Chapter 1: The Human Body - Orientation, Terminology, and Basic Concepts

Flashcards covering core concepts from Chapter 1: Orientation, terminology, and basic physiology/anatomy concepts.

What topics will this semester cover?

Overview of the human body, orientation and nomenclature; Chemistry for Biology; Cellular biology; Tissues, organs, organ systems; Skeletal, musculature, nervous (CNS and PNS), and neural integration.

Why is learning anatomical terminology important?

To communicate accurately about body parts and their relationships.

What is anatomy?

The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.

What is physiology?

The study of the function of body parts and how they work to carry out life-sustaining activities.

What does the principle 'form relates to function' mean?

Form is always related to function; what a structure can do depends on its specific form.

What is gross/macroscopic anatomy?

The study of large, visible structures; includes regional, systemic, and surface anatomy.

What is regional anatomy?

The study of all structures in a particular area of the body.

What is systemic anatomy?

The study of just one system (e.g., cardiovascular, nervous, muscular).

What is surface anatomy?

The study of internal structures as they relate to overlying skin (visible muscle masses or veins on surface).

What is microscopic anatomy?

Structures too small to be seen by naked eye; includes cytology and histology.

What is cytology?

Microscopic study of cells.

What is histology?

Microscopic study of tissues.

What is developmental anatomy?

Study of anatomical and physiological development throughout life; embryology studies development before birth.

What must you know to study anatomy effectively?

Anatomical terminology and the ability to observe, manipulate, palpate, and auscultate.

What is physiology based on?

Organ systems; often at cellular/molecular levels; depends on chemical reactions in cells.

What basic principles are needed to study physiology?

Basic physical principles (electrical currents, pressure, movement) and basic chemical principles.

What is the Principle of Complementarity of Structure and Function?

Anatomy and physiology are inseparable; function reflects structure; form determines function.

What are the levels of structural organization in the body?

Chemical level (atoms, molecules, organelles); cellular level; tissue level; organ level; organ system level; organismal level.

What is the organ system level?

Organs that work closely together.

What is the organismal level?

All organ systems combined to make the whole organism.

Name the major organ systems illustrated in Figure 1.4.

Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic/Immunity, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, Male Reproductive, Female Reproductive.

What is the function of the Integumentary System?

Forms the external body covering; protects deeper tissues; synthesizes vitamin D; houses cutaneous receptors and glands.

What is the function of the Skeletal System?

Protects and supports body organs; provides framework for movement; blood cells form in bones; stores minerals.

What is the function of the Muscular System?

Allows manipulation of the environment, locomotion, facial expression; maintains posture; produces heat.

What is the function of the Nervous System?

Fast-acting control system; responds to internal and external changes by activating muscles and glands.

What is the function of the Endocrine System?

Glands secrete hormones that regulate growth, reproduction, and metabolism.

What is the function of the Cardiovascular System?

Blood vessels transport blood; the heart pumps blood.

What is the function of the Lymphatic System/Immunity?

Picks up fluid leaked from vessels; returns it to blood; disposes of debris; houses lymphocytes; mounts immune response.

What is the function of the Respiratory System?

Keeps blood supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide; gas exchange occurs in the lungs.

What is the function of the Digestive System?

Breaks down food into absorbable units; absorbs nutrients; eliminates indigestible matter as feces.

What is the function of the Urinary System?

Eliminates nitrogenous wastes; regulates water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance.

What is the function of the Male Reproductive System?

Production of offspring; testes produce sperm and hormones; ducts/glands aid in delivery of sperm; male structures aid in fertilization.

What is the function of the Female Reproductive System?

Production of offspring; ovaries produce eggs; uterus and other structures support fertilization and development; mammary glands produce milk.

What are the Necessary Life Functions?

Maintenance of boundaries; movement; responsiveness; digestion; metabolism; excretion; reproduction; growth.

What does Maintaining Boundaries involve?

Separation between internal and external environments via plasma membranes and skin.

What does Movement refer to in life functions?

Muscular system enables movement of body parts and substances; contractility at the cellular level.

What does Responsiveness mean?

Ability to sense and respond to stimuli (e.g., withdrawal reflex; breathing rate changes).

What does Digestion involve?

Breakdown of ingested foodstuffs and absorption of simple molecules.

What is Metabolism?

All chemical reactions in body cells; sum of catabolism and anabolism.

What is Excretion?

Removal of wastes from metabolism and digestion (urea, CO2, feces).

What is Reproduction in the context of life functions?

Cellular level: cell division for growth/repair; organismal level: production of offspring.

What is Growth in life functions?

Increase in size of a part or the whole organism; can be a single cell.

How many organ systems work together to maintain life?

11 organ systems.

What is Homeostasis?

Maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite continuous changes in the environment; dynamic state of equilibrium.

What are the three components of a homeostatic control system?

Receptor (sensor), Control Center, and Effector.

What is a Receptor (sensor) in homeostasis?

Monitors the environment and responds to stimuli.

What is the Control Center in homeostasis?

Determines the set point and receives input from the receptor; decides response.

What is an Effector in homeostasis?

Receives output from the control center and acts to bring about a response.

What is Negative Feedback?

Most-used mechanism; response reduces or shuts off original stimulus; variable moves in opposite direction of initial change.

What is Positive Feedback?

Response enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus; used for infrequent events (e.g., labor contractions, clotting).

What are the Afferent and Efferent pathways?

Afferent: approach; from receptor to control center. Efferent: exit; from control center to the effector.

What is the Anatomical Position?

Body erect, feet slightly apart, palms facing forward with thumbs pointing away from the body.

What do Superior and Inferior mean in directional terms?

Superior (cranial): toward the head; above. Inferior (caudal): away from the head; below.

What do Anterior and Posterior mean in directional terms?

Anterior (ventral): toward the front; in front of. Posterior (dorsal): toward the back.

What do Medial and Lateral mean?

Medial: toward the midline. Lateral: away from the midline.

What do Proximal and Distal mean?

Proximal: closer to the origin of a limb or point of attachment. Distal: farther from the origin.

What do Superficial and Deep mean?

Superficial: toward or at the body surface. Deep: away from the body surface; more internal.

What are Regional Terms?

Terms designating specific areas within body divisions (axial and appendicular).

What is the difference between Axial and Appendicular regions?

Axial includes head, neck, and trunk; Appendicular includes limbs.

What are Body Planes?

Sagittal, Frontal (coronal), and Transverse (horizontal) planes; oblique plane is any angle other than 90°.

What is a Sagittal plane?

Divides the body vertically into right and left parts.

What is the Midsagittal (Median) plane?

A sagittal plane cut exactly along the midline.

What is a Parasagittal plane?

A sagittal cut off-center, not along the midline.

What is the Frontal (Coronal) plane?

Divides the body vertically into anterior and posterior parts.

What is the Transverse (Horizontal) plane?

Divides the body horizontally into superior and inferior parts.

What is an Oblique section?

A cut at an angle other than 90° to the vertical plane.

What are body cavities?

Dorsal and Ventral cavities; serosa membranes line cavities and cover organs.

What is the Dorsal Body Cavity?

Cranial cavity (brain) and Vertebral cavity (spinal cord).

What are the subdivisions of the Ventral Body Cavity?

Thoracic cavity and Abdominopelvic cavity.

What does the Thoracic cavity contain?

Two pleural cavities (lungs), mediastinum (pericardial cavity and other organs).

What does the Abdominopelvic cavity contain?

Abdominal cavity (stomach, intestines, liver, etc.) and Pelvic cavity (urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum).

What are serous membranes and their function?

Thin, double-layered membranes (parietal and visceral) with serous fluid in between; reduce friction.

What are the names of serous membranes tied to specific cavities?

Pericardium (heart), Pleurae (lungs), Peritoneum (abdominopelvic cavity).

What are abdominopelvic quadrants?

Right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant (LUQ), Right lower quadrant (RLQ), Left lower quadrant (LLQ).

What are the abdominopelvic regions?

Nine regions: right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac; right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar; right iliac (inguinal), hypogastric, left iliac (inguinal).

What are some additional cavities not exposed to environment?

Oral and digestive cavities, Nasal cavity, Orbital cavities, Middle ear cavities; synovial cavities (joints) not exposed to environment.

What is the main takeaway about homeostasis and health?

Disturbances in homeostasis increase disease risk; aging can impair control systems; severe imbalance can lead to failure.