g., the patella). SEX CHROMOSOMES the x and y chromosomes; the unequal pairs of chromosomes involved in sex determination (which is based on the presence or absence of a y chromosome). Females lack a y chromosome and normally have the genotype xx; males have a y chromosome and normally have the genotype xy. SHOCK as it relates to the cardiovascular system, this term refers to a rapid, uncontrolled fall in blood pressure, which in some cases becomes irreversible and leads to death.

SHOULDER the region of the body where the humerus articulates with the scapula. SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA a hereditary, autosomal recessive trait that occurs primarily in people of african ancestry, in which it evolved apparently as a protection (in the carrier state) against malaria. In the homozygous state, hemoglobin s is made instead of hemoglobin a; this leads to the characteristic sickling of red blood cells, hemolytic anemia, and organ damage. SIGMOID COLON the s-shaped portion of the large intestine between the descending colon and the rectum. SINOATRIAL NODE a mass of specialized cardiac tissue in the wall of the right atrium that initiates the cardiac cycle; the sa node; also called the pacemaker. SINUS a cavity or hollow space within a body organ, such as a bone. SINUSOID a small, blood-filled space in certain organs, such as the spleen or liver. SKELETAL MUSCLE a specialized type of multinucleated muscle tissue that occurs in bundles, has crossbands of proteins, and contracts in either a voluntary or involuntary fashion. SLEEP APNEA a temporary cessation of breathing during sleep, usually lasting for several seconds.

SLIDING FILAMENT THEORY the theory that the thick and thin filaments of a myofibril slide past each other during muscle contraction, while maintaining their initial length. SMALL INTESTINE the portion of the gi tract between the stomach and the cecum whose function is the absorption of food nutrients. SMOOTH MUSCLE a specialized type of nonstriated muscle tissue composed of fusiform, single-nucleated fibers. It contracts in an involuntary, rhythmic fashion within the walls of visceral organs. SODIUM/POTASSIUM PUMP an active transport carrier with atpase enzymatic activity that acts to accumulate k+ within cells and extrude na+ from cells, thus maintaining gradients for these ions across the cell membrane. SOFT PALATE the fleshy, posterior portion of the roof of the mouth, from the palatine bones to the uvula. SOMATIC pertaining to the nonvisceral parts of the body. SOMATOMEDINS a group of small polypeptides believed to be produced in the liver in response to growth hormone stimulation and to mediate the actions of growth hormone on the skeleton and other tissues.

SOMATOSTATIN a polypeptide produced in the hypothalamus that acts to inhibit the secretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary. Somatostatin is also produced in the pancreatic islets, but its function there has not been established. SOMATOTROPIC HORMONE growth hormone; an anabolic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that stimulates skeletal growth and protein synthesis in many organs. SOUNDS OF KOROTKOFF the sounds heard when pressure measurements are taken. These sounds are produced by the turbulent flow of blood through an artery that has been partially constricted by a pressure cuff. SPERMATIC CORD the structure of the male reproductive system composed of the ductus deferens, spermatic vessels, nerves, cremaster muscle, and connective tissue. The spermatic cord extends from a testis to the inguinal ring. SPERMATOGENESIS the production of male sex gametes, or spermatozoa. SPERMATOZOON Spermatozoa or, loosely, sperm a mature male sperm cell, or gamete. SPERMIOGENESIS the maturational changes that transform spermatids into spermatozoa. SPHINCTER a circular muscle that functions to constrict a body opening or the lumen of a tubular structure.

SPHINCTER OF AMPULLA the muscular constriction at the opening of the common bile and pancreatic ducts; also called the sphincter of oddi. SPHINCTER OF ODDI see sphincter of ampulla. SPHYGMOMANOMETER a manometer (pressure transducer) used to measure the blood pressure. SPINAL CORD the portion of the central nervous system that extends downward from the brain stem through the vertebral canal. SPINAL GANGLION a cluster of nerve cell bodies on the posterior root of a spinal nerve. SPINAL NERVE one of the 31 pairs of nerves that arise from the spinal cord. SPINDLE FIBERS filaments that extend from the poles of a cell to its equator and attach to the chromosomes during the metaphase stage of cell division. Contraction of the spindle fibers pulls the chromosomes to opposite poles of the cell. SPINOUS PROCESS a sharp projection of bone or a ridge of bone, such as on the scapula.

SPIRAL ORGAN the functional unit of hearing, consisting of a basilar membrane supporting receptor hair cells and a tectorial membrane within the endolymph of the cochlear duct; also known as the organ of corti. SPIRONOLACTONES diuretic drugs that act as an aldosterone antagonist. SPLEEN a large, blood-filled, glandular organ located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen and attached by mesenteries to the stomach. SPONGY BONE bone tissue with a latticelike structure; also called cancellous bone. SQUAMOUS flat or scalelike. STAPES the innermost of the auditory ossicles that fits against the oval window of the inner ear; also called the stirrup. STEROID a lipid, derived from cholesterol, that has three 6-sided carbon rings and one 5-sided carbon ring. These form the steroid hormones of the adrenal cortex and gonads. STOMACH a pouchlike digestive organ located between the esophagus and the duodenum.

STRATIFIED arranged in layers, or strata. STRATUM BASALE the deepest epidermal layer, where mitotic activity occurs. STRATUM CORNEUM the outer, cornified layer of the epidermis of the skin. STROKE VOLUME the amount of blood ejected from each ventricle at each heartbeat. STROMA a connective tissue framework in an organ, gland, or other tissue. SUBARACHNOID SPACE the space within the meninges between the arachnoid mater and pia mater, where cerebrospinal fluid flows. SUBLINGUAL GLAND one of the three pairs of salivary glands. It is located below the tongue and its duct opens to the side of the lingual frenulum. SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND one of the three pairs of salivary glands. It is located below the mandible and its duct opens to the side of the lingual frenulum. SUBMUCOSA layer of supportive connective tissue that underlies a mucous membrane.

SUBMUCOSAL PLEXUS a network of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers located in the submucosa tunic of the small intestine; also called the plexus of meissner. SUBSTRATE in enzymatic reactions, the molecules that combine with the amino acids lining the active sites of an enzyme and are converted to products by catalysis of the enzyme. SULCUS a shallow impression or groove. SUPERFICIAL toward or near the surface. SUPERFICIAL FASCIA a binding layer of connective tissue between the dermis of the skin and the underlying muscle. SUPERIOR toward the upper part of a structure or toward the head; also called cephalic. SUPERIOR VENA CAVA a large systemic vein that collects blood from regions of the body superior to the heart and returns it to the right atrium. SUPINATION rotation of the arm so that the palm is directed forward or anteriorly; the opposite of pronation.

SUPPRESSOR T CELL a subpopulation of t lymphocytes that acts to inhibit the production of antibodies against specific antigens by b lymphocytes. SURFACE ANATOMY the division of anatomy concerned with the structures that can be identified from the outside of the body. SURFACTANT a substance produced by the lungs that decreases the surface tension within the alveoli. SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT a portion of the peritoneum that extends laterally from the surface of the ovary to the wall of the pelvic cavity. A ligament that supports an organ or body part, such as that supporting the lens of the eye. SUSTENTACULAR CELLS specialized cells within the testes that supply nutrients to developing spermatozoa; also called sertoli cells or nurse cells. SUTURAL BONE a small bone positioned within a suture of certain cranial bones; also called a wormian bone. SUTURE a type of fibrous joint found between bones of the skull. SWEAT GLAND a skin gland that secretes a fluid substance for evaporative cooling.

SYMPATHETIC pertaining to the division of the autonomic nervous system concerned with activities that, in general, arouse the body for physical activity; also called the thoracolumbar division. SYMPHYSIS a type of cartilaginous joint characterized by a fibrocartilaginous pad between the articulating bones, which provides slight movement. SYMPHYSIS PUBIS a slightly movable joint located anteriorly between the two pubic bones of the pelvic girdle. SYNAPSE a minute space between the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron and a dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron. SYNARTHROSIS a fibrous joint, such as a syndesmosis or a suture. SYNCHONDROSIS a cartilaginous joint in which the articulating bones are separated by hyaline cartilage. SYNDESMOSIS a type of fibrous joint in which two bones are united by an interosseous ligament. SYNERGIST a muscle that assists the action of the prime mover.

SYNERGISTIC pertaining to regulatory processes or molecules (such as hormones) that have complementary or additive effects. SYNOVIAL CAVITY a space between the two bones of a synovial joint, filled with synovial fluid. SYNOVIAL JOINT a freely movable joint in which there is a synovial cavity between the articulating bones; also called a diarthrotic joint. SYNOVIAL MEMBRANE the inner membrane of a synovial capsule that secretes synovial fluid into the joint cavity. SYSTEM a group of body organs that function together. SYSTEMIC relating to the entire organism rather than to individual parts. SYSTEMIC ANATOMY the division of anatomy concerned with the structure and function of the various systems. SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION the portion of the circulatory system concerned with blood flow from the left ventricle of the heart to the entire body and back to the heart via the right atrium (in contrast to the pulmonary system, which involves the lungs).

SYSTOLE the muscular contraction of a heart chamber during the cardiac cycle. SYSTOLIC PRESSURE arterial blood pressure during the ventricular systolic phase of the cardiac cycle.