An Introduction to Human Anatomy - Flashcards

Question-and-answer flashcards covering major topics from the lecture notes on anatomy and physiology, including levels of organization, homeostasis, body cavities, serosa, planes, imaging, and scientific method.

What is the difference between anatomy and physiology?

Anatomy is the study of structure; physiology is the study of function; together they explain how body parts are built and how they work.

List the eight levels of structural organization of the human body from smallest to largest.

Atoms, molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organism.

Name the three planes most commonly used to study the body.

Median (midsagittal) plane, Frontal (coronal) plane, and Transverse (horizontal) plane.

Describe the standard anatomical position.

The body is erect, feet slightly apart, head forward, eyes forward, palms facing forward, and arms at the sides with the thumbs pointing away.

What is homeostasis?

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment, achieved by detecting changes and activating responses to restore balance.

What is negative feedback?

A control mechanism that opposes changes from the set point and returns a variable to its normal range (e.g., insulin lowering blood glucose).

What is positive feedback?

A mechanism that exaggerates the original stimulus to move the system away from homeostasis; used for rapid processes like childbirth or blood clotting and can be dangerous if uncontrolled.

What is a gradient in physiology?

A difference in concentration, electrical charge, temperature, or pressure between two points, causing movement from high to low along that gradient.

Name the major body cavities and their subdivisions.

Dorsal cavity (cranial and vertebral); Ventral cavity (thoracic and abdominopelvic), separated by the diaphragm; dorsal protects the nervous system; ventral houses the viscera.

What are serous membranes?

Thin, double-layered membranes that secrete serous fluid; parietal serosa lines the cavity walls, and visceral serosa covers the organs.

Name the nine abdominopelvic regions.

Right hypochondriac, Epigastric, Left hypochondriac; Right lumbar, Umbilical, Left lumbar; Right inguinal, Hypogastric (pubic), Left inguinal.

Name the four abdominopelvic quadrants.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ).

What is histology?

The study of tissues at the microscopic level.

What is cytology?

The study of the structure and function of cells; ultrastructure may be resolved with an electron microscope.

Name two subdivisions of gross (macroscopic) anatomy.

Regional anatomy and Systemic anatomy (also: Surface, Radiological, Comparative, Developmental anatomy).

What imaging modalities are used in medical imaging mentioned in the notes?

X-rays, CT scans, MRI, PET, and Ultrasonography.

What are the dorsal and ventral body cavities, and how are they divided by the diaphragm?

Dorsal cavity contains the cranial and vertebral cavites; Ventral cavity contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities, separated by the diaphragm.

What are visceral and parietal serosa?

Visceral covers an organ; Parietal lines the cavity walls.

What is the peritoneum and its two layers?

A serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity; visceral peritoneum covers organs, parietal peritoneum lines the cavity walls.

Define proximal and distal.

Proximal: closer to the point of attachment; Distal: farther from the point of attachment.

Define ipsilateral and contralateral.

Ipsilateral: on the same side of the body; Contralateral: on opposite sides.

What are the directional terms anterior/ventral and posterior/dorsal?

Anterior (ventral) is toward the front; Posterior (dorsal) is toward the back.

What is the difference between superficial and deep?

Superficial: toward the body surface; Deep: farther from the surface.

What is the role of serous fluid in serous membranes?

Serous fluid lubricates and reduces friction between layers.

What are the two main approaches to the scientific method mentioned?

Inductive method (learning from many observations to generalize) and hypothetico-deductive method (formulating testable hypotheses).

What are key components of experimental design?

Sample size, controls, placebo, double-blind procedures, and statistical testing.

What are the three basic divisions of the ventral body cavity?

Thoracic cavity and Abdominopelvic cavity (the latter subdivided into abdominal and pelvic parts; the diaphragm separates them).

Name two imaging modalities beyond X-rays.

CT scans and MRI (also PET and ultrasonography).

What is the hierarchy of complexity from atom to organism?

Atom → Molecule → Organelle → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ system → Organism.

What are organ systems and their basic purpose?

Organ systems are groups of organs working together to perform a common function (e.g., circulatory, nervous, digestive, etc.).

What is the set point and range in homeostasis?

Set point is the ideal normal value; the range is the acceptable fluctuation around the set point.

What is the mediastinum?

The central compartment of the thoracic cavity that contains the heart, major vessels, trachea, esophagus, and other structures; the pericardial cavity surrounds the heart.

What is the difference between visceral and parietal peritoneum?

Visceral peritoneum covers abdominal organs; Parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal wall; the space between is the peritoneal cavity.

What is the function of the diaphragm in separating cavities?

Separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity within the ventral body cavity.

What are the two main subtypes of anatomy?

Gross (macroscopic) anatomy and microscopic anatomy (histology/cytology).

How many organ systems are listed and can you name a major function for two of them?

11 organ systems; e.g., circulatory system distributes nutrients and oxygen; nervous system coordinates rapid internal communication.