Anatomy and Physiology of Animals/Glossary/T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z

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Xiphoid process (or xiphisternum) A small process/ extension at the lower part of the sternum. Cartilage at birth; gradually ossifies to bone and fuses with the sternum

Word	Meaning
T
Target cell	A cell whose activity is affected by a particular hormone
Tarsals	The bones of the “ankle”
Tendons	A tough cord of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscles to bones
Testis	The male gonad that produces sperm
Testosterone	The hormone produced by the cells between the seminiferous tubules of the testis
Thoracic cavity	The chest cavity that contains the heart and lungs
Thorax	The part of the body between the neck and the diaphragm
Thymus gland	The organ dorsal to the sternum that is essential to the immune response
Thyroid gland	The endocrine gland with lobes on either side of the trachea
Thyroxine	The hormone secreted by the thyroid gland
Tibia	The medial bone of the lower hind limb
Tidal breathing	Normal at rest breathing
Tidal volume	The volume of air breathed in or out in any one “at rest” breath
Tissue	A group of similar cells
Tissue fluid	Plasma that has left the capillaries and flowed into the spaces between the cells of the tissues; also known as intercellular fluid or interstitial fluid
Total lung capacity	The sum of the tidal volume, inspiratory reserve, expiratory reserve and residual volume of the lungs
Trachea	The windpipe
Transverse	A crosswise slice of an animal or organ
Triceps	The muscle that extends from the shoulder to the elbow responsible for extending the forearm
Triglycerides	A biological compound consisting of three fatty acids linked to one glycerol molecule. A fat
Trunk	The part of the body to which the fore and hind limbs are attached
Tympanic membrane	The thin transparent membrane of connective tissue between the external ear, canal and the middle ear. Also called the eardrum
U
Ulna	The longer bone of the forelimb between the humerus and the “wrist”
Umbilical cord	The cord containing arteries and vein that attaches the foetus to the placenta
Unguligrade locomotion	Locomotion on the “fingernails” as in horses and pigs
Urea	The soluble excretory product produced when excess amino acids (from proteins) are broken down by the body
Ureter	One of two tubes that connect the kidney with the bladder
Urethra	The duct from the bladder to the exterior of the body
Uric acid	An insoluble excretory product produced when excess amino acids(from proteins) are broken down by the body
Urinalysis	The analysis of urine
Urine	The fluid produced by the kidneys
Uterus	The hollow muscular organ in females where the foetus develops
V
Vagina	The muscular, tubular organ in the female where sperm are deposited during copulation
Vagus nerve	The cranial nerve that controls the muscles that bring about swallowing,the muscles of the heart, airways, lungs, stomach and intestines
Vane	The flat part of a feather emerging from the shaft; there are two vanes per feather
Vas deferens	The duct that conducts the sperm from the epididymis to the urethra
Vascular	To do with blood
Vasoconstriction	The decrease in size of the channel down a blood vessel
Vaso dilation	The increase in size of the channel down a blood vessel
Vein	A blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart
Velvet	The tissue layer that covers antlers
Vena cava	One of two large blood vessels that return blood to the heart
Ventral	Nearer the belly of the animal than
Ventricles	The caudal chambers of the heart
Venule	A small vein
Vertebral canal	The channel that encloses and protects the spinal cord
Vertebrates	Animals that have a backbone or vertebral column
Vesicles	Small, intracellular membrane-bound sac
Vestibular organ	The organ of balance – semicircular canals and otolith organ
Villus (pl. villi)	A projection from the lining of the small intestine to help absorb digested food molecules
Viscera	The organs in the abdominal and pelvic cavities
Visceral skeleton	Bones formed in the organs of the body
Viscosity	The thickness or stickiness of a liquid
Vital capacity	The sum of the inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes and the tidal volume
Vital capacity	The volume of the air expired when a maximum expiration follows a maximum inspiration
Vitamin	An organic molecule necessary in minute quantities for the proper functioning of the chemical processes in the body
Vitreous Humor	The fluid in the posterior chamber of the eye
W		White matter	Masses of myelinated axons located in the brain and spinal cord
Y
Yellow marrow	Bone marrow that is yellow with fat; found at the ends of long bones
Z
Zona pellucida	The tough layer surrounding the ovum
Zygote	Single cell resulting from the union of the sperm and egg

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