Fissel Extra Study

Anatomy

The science of body structure and the relationships among those structures

Physiology

The science of body functions and how various body parts work

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions, such as temperature and pH, through constant "tweaks"

Negative Feedback Loop

A process where a receptor detects a deviation from normal and a control center triggers an effector to return the body to its stable state

Positive Feedback Loop

A process where a stimulus enhances an action until completion, such as the release of oxytocin during childbirth

Covalent Bond

A strong chemical bond formed when two or more atoms share electrons

Organic Molecules

Biomolecules that must contain both carbon and hydrogen, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The body's primary energy-carrying molecule, harvested to fuel nearly all cellular work

Osmosis

The passive movement of water across a semipermeable membrane toward an area of higher solute concentration

Active Transport

Moving particles against a concentration gradient (low to high), which requires the expenditure of ATP

Histology

The scientific study of body tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Avascular tissue that forms the body's coverings, linings, and glands, often relying on diffusion for nutrients

Endothelium

A thin, low-friction simple squamous epithelial lining found in the heart, blood vessels, and lymph vessels

Connective Tissue

The most abundant tissue type, consisting of cells and an extracellular matrix of ground substance and fibers

Osteoblast

An immature bone cell responsible for bone formation and storing minerals

Osteoclast

A bone-destroying cell that breaks down bone tissue to release calcium into the blood

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell formation occurring within red bone marrow

Synovial Joint

A freely movable (diarthrotic) joint where bones are separated by a fluid-filled cavity

Flexion

An angular movement that results in a decrease in the joint angle

Sarcomere

The smallest functional contractile unit found within skeletal and cardiac muscle fibers

Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ)

The specific synapse where a motor neuron stimulates a muscle fiber to initiate contraction

Sliding Filament Mechanism

The theory that muscles contract when thick and thin filaments slide past each other to shorten the sarcomere

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord

Myelin Sheath

A lipid-rich insulating layer produced by Schwann cells (PNS) or oligodendrocytes (CNS) that increases the speed of nerve impulses

Action Potential

An electrical signal generated by the exchange of ions across the membrane of excitable cells

Acetylcholine (ACh)

The primary neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction to trigger muscle depolarization

Hormone

A chemical messenger synthesized in one cell and transported through the blood to a distant target cell

Tropic Cascade

A "top-down" control system where the hypothalamus controls the pituitary, which then stimulates other endocrine glands

Lipid-Soluble Hormones

Steroid hormones that travel bound to proteins in the blood and diffuse directly across cell membranes to bind internal receptors

Water-Soluble Hormones

Amino acid-based hormones that travel freely in the blood and bind to receptors on the cell surface

Hematocrit

The percentage of total blood volume composed of red blood cells, averaging 42% for females and 46% for males

Hemoglobin

A large protein in RBCs containing iron-containing heme groups that bind reversibly to oxygen

Capillary Filtration

The process where blood pressure forces water and small molecules out of capillaries through gaps and pores

Capillary Absorption

The process where high albumin concentrations pull water back into capillaries via osmosis

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney, consisting of a glomerulus for filtration and a system of tubules

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The rate at which plasma is filtered out of the blood into the nephron, vital for maintaining homeostasis

Gonads

The primary reproductive structures (testes and ovaries) that produce gametes and sex hormones

Ovulation

The rupture of a mature follicle to release an oocyte, typically triggered by a surge in Luteinizing Hormone (LH)