ANPH 111: Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering foundational Human Anatomy and Physiology concepts including body organization, histology/tissues, cellular structure and transport, integumentary system, and skeletal anatomy.

Anatomy

The scientific discipline that investigates the STRUCTURE of the body.

Anatomical anomalies

Physical characteristics that differ from the normal pattern.

Gross Anatomy

The study of body structures that can be examined without the aid of a microscope.

Surface Anatomy

The study of landmarks at the body surface to visualize structures deeper inside the body.

Systemic Anatomy

The approach to anatomy where the body is studied system by system.

Regional Anatomy

The approach to anatomy where the body is studied area by area, with all systems in that area examined simultaneously.

Cytology

The branch of microscopic anatomy that examines the structural features of cells.

Histology

The branch of microscopic anatomy that examines tissues, which are composed of cells and the materials surrounding them.

Embryology

A subspecialty of developmental anatomy that considers changes from conception to the end of the eighth week of development.

Neuroanatomy

The study of the normal microscopic, gross features, and development of the nervous system.

Physiology

The scientific discipline that deals with the processes or FUNCTIONS of living things.

Cell Physiology

The study that examines the processes and functions occurring in cells, forming the cornerstone of human physiology.

Pathologic Physiology

The medical science dealing with all aspects of disease, with an emphasis on the cause, development, and resulting functional changes.

Chemical Level

The simplest level of the structural ladder and basic unit of an organism, involving how atoms interact to form molecules.

Catabolism

The phase of metabolism involved in breaking down complex substances into simpler ones, producing energy.

Anabolism

The phase of metabolism involved in building up smaller molecules into complex ones, using energy.

Differentiation

The process by which a cell changes its structure and function from an immature, generalized state to a mature, specialized state.

Morphogenesis

The change in shape of tissues, organs, and the entire organism during development.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain balance and stable conditions despite changes in the internal and external environment.

Supine

The reclining body position of a person who is lying face upward.

Prone

The reclining body position of a person who is lying face downward.

Mediastinum

The middle wall dividing the thoracic cavity into right and left portions, containing the heart, thymus, trachea, and esophagus.

Retroperitoneal Organs

Organs located behind the parietal peritoneum, including the kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, parts of the intestines, and urinary bladder.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium.

Biopsy

The process of removing tissue samples from patients surgically or with a needle for diagnostic purposes.

Autopsy

The microscopic examination of the organs of a dead body to determine the cause of death or study disease changes.

Pathologist

A physician who examines tissues for changes that may indicate damage or disease.

Endoderm

The inner embryonic germ layer that forms the lining of the digestive tract and its derivatives.

Mesoderm

The middle embryonic germ layer that forms tissues such as muscle, bone, and blood vessels.

Ectoderm

The outer embryonic germ layer that forms the skin and nervous system.

Neuroectoderm

A specific portion of the ectoderm that gives rise to the nervous system.

Neural Crest Cells

Groups of cells breaking away from neuroectoderm during development that give rise to peripheral nerves, skin pigment, and facial tissues.

Basement membrane

A specialized extracellular material secreted by epithelial and connective tissue cells that helps attach epithelial cells to underlying tissues.

Simple Epithelium

An epithelium consisting of a single layer of cells, with each cell extending from the basement membrane to the free surface.

Stratified Epithelium

An epithelium consisting of more than one layer of cells, where only the deepest basal layer attaches to the basement membrane.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

A special simple epithelium that appears stratified because cell nuclei are at multiple levels, though all cells touch the basement membrane.

Nonkeratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Epithelium composed of living cells in both deep and surface layers with a protective layer of fluid, found in the mouth and esophagus.

Keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Epithelium with living cells in deep layers and outer layers of dead cells containing keratin, providing a durable, moisture-resistant barrier in skin.

Transitional Epithelium

A specialized stratified epithelium that changes shape from cuboidal to squamous when stretched, lining organs like the urinary bladder.

Stereocilia

Specialized elongated microvilli found in sensory structures like the inner ear and in structures where absorption occurs, such as the epididymis.

Tight junctions

Cell junctions formed by membrane proteins that fuse cells tightly near their apical surfaces to prevent substances from passing between them.

Desmosomes

Strong adhesive cell connections consisting of adhesive glycoproteins and intermediate filaments attached to intracellular proteins.

Hemidesmosomes

Cellular structures similar to half of a desmosome that function to attach epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane.

Gap Junction

A specialized contact region containing protein channels that allow ions and small molecules to pass directly between adjacent cells.

Intercalated Disks

Specialized cell-to-cell connections in cardiac muscle containing both gap junctions and desmosomes to coordinate tissue contractions.

Merocrine Secretion

The most common type of exocrine secretion where secretory products are released by exocytosis without loss of cell cytoplasm.

Apocrine Secretion

Exocrine gland secretion where secretory products are released as pinched-off fragments of the cell cytoplasm.

Holocrine Secretion

Exocrine secretion involving the accumulation of products followed by the shedding and rupture of the entire epithelial cell.

Fibroblasts

Large flat cells in connective tissue that produce protein fibers and ground substance in the extracellular matrix.

Hyaluronic acid

A long, unbranched polysaccharide chain in ground substance that provides a slippery quality, serving as a lubricant for joint cavities.

Proteoglycan monomer

A large ground substance molecule consisting of a protein core attached to many long glycosaminoglycans like chondroitin sulfate.

Wharton's jelly

Mucous connective tissue remaining in the newborn umbilical cord that supports blood vessels and serves as a rich stem cell source.

Concentration gradient

The difference in solute concentration between two points in a solvent divided by the distance between those points.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Osmotic pressure

The force required to prevent the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with a lower solute concentration relative to the cytoplasm, causing cells to absorb water, swell, and potentially undergo lysis.

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher solute concentration relative to the cytoplasm, causing cells to lose water, shrink, and undergo crenation.

Facilitated diffusion

A mediated transport process using channel or carrier proteins to move substances down a concentration gradient without expending ATP.

Cotransport

Secondary active transport in which two substances move across the cell membrane in the same direction.

Counter transport

Secondary active transport in which two substances move across the cell membrane in opposite directions.

Phagocytosis

Endocytosis involving the internalization of solid particles or materials into cells via membrane vesicles.

Pinocytosis

Endocytosis involving the ingestion of small liquid droplets or dissolved materials into cells.

Nuclear envelope

A double-membrane structure surrounding the nucleus that contains nuclear pores on its surface.

Nucleoli

Nuclear structures composed of RNA and proteins that serve as the assembly sites for ribosomal subunits.

Ribosomes

Organelles composed of one large and one small subunit that serve as the physical sites of protein synthesis.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum that lacks attached ribosomes and acts as a major site for lipid synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus

A series of closely packed membrane sacs that collect, modify, package, and distribute proteins and lipids produced by the ER.

Peroxisomes

Membrane-bound vesicles containing enzymes that break down fatty acids, amino acids, and hydrogen peroxide.

Codons

Three-nucleotide sequences in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid during protein synthesis.

Prophase

The first stage of mitosis during which chromosomes condense into two chromatids joined at the centromere.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis during which chromosomes align along the center of the cell.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that regulates cell numbers within body tissues.

Epidermis

The superficial layer of the skin composed of stratified squamous epithelial tissue lacking internal blood vessels.

Dermis

The layer of connective tissue deep to the epidermis responsible for most of the structural strength of the skin.

Hypodermis

A layer of loose connective tissue deep to the skin (subcutaneous tissue) that attaches the skin to underlying muscle or bone.

Melanocytes

Irregularly shaped cells in the stratum basale that produce the pigment melanin inside melanosomes.

Langerhans cells

Specialized epidermal cells that function as part of the immune system.

Merkel cells

Specialized epidermal cells associated with nerve endings responsible for detecting light touch and superficial pressure.

Keratinization

The process where keratinocytes accumulate keratin, change shape and chemical composition, die, and form a durable protective outer layer.

Stratum Basale

The deepest single layer of cuboidal or columnar cells in the epidermis that undergoes active mitosis approximately every 19 days.

Stratum Spinosum

An epidermal layer consisting of 8 to 10 layers of many-sided cells containing additional keratin fibers and lamellar bodies.

Stratum Granulosum

An epidermal layer of 2 to 5 layers of flattened cells containing protein granules of keratohyalin.

Stratum Lucidum

A thin, clear epidermal layer composed of dead cells with indistinct boundaries present only in thick skin.

Stratum Corneum

The most superficial epidermal layer composed of 25 or more layers of dead, overlapping keratinized squamous cells.

Thick skin

Skin possessing all five epithelial strata and a thick stratum corneum, located on the palms, soles, and fingertips.

Thin skin

Flexible skin covering most of the body that generally lacks a stratum lucidum and contains hair follicles.

Albinism

A recessive genetic trait resulting in an inability to produce tyrosinase, leading to an absence of pigment in skin, hair, and eyes.

Erythema

A condition in which the skin turns a reddish hue due to increased blood flow from infection, sunburn, or flushing.

Cyanosis

A bluish skin color resulting from a decrease in blood oxygen content.

Dermal papillae

Projections of the papillary dermis extending toward the epidermis that form curving ridges (fingerprints and footprints) under thick skin.

Lanugo

Delicate, unpigmented hair covering the fetus by the fifth or sixth month of development.

Terminal hairs

Long, coarse, pigmented hairs that replace lanugo on the scalp, eyelids, eyebrows, and pubic regions.

Vellus hairs

Short, fine, unpigmented hairs that replace lanugo over most of the body.

Arrector pili

Smooth muscle cells extending from the hair follicle to the papillary dermis that contract to pull hair upright, forming goose bumps.

Sebaceous Glands

Simple or compound alveolar holocrine glands located in the dermis that secrete sebum to oil hair and skin.

Eccrine sweat glands

Simple, coiled tubular glands that open directly onto skin pores to regulate body temperature through sweat evaporation.

Ossification

The process of forming new bone matrix by osteoblasts, also termed osteogenesis.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells located inside lacunae that maintain the existing bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Large multinucleated cells derived from red bone marrow stem cells that break down bone tissue.

Trabeculae

Interconnecting beams of bone in spongy bone that create a lattice structure filled with bone marrow and blood vessels.