a Related Biological Terms

A hormone-like substance present in the two atrial walls of the heart (especially numerous in the right atria). The ANF factor can cause a three to ten times increase in renal (kidney) excretion of sodium when it is fully released into the circulating blood. Consequent to the loss of sodium is a slight decrease in the extracellular fluid volume and blood volume. Although its exact mechanism of action is unclear, it is believed that the ANF plays a role in the regulation of blood volume.

A group of Cells specialized to detect changes in the blood pressure. They are located within the atrial walls of the heart. Although the mechanism of the action of ANF receptors is not completely understood, it is believed that when excess blood volume stretches the atrial walls, ANF receptors located in the walls are triggered to release atrial natriuretic factor into the circulating blood. The ANF causes sodium (and water) to be excreted from the kidneys and blood volume to be reduced.

The hole in a lancelet through which water exits the body.

Specialized muscle Cells that branch into a network of Purkinje fibers, which conduct electrical stimulation six times faster than other parts of the heart.

Flap of tissue between each atrium and ventricle that moves in response to the pressure changes of ventricular contraction. These contractions are stimulated by cardiac and nervous tissue.

An upper heart chamber.

attached X A pair of Drosophila X chromosomes joined at one end and inherited as a single unit.

A configuration of the leader transcript that signals transcription termination in attenuator-controlled amino acid operons.

Nerve fibers from the cochlea in the inner ear to the cerebral cortex.

The outer portion of the ear. It is made out of cartilage and its function is to channel sound waves into the ear tube.