A&P Medic: Emergency Care in the Streets, Nancy Caroline

ABO system - the commonly used blood classification system based on the antigens present or absent in the blood accessory muscles - the muscles not normally used during quiet breathing; examples include the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck, the chest pectoralis, and the abdominal muscles accomodation - the ability of the lens of the eye to change its shape and focus on a close object acetabulum - the socket formed by the coaxl (hip) bone into which the ball shaped femoral head fits snuggly acetylcholine (ACh) - a neurotransmitter released at synapses within the autonomic nervous system and by motor neurons to stimulate skeletal muscle contraction acetylcholinesterase - an enzyme found in the central nervous system, in red blood cells, and in motor endplates of skeletal muscle that causes the decomposition of acetylcholine acid - any molecule that can give up hydrogen ion and therefore increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a water solution acidosis - a pathologic condition resulting from the accumulation of acids in the body. (blood pH less than 7.35) acromion process - the tip of the shoulder and the sight of atattchment for the clavical and various shoulder muscles actin - a contractile protein found in the thin filaments of skeletal muscle cells action potential - sequence of changes in the membrane potential that occurs when an excitable cell (neurons or muscle) is stimulated active transport - a method used to move compounds across a cell memebrane to create or maintain an imbalance of charges, usually against a concentration gradient and requiring the expenditure