Essentials of Healthcare Science Unit 1: Structure and Organization of the Human Body

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on anatomy and physiology, body organization, terminology, planes, cavities, tissues, membranes, homeostasis, metabolism, and basic cellular biology.

What is anatomy?

The study of an organism's structure, shape, and the relationships between its parts.

What is physiology?

The study of the function of each body part and how the functions coordinate to form a complete living organism.

What is the Principle of Complementarity of Structure and Function?

Anatomy and physiology are inseparable; the function of a structure depends on its form.

What does homeostasis mean?

The body's ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions despite external changes (dynamic equilibrium).

What is metabolism?

Functional activities of the cell that support growth, repair, energy release, nutrient use, and secretions.

What is cellular respiration?

Oxygen-dependent process that converts glucose to ATP, producing carbon dioxide as a waste product.

What are the four basic tissue types?

Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, and Nervous.

What is the hierarchical order of structural organization from chemical to organism?

Chemical, Cellular, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism.

What are the major components of a cell?

Plasma membrane, nucleus, and cytoplasm.

What process yields two identical diploid cells?

Mitosis.

What process yields gametes with half the chromosome number?

Meiosis.

What is the general role of Epithelial tissue?

Covering and lining.

What is the general role of Connective tissue?

Support and binding.

What is the general role of Muscle tissue?

Movement.

What is the general role of Nervous tissue?

Control and communication.

What is gross anatomy?

The study of large structures visible to the naked eye.

What is regional anatomy?

The study of all structures found within a specific body region.

What is systemic anatomy?

The study of body structures organized by organ systems.

What is surface anatomy?

The study of internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin.

What is microscopic anatomy?

The study of structures too small to be seen without a microscope.

What is the study of cells?

Cytology.

What is the study of tissues?

Histology.

What study focuses on changes in an individual from conception to old age?

Developmental anatomy.

What branch of study specifically covers prebirth development?

Embryology.

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What is the anatomical position?

A standard reference posture for describing an organism's parts and directions.

Which body region includes the head, neck, and trunk?

Axial region.

Which body region includes the limbs?

Appendicular region.

What does bilateral symmetry mean?

Each body half is a mirror image; midline structures are unpaired with left and right sides.

What are the three primary body planes?

Transverse, midsagittal (sagittal), and frontal (coronal).

What type of body plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts?

Transverse (or horizontal).

What type of body plane divides the body into anterior and posterior parts?

Frontal (or coronal).

What type of body plane divides the body into equal right and left halves?

Midsagittal (or median).

What directional term means toward the head or upper part of a structure?

Superior (cranial).

What directional term means away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure?

Inferior (caudal).

What directional term means toward the front of the body?

Anterior (ventral).

What directional term means toward the back of the body?

Posterior (dorsal).

What directional term means toward the body's midline?

Medial.

What directional term means away from the body's midline?

Lateral.

What directional term means closer to the origin or point of attachment?

Proximal.

What directional term means farther from the origin or point of attachment?

Distal.

What directional term means toward the body's surface?

Superficial.

What directional term means farther from the surface, describing internal structures?

Deep.

What directional term means on the same side of the body?

Ipsilateral.

What directional term means on opposite sides of the body?

Contralateral.

What does the term 'intermediate' mean in anatomical positioning?

Located between two other structures.

Why are standard anatomical terms important in health sciences?

They provide a precise and unambiguous way to describe body parts and positions, regardless of the body's actual orientation.

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What are the divisions of the Dorsal body cavity?

Cranial and Spinal cavities.

What are the divisions of the Ventral body cavity?

Thoracic and Abdominopelvic cavities.

Which cavities make up the dorsal body cavity?

Cranial and Vertebral (spinal).

Which cavities make up the ventral body cavity?

Thoracic and Abdominopelvic.

What is a double-layered lining with a small amount of fluid between its parietal and visceral layers to reduce friction?

Serous membrane.

What substance is found between the layers of serous membranes to reduce friction?

Serous fluid.

Which layer of a serous lining lines the cavity walls?

Parietal serosa.

Which layer of a serous lining covers the organs within the cavity?

Visceral serosa.

What serous lining surrounds the heart?

Pericardium.

What serous lining surrounds the lungs?

Pleura.

What serous lining covers abdominopelvic organs?

Peritoneum.

What are the nine abdominal regions used in anatomy?

Right/Left Hypochondriac, Epigastric, Right/Left Lumbar, Umbilical, Right/Left Iliac (Inguinal), Hypogastric (Pubic).

What are the four abdominal quadrants?

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