Essential Science Vocabulary: Life Science: Human Anatomy and Physiology

Whether you want to brush up on biology, study space science, or prep for a physics test, this collection of science vocabulary is for you! Our lists cover essential terms and concepts from all major scientific disciplines.
32 words 926 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. aorta
    the large artery carrying blood from the heart to the body
  2. artery
    a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body
  3. brain
    the organ that is the center of the nervous system
  4. capillary
    a minute blood vessel connecting arterioles with venules
  5. cardiac
    of or relating to the heart
  6. cartilage
    tough elastic tissue, mostly converted to bone in adults
  7. cerebellum
    a major division of the vertebrate brain
  8. cerebrum
    anterior part of the brain consisting of two hemispheres
  9. cranium
    the part of the skull that encloses the brain
  10. epidermis
    the outer layer of skin covering the body surface
  11. esophagus
    the passage between the pharynx and the stomach
  12. femur
    the thigh bone of the human skeleton
  13. gland
    a small organ that synthesizes and secretes chemicals
  14. hemoglobin
    a red protein in blood that transports oxygen
  15. involuntary
    not subject to the control of the will
  16. joint
    the point of connection between two bones
  17. ligament
    a band of fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages
  18. muscle
    one of the contractile organs of the body
  19. nerve
    a bundle of fibers running to organs and tissues of the body
  20. neuron
    a cell that is specialized to conduct nerve impulses
  21. organ
    a structure in an animal specialized for some function
  22. plasma
    the watery fluid in which blood cells are suspended
  23. platelet
    a cell fragment essential for blood clotting in vertebrates
  24. skeleton
    the structure providing a frame for the body of an animal
  25. sternum
    the breastbone
  26. synapse
    the junction between two neurons
  27. tendon
    a band of tissue connecting a muscle to its bony attachment
  28. tissue
    part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells
  29. vein
    a blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart
  30. ventricle
    a chamber of the heart that receives blood from an atrium
  31. vertebra
    one of the bony segments of the spinal column
  32. voluntary
    of your own free will or design
Created on Thu Aug 05 09:59:50 EDT 2021 (updated Thu Aug 05 10:30:04 EDT 2021)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.