562 Glossarycise for the colon and helps prevent constipation (Chap-
ter 2).
Fibrillation(fi-bri-LAY-shun) Very rapid and uncoordi-
nated heartbeats; ventricular fibrillation is a life-threat-
ening emergency due to ineffective pumping and
decreased cardiac output (Chapter 12).
Fibrin(FYE-brin) A thread-like protein formed by the
action of thrombin on fibrinogen; the substance of which
a blood clot is made (Chapter 11).
Fibrinogen(fye-BRIN-o-jen) A protein clotting factor pro-
duced by the liver; converted to fibrin by thrombin
(Chapter 11).
Fibrinolysis(FYE-brin-AHL-e-sis) 1. The dissolving of a
fibrin clot by natural enzymes, after the clot has served its
purpose. 2. The clinical use of clot-dissolving enzymes to
dissolve abnormal clots (Chapter 11).
Fibroblast(FYE-broh-blast) A connective tissue cell that
produces collagen and elastin fibers (Chapter 4).
Fibrous connective tissue(FYE-brus) The tissue that con-
sists primarily of collagen fibers (the cells are fibroblasts).
Its most important physical characteristic is its strength
(Chapter 4).
Fibrous skeleton of the heart(FYE-brus SKEL-e-tun)
The fibrous connective tissue that encircles and anchors
the edges of the heart valves and prevents stretching
of their openings; it also electrically insulates the
ventricles from the atria so that impulses for contraction
follow only the normal conduction pathway (Chap-
ter 12).
Fibula(FIB-yoo-lah) A long bone of the lower leg; on the
lateral side, thinner than the tibia (Chapter 6).
Filtration(fill-TRAY-shun) The process in which water
and dissolved materials move through a membrane from
an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure
(Chapter 3).
Fimbriae(FIM-bree-ay) Finger-like projections at the end
of the fallopian tube that enclose the ovary (Chapter 20).
Fissure(FISH-er) A groove or furrow between parts of an
organ such as the brain (Syn.—sulcus) (Chapter 8).
Flagellum(flah-JELL-um) (Pl.—flagella) A long, thread-
like projection through a cell membrane; provides motil-
ity for the cell (Chapter 3).
Flexion(FLEK-shun) To decrease the angle of a joint
(Chapter 7).
Flexor reflex(FLEKS-er REE-fleks) A spinal cord reflex in
which a painful stimulus causes withdrawal of a body part
(Chapter 8).
Fluorescent antibody test(floor-ESS-ent AN-ti-BAH-
dee) A diagnostic test that uses fluorescently tagged anti-
bodies to determine the presence of a particular pathogen
in the blood or other tissue specimen (Chapter 14).
Flutter(FLUH-ter) A very rapid yet fairly regular heartbeat
(Chapter 12).
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (FAH-li-kuhl) A
gonadotropic hormone produced by the anterior pitu-itary gland that initiates the production of ova in the
ovaries or sperm in the testes (Chapter 10).
Fomites(FOH-mights; FOH-mi-teez) Inanimate objects
capable of transmitting infectious microorganisms from
one host to another (Chapter 22).
Fontanel(FON-tah-NELL) An area of fibrous connective
tissue membrane between the cranial bones of an infant’s
skull, where bone formation is not complete (Chapter 6).
Foramen(for-RAY-men) A hole or opening, as in a bone
(from the Latin “to bore”) (Chapter 6).
Foramen ovale(for-RAY-men oh-VAHL-ee) An opening
in the interatrial septum of the fetal heart that permits
blood to flow from the right atrium to the left atrium,
bypassing the fetal lungs (Chapter 13).
Fossa(FAH-sah) A shallow depression in a bone (from the
Latin “ditch”) (Chapter 6).
Fovea(FOH-vee-ah) A depression in the retina of the eye
directly behind the lens; contains only cones and is the
area of best color vision (Chapter 9).
Fracture(FRAK-chur) A break in a bone (Chapter 6).
Free nerve ending(FREE NERV END-ing) The end of a
sensory neuron; the receptor for the sense of pain, heat,
or cold in the skin and pain in the viscera (Chapter 5).
Free radical(FREE RA-di-kuhl) A molecule with an
unpaired electron that is very reactive; formed during
normal metabolism and contributes to the natural deteri-
oration (aging) of cells (Chapter 17).
Frontal bone (FRUN-tuhl) The flat cranial bone that
forms the forehead (Chapter 6).
Frontal lobes(FRUN-tuhl LOWBS) The most anterior
parts of the cerebrum; contain the motor areas for volun-
tary movement and the motor speech area (Chapter 8).
Frontal section(FRUN-tuhl SEK-shun) A plane separat-
ing the body into front and back portions (Syn.—coronal
section) (Chapter 1).
Frostbite(FRAWST-bite) The freezing of part of the body,
resulting in tissue damage or death (gangrene) (Chap-
ter 17).
Fructose(FRUHK-tohs) A monosaccharide, a six-carbon
sugar that is part of the sucrose in food; converted to glu-
cose by the liver (Chapter 2).
Functional layer(FUNK-shun-ul LAY-er) The vascular
layer of the endometrium that is lost in menstruation,
then regenerated by the basilar layer (Chapter 20).
Fungus(FUNG-gus) Any of the organisms of the kingdom
Fungi; they lack chlorophyll; may be unicellular or mul-
ticellular, saprophytic or parasitic; include yeasts, molds,
and mushrooms (Chapter 22).—G—
Galactose(guh-LAK-tohs) A monosaccharide, a six-carbon
sugar that is part of the lactose in food; converted to glu-
cose by the liver (Chapter 2).
Gallbladder(GAWL-bla-der) An accessory organ of diges-30Scanlon(p3) Glossary 8/17/06 11:08 AM Page 562