Glossary 599
propulsion the movement of food through the
gastrointestinal tract that is stimulated by swallowing at
the pharynx and peristalsis, muscular contractions that
move food through the rest of the GI tract
prostaglandins (PRAHS-ta-GLAN-dins) fatty acids
involved in the control of infl ammation, smooth-muscle
contractions, and body temperature
prostate gland the gland that sits directly under the
bladder and surrounds the beginning of the urethra in
the male; produces about one-third of the fl uid volume of
semen
protein a large biological molecule made of chains of
dozens to hundreds of amino acids
proteinuria protein in the urine; often a sign of kidney
damage
provitamin D3 cholesterol molecules in the skin that are
converted into vitamin D when exposed to UVB rays
proximal convoluted tubule the part of the nephron
between the glomerular capsule and the nephron loop;
minerals, nutrients, and water are reabsorbed from the
fi ltrate here
proximal radioulnar joint joint between the radius and
ulna close to the elbow
psoriasis (soh-RIGH-a-sis) a common skin disorder that
involves redness, irritation, and scales (fl aky, silver-white
patches) that itch, burn, crack, and sometimes bleed
pubis (PYOO-bis) anterior portion of each coxal bone
pubis symphysis (PYOO-bis) joint in the center front of
the body where the two pubic bones fuse and are joined
by a disc of hyaline cartilage
pulmonary circulation (PUL-muh-NAIR-ee) circulation
of oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle, through the
lungs, and returning to the left atrium with oxygen-rich
blood
pulmonary valve (PUL-muh-NAIR-ee) a valve located at
the opening of the pulmonary artery on the right side of
the heart
pulmonary ventilation the process of continuously
moving air in and out of the lungs
pulp cavity a hollow, central region in the tooth that
contains soft tissue, nerves, and blood vessels
pupil the opening through which light rays enter the eye
Purkinje fi bers (per-KIN-jee) part of the impulse-conducting
network of the heart that rapidly transmits impulses
throughout the ventricles causing ventricular contraction
pus a combination of neutrophils, cellular debris, and fl uids
pyelonephritis (PIGH-eh-loh-neh-FRIGH-tis) infl ammation
of the kidney and/or ureter, usually due to the spread of a
bacterial infection from the bladder
pylorus (pi-LOR-us) the opening from the stomach into
the small intestine
pyrogens (PIGH-roh-jehns) chemicals that tend to cause
fever by raising the set-point temperature of the neurons
in the hypothalamus
Q
quadriplegia (KWAH-dri-PLEE-jee-a) disorder
characterized by the loss of function below the neck
quiescent inactive
R
radial artery the artery located on the thumb side of the
wrist where the radial pulse is detected
radial deviation rotation of the hand toward the thumb
radiocarpal joint joint between the radius and the carpal
bones of the wrist
radius (RAY-dee-us) smaller of the two bones in the
forearm; rotates around the ulna
reabsorption the movement of water and dissolved
substances from the fi ltrate (in a renal tubule) back into
the blood
receptor transmitter that senses environmental changes
rectum the short, fi nal segment of the digestive tube; its
lower end is the anal canal
red blood cells part of the formed elements of the blood;
contain hemoglobin, a protein responsible for oxygen and
carbon dioxide exchange; erythrocytes
redness a sign of infl ammation
refl exes simple, rapid, involuntary, programmed
responses to stimuli
refractory period (ree-FRAK-toh-ree) the time between
the completion of the action potential and repolarization
regular dense connective tissue a type of connective
tissue composed primarily of collagen fi bers oriented
parallel to one another
remodeling process through which adult bone can
change in density, strength, and sometimes shape
renal columns inward extensions of cortex-like tissue
that separate the renal pyramids from each other
renal corpuscle (KOR-puh-suhl) the part of a nephron
that consists of a glomerular capsule with its included
glomerulus
renal cortex the lighter-colored, outer layer of the kidney
that contains the glomeruli and convoluted tubules
renal dialysis (digh-AL-i-sis) the removal of wastes from
the blood by artifi cial means
renal hilum (REE-nal HIGH-lum) the indentation on the
medial surface of each kidney, where blood vessels and
the ureter enter and leave
renal medulla the darker, innermost part of the kidney
renal pelvis a funnel-shaped cavity in the center of the
kidney where urine collects before it fl ows into the ureter
renal pyramids cone-shaped masses that form the
medullary substance of the kidney
renal tubule (TOO-byool) the part of a nephron that leads
away from a glomerulus and empties into a collecting
tubule; consists of a proximal convoluted tubule,
nephron loop, and distal convoluted tubule
renin (REE-nin) an enzyme made and secreted by the
kidneys; aids in the production of angiotensin
repolarization the reestablishment of a polarized state in
a cell after depolarization
repolarize to relax; the atria and ventricles repolarize as
the heart beats
research question a question to be answered or a
problem to be solved in a research study
residual volume (RV) the volume of air that never leaves
the lungs, even after the most forceful expiration
respiration the process by which the lungs provide oxygen
to body tissues and dispose of carbon dioxide; breathing
respiratory gas transport the process by which oxygen
and carbon dioxide are transported to and from the lungs
and tissues
respiratory zone the collective name for the respiratory
bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli
reticular connective tissue (reh-TIK-yoo-lar) a type of
tissue that contains reticular fi bers and is found in lymph
nodes, bone marrow, and the spleen
reticular formation (reh-TIK-yoo-lar) a collection of gray
matter that extends the length of the brain stem
reticular layer the layer of skin superfi cial to the papillary
layer