Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards on Anatomy and Physiology basics.

Human Anatomy

Study of the structure or form of the human body.

Human Physiology

Study of the body's functions.

Metabolism

Chemical reactions that either build up or break down substances depending on the needs of the organism.

Excretion

Process an organism uses to eliminate potentially harmful waste products created by metabolic processes.

Responsiveness or irritability

Ability of organisms to sense and react to changes or stimuli in their environment.

Anatomical position

Body is standing upright; feet are shoulder width apart, with upper limbs at sides of trunk and head and palms facing forward.

Sagittal plane

Divides body or body part into right and left sections.

Frontal plane

Divides body into anterior and posterior sections.

Transverse plane

Divides body into superior and inferior sections.

Oblique plane

Taken at an angle; useful for examining structures that are difficult to examine using only three primary planes of section.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Located on posterior side of body; subdivided into cranial cavity and vertebral cavity.

Ventral Body Cavity

Separated into two divisions by diaphragm: thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Pleural cavities

Surround either left or right lung.

Pericardial cavity

Within mediastinum; within serous membrane that surrounds heart.

Peritoneal cavity

Abdominal subcavity found within serous membrane.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of internal environment.

Negative feedback loops

Oppose initial change in a regulated variable; reduce output.

Positive feedback loops

Effector activity increases and reinforces initial stimulus; shuts off when conditions return to the normal range.

Gradient

Present any time more of something exists in one area than another, where two areas are connected.