Glossary 583
cardiopulmonary system the collective name for the
respiratory and cardiovascular systems; these systems
work together to conduct gas exchange
cardiovascular physiology the study of how the heart
functions or works internally
cardioversion (KAHR-dee-oh-VER-zhun) restoration of
the heart’s rhythm to normal by electrical countershock
or by medications
carotid artery the artery located on the side of the neck
where the carotid pulse is felt
carpal bones (KAR-pal) bones of the wrist
cartilage a connective tissue that provides support and
fl exibility to parts of the skeleton
catabolism the process through which complex
molecules are broken down into simple ones
cataracts (KAT-uh-rakts) the term used to describe a
progressive clouding of the lens of the eye
cavities open chambers inside the human body
cecum (SEE-kum) pouch at the beginning of the
large intestine, in between the ileum and the colon
cell body part of an axon that contains a nucleus
cell-mediated immunity see cellular immunity
cells the smallest living building blocks of all organisms
cellular immunity immunity that arises from the activation
of T lymphocytes (T cells) by antigen-presenting cells;
cell-mediated immunity
cellulitis (SEHL-yoo-LIGH-tis) a bacterial infection
characterized by an infl amed area of skin that is red,
swollen, and painful
central chemoreceptors (KEE-moh-ree-SEHP-tor)
chemical receptor cells that monitor changes in the pH
of the cerebrospinal fl uid in an effort to regulate carbon
dioxide levels and respiration
central nervous system (CNS) the brain and spinal cord
centrioles (SEHN-tree-ohlz) short cylinders made of nine
triplets of parallel microtubules
centromere (SEHN-troh-meer) the point or region on a
chromosome that divides the chromosome into two arms
and functions as the point of attachment for the sister
chromatids; provides movement during cell division
centrosome (SEHN-troh-sohm) an area of the cell near
the nucleus
cerebellum (SER-eh-BEHL-um) section of the brain that
coordinates body movements, including balance
cerebral cortex (seh-REE-bral) the outer surface of the
cerebrum
cerebral hemisphere (seh-REE-bral) term used to
describe one-half of the brain; collectively, the two
hemispheres make up the cerebrum
cerebral palsy (seh-REE-bral) a group of nervous
system disorders resulting from brain damage before or
during birth, or in early infancy
cerebrum (seh-REE-brum) the largest part of the brain,
consisting of the left and right hemispheres
cerumen (se-ROO-men) the soft, brownish yellow, waxy
secretion of the ceruminous glands; earwax
ceruminous glands (seh-ROO-mi-nus) secretors of
cerumen, or earwax; located in the auditory canal
cervical region (SER-vi-kal) the fi rst 7 vertebrae,
comprising the neck
cervix (SER-viks) the narrow, lower end of the uterus that
has the opening through which a baby passes during
childbirth
channel proteins molecules with a hollow central pore
that allows water or small, charged particles of certain
substances to pass into or out of the cells
chelation therapy a procedure in which excess metals,
such as iron, are removed from the blood
chemical breakdown the breakdown of large food
molecules into smaller molecules by enzymes; digestion
chest pain angina pectoris
chickenpox a highly contagious, common childhood
disease that is characterized by extremely itchy,
fl uid-fi lled blisters; herpes varicella
chlamydia (kla-MID-ee-a) a sexually transmitted disease
that often causes no symptoms, but can damage the
female reproductive tract and lead to infertility and
increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
cholecystectomy (KOH-leh-sis-TEHK-toh-mee) surgical
removal of the gall bladder
chondroblasts (KAHN-droh-blasts) cells that secrete the
extracellular matrix of cartilage
chordae tendineae (KOR-dee TEHN-di-nee) thin, fi brous
cords, connected to the papillary muscle and the leafl ets
of the AV valves
chorion the layer of the fetal sac that surrounds the amnion
choroid (KOR-oyd) the middle layer of the eye
chromatids (KROH-ma-tids) paired strands of a
duplicated chromosome that become visible during cell
division and that are joined by a centromere
chromosomes rod-shaped structures in the nuclei of our
body cells that contain individual DNA and genes
chronic bronchitis a long-lasting condition in which
the airways of the lungs become obstructed due to
infl ammation of the bronchi and excessive mucus
production
chronic kidney disease a condition defi ned by evidence
of kidney damage or a GFR less than 60 milliliters per
minute for at least three months
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) a form of leukemia
characterized by extremely high levels of lymphocytes;
most often found in middle-age adults
chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) a form of leukemia
characterized by overproduction of granulocytes
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) any
lung disorder characterized by a long-term airway
obstruction, making it diffi cult to breathe
chyme (kighm) the mixture of food and digestive juice in
the stomach and duodenum
cilia (SIL-ee-a) a hair-like projection that actively fl exes
back and forth to move fl uid or mucus across the outside
of a cell
ciliary body (SIL-ee-AIR-ee) the structure between the
choroid and the iris that anchors the lens in place
ciliary glands (SIL-ee-AIR-ee) modifi ed sweat glands
located between the eyelashes
circulatory system the cardiovascular system, which
consists of a strong, muscular pump (the heart), an
extensive network of pipes (blood vessels), and fl uid (blood)
circumduction (SER-kum-DUK-shun) rotational
movement of a body segment such that the end of the
segment traces a circle
cistern (cisternae) (sis-TER-nee) a fl attened, sheet-like
chamber in the endoplasmic reticulum
cisterna chyli (sis-TER-na KIGH-ligh) chamber through
which lymph fl ows, situated just in front of the vertebral
column in the lumbar (lower back) region
citric acid cycle a reaction that breaks down pyruvate
molecules into carbon atoms
class I MHC proteins major histocompatibility complex
proteins that are found on the surfaces of all cells that
contain nuclei