FOUNDATIONS

Anatomy

The study of structures.

Physiology

The study of how the body functions.

Macroscopic Anatomy

The study of structures visible to the naked eye.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of structures at the cellular level.

Cell Theory

The fundamental concept of biology stating that all living things are composed of cells.

Organism

A living being composed of one or more cells.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in the body.

Negative Feedback

A regulatory mechanism in which a response reverses a stimulus.

Positive Feedback

A regulatory mechanism in which a response amplifies a stimulus.

Thermoregulation

The process of maintaining an internal body temperature within a tolerable range.

Labor Contractions

An example of positive feedback occurring during childbirth.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life.

Irritability

The ability of an organism to respond to stimuli.

Darwinian Evolution

The theory of evolution based on natural selection.

Cells

The basic structural and functional units of life.

Tissues

Groups of similar cells that perform a specific function.

Organs

Structures composed of two or more tissue types that perform specific functions.

Organ Systems

Groups of organs that work together to perform complex functions.

Superior

Positioned above or higher than another part.

Inferior

Positioned below or lower than another part.

Anterior

Positioned toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Positioned toward the back of the body.

Medial

Positioned closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Positioned farther away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Positioned closer to the point of attachment of a limb to the body.

Distal

Positioned farther away from the point of attachment of a limb to the body.

Superficial

Located near the surface of the body.

Deep

Situated further from the surface of the body.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Four quadrants used to describe the location of organs in the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

RUQ

Right Upper Quadrant, containing organs such as the liver and gallbladder.

RLQ

Right Lower Quadrant, containing organs such as the appendix.

LUQ

Left Upper Quadrant, containing organs such as the spleen and part of the stomach.

LLQ

Left Lower Quadrant, containing organs such as the left ovary.

Body Planes

Imaginary lines used to divide the body into sections.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into right and left parts.

Midsagittal Plane

A sagittal plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves.

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

Frontal Plane

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Encloses the nervous system organs, divided into cranial and vertebral cavities.

Ventral Body Cavity

Contains most internal organs, further divided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Pleural Cavity

Contains the lungs, located in the thoracic cavity.

Mediastinum

The space between the lungs.

Pericardial Cavity

Contains the heart, located within the thoracic cavity.

Abdominal Cavity

The space between the diaphragm and pelvis containing digestive organs.

Pelvic Cavity

The space within the pelvis containing reproductive organs.

Serous Membranes

Membranes that line body cavities and cover organs.

Visceral Membrane

Covers the organs within the cavities.

Parietal Membrane

Lines the walls of the body cavities.

Pleural Fluid

Serous fluid that reduces friction within the pleural cavities.

Pericardial Fluid

Serous fluid that reduces friction between heart layers.

Peritoneal Cavity

Surrounds organs within the abdominopelvic cavity.

Retroperitoneal

Refers to organs located behind the peritoneal cavity.

Mesentery

A double layer of visceral peritoneum that attaches organs to the body wall.

SAD PUCKER

An acronym for retroperitoneal organs: Spleen, Aorta, Duodenum, Pancreas, Ureters, Colon, Kidney, Esophagus, Rectum.

Growth/Development

The process of increasing in size and differentiating into specialized cells.

Responsiveness

The ability of an organism to detect and respond to changes in its environment.

Reproduction

The biological process by which new individual organisms are produced.

Levels of Organization

The hierarchal structure in biology from molecules to organisms.

Organelles

Specialized structures within cells that perform specific functions.

Atoms

The basic unit of a chemical element.

Molecules

Groups of atoms bonded together.

Skeletal System

The organ system that provides support and structure to the body.

Muscular System

The organ system that enables movement through contraction of muscles.

Nervous System

The organ system that coordinates body activities by transmitting signals.

Endocrine System

The organ system that regulates body functions through hormones.

Cardiovascular System

The organ system that circulates blood and lymph throughout the body.

Lymphatic System

The organ system involved in the immune response and maintaining fluid balance.

Respiratory System

The organ system responsible for exchanging gases between the body and the environment.

Urinary System

The organ system that removes waste from the body and regulates water balance.

Integumentary System

The organ system that protects the body from external damage.

Cranial Cavity

The cavity that encloses the brain.

Vertebral Canal

The canal that encloses the spinal cord.

Thoracic Cavity

The cavity that contains the lungs and heart.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

The cavity that contains the abdominal and pelvic organs.

Structure

The arrangement of and relations between the parts of something.

Function

The specific activity or role of a particular structure.

Anatomical Position

The standard position of the body used as a reference in anatomy.

Directional Terms

Terms used to describe the location of structures in relation to each other.

Organ Systems of the Body

The various systems composed of organs that work together to perform specific functions.