P
- pancreas
- An abdominal organ that produces exocrine secretions (digestive enzymes and bicarbonate) for delivery to the small intestine, and is a source of the hormones insulin and glucagon that are important for in regulating fuel metabolism
- pancreozymin
- An infrequently-used synonym for the hormone cholecystokinin.
- Paneth cell
- A neutrophil-like cell that resides at the base of intestinal crypts and secreted anti-microbial peptides which protect the epithelium from microbial attack.
- para-
- Prefix meaning beside. The parathyroid gland is beside the thyroid gland.
- parabiosis
- A surgical technique in which the vascular systems of two individuals are joined together.
- paracellular
- Transport across a sheet of cells by passage beside or between cells. In contrast to transcellular transport.
- paracrine
- The activity of a hormone or growth factors that binds to and affects neighboring cells.
- parathyroid glands
- Endocrine glands located close to the thyroid glands that secreted parathyroid hormone.
- parathyroid hormone
- A protein hormone secreted from the parathyroid gland in response to low concentrations of calcium in blood.
- parathyroid hormone-related protein
- A family of protein hormones that have significant sequence identity with parathyroid hormone, but much more diverse actions.
- parenchyma
- Meaning "anything that is poured in beside". If you consider an organ having a scaffolding of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves and connective tissue (i.e. stroma), all the other cells that are "poured in" around the scaffolding is parenchma. In other words, the parencyma is the distinctive part of the organ.
- parietal
- Pertaining to the walls of a cavity. The abdomen is lined with parietal peritoneum.
- parietal cell
- An acid-secreting cell in the epithelium of the stomach.
- parotid gland
- One of the salivary glands.
- parturition
- The act of giving birth.
- paternal
- Pertaining to the father.
- pathogenesis
- The mechanisms and changes involved in development of a disease state.
- pathognomonic
- A sign or set of symptoms that characterize a specific disease and allow good differentiation from other diseases.
- pathophysiology
- The study of abnormal or pathologic physiology.
- Pavlov, Ivan
- Russian physiologist widely known for his work on digestive physiology and the conditioned response.
- pedigree
- A diagramatic representation of a family tree, usually with notes about disease status of individuals.
- pentagastrin
- The C-terminal 5 amino acids of the hormone gastrin.
- pepsin
- A proteolytic enzyme secreted from chief cells in the epithelium of the stomach.
- peracute
- Excessively acute; having a very rapid onset and course of disease.
- peri-
- Prefix meaning around. The perinatal period is around the time of birth and a perianal tumor is a tumor situated around the anus.
- peristalsis
- A pattern of wave-like smooth muscle contractions that propels material through the digestive tube.
- peritoneum
- A membrane that lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities and covers most of their organs.
- Peyer's patches
- Lymphoid nodules in the wall of the intestine that form part of the enteric immune system.
- pharynx
- The muscular tube between the mouth and posterior nasal cavities and the esophagus.
- phosphatase
- An enzyme that removes a phosphate group from another molecule.
- phosphorylation
- A chemical reaction in which a phosphate group is covanently bonded to another molecule.
- pineal gland
- A gland located in the brain that secretes the hormone melatonin.
- pitocin
- Another name for the hormone oxytocin, usually applied to its use as a drug.
- pituitary gland
- A major endocrine organ located immediately below the brain. Produces a large number of protein and peptide hormones.
- placenta
- A tissue formed from cells of the mother and fetus that forms an interface between the vascular systems of those two individuals.
- points
- A dental problem commonly seen in horses in which the molar teeth develop sharp edges.
- poly-
- Prefix meaning multiple. Polyploidy refers to having multiple haploid genomes in a cell.
- polymorphic
- Having more than one form.
- polynucleotide kinase
- An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate from ATP to the 5-prime termini of DNA or RNA.
- portal triad
- A term used to describe a microanatomical feature of liver consisting of branches of vein, artery and bile duct.
- prehension
- To sieze or grasp. To digestive physiologists, it refers to the sometimes entertaining process of getting food into the mouth.
- prolactin
- A protein hormone secreted from the anterior pituitary and several other tissues.
- proopiomelanocortin (POMC)
- A large precursor protein synthesized in the anterior pituitary gland that is cleaved to form a number of hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone.
- protease
- General term for an enzyme that cleaves (digests) proteins.
- protein kinase A
- An enzyme that modifies proteins by addition of phosphate groups to specific amino acids; its activity is regulated by cyclic AMP. Also known as the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.
- proteolytic
- Causing the breakdown or lysis of proteins. A proteolytic enzyme digests proteins, usually into peptides.
- proventriculus
- The glandular stomach of birds.
- proximal
- Nearest or closest to a point of reference; toward the attached end or origin or a structure (opposite of distal). Example: the tarantula slowly crawled proximally from his hand to his shoulder.
- pulmonary
- Pertaining to the lungs.
- pyknosis
- A commonly-observed manifestation of cell death referring to a nucleus that is very small in size, round, darkly staining and lacks identifiable structures such as nucleoli.
- pylorus
- The distal section of the stomach, where it joins the small intestine.
- pyo-
- Prefix meaning pus. Pyocephalus is pus in the brain.
- pyometra
- A disease of the uterus involving accumulation of pus in the lumen.
Last updated on 1/17/2005