Practical Nursing Review: Structure & Function, Cells, Electrolytes, & Major Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, structures, and functions discussed in the lecture on the structure and function of the human body.

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

Levels of Organization

Homeostasis

Maintaining a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Cell Membrane

Controls entry/exit of substances in a cell.

Mitochondria

Produces energy (ATP) for the cell.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus

Packages and transports proteins in the cell.

Normal Serum Sodium Value

135–145 mEq/L; primary function is fluid balance and nerve/muscle function.

Normal Serum Potassium Value

3.5–5.0 mEq/L; vital for heart rhythm and muscle contraction.

Musculoskeletal System Functions

Supports and protects the body, enables movement, stores minerals, and produces blood cells.

Compact Bone

Dense structure that provides strength to bones.

Spongy Bone

Lighter bone structure that contains red marrow.

Gas Exchange

Process of oxygen moving into blood and carbon dioxide moving into alveoli.

Systemic Circulation

The pathway where oxygenated blood is delivered from the heart to the body and back.

Cardiac Cycle

Includes systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation) phases of heart function.

Levels of Organization

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

Homeostasis

Maintaining a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Cell Membrane

Controls entry/exit of substances in a cell.

Mitochondria

Produces energy (ATP) for the cell.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus

Packages and transports proteins in the cell.

Normal Serum Sodium Value

135–145 mEq/L; primary function is fluid balance and nerve/muscle function.

Normal Serum Potassium Value

3.5–5.0 mEq/L; vital for heart rhythm and muscle contraction.

Musculoskeletal System Functions

Supports and protects the body, enables movement, stores minerals, and produces blood cells.

Compact Bone

Dense structure that provides strength to bones.

Spongy Bone

Lighter bone structure that contains red marrow.

Gas Exchange

Process of oxygen moving into blood and carbon dioxide moving into alveoli.

Systemic Circulation

The pathway where oxygenated blood is delivered from the heart to the body and back.

Cardiac Cycle

Includes systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation) phases of heart function.

Nucleus

Contains genetic material (DNA) and controls cell activities.

Ribosomes

Sites of protein synthesis in the cell.

Lysosomes

Contain enzymes to break down waste materials and cellular debris.

Centrioles

Involved in cell division, forming spindle fibers.

Tissue Level

Groups of similar cells working together to perform a specific function (e.g., muscle tissue, nervous tissue).

Organ Level

Structures composed of two or more different types of tissues working together (e.g., heart, stomach).

System Level

Groups of organs that work together to perform major functions for the body (e.g., digestive system).

Negative Feedback Loop

Mechanism that reverses a deviation from the set point, maintaining homeostasis (e.g., blood sugar regulation).

Positive Feedback Loop

Mechanism that intensifies a change in the body's physiological condition rather than reversing it (e.g., childbirth).

pH Scale

Measures acidity or alkalinity; 0-6 is acidic, 7 is neutral, 8-14 is alkaline (basic).

Buffers

Substances that minimize changes in pH.

Anabolism

Metabolic processes that construct molecules from smaller units; requires energy.

Catabolism

Metabolic processes that break down complex molecules into simpler ones; releases energy.

Epithelial Tissue

Covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs, and forms glands (e.g., skin, lining of GI tract).

Connective Tissue

Supports, protects, and binds other tissues together (e.g., bone, blood, fat, cartilage).

Muscle Tissue

Specialized for contraction, allowing movement (skeletal, cardiac, smooth).

Nervous Tissue

Transmits electrical signals throughout the body (neurons, glial cells).

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Includes the brain and spinal cord; responsible for processing information.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes all nerves outside the CNS; connects CNS to body parts.

Neuron

Basic functional unit of the nervous system; transmits nerve impulses.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where electrical or chemical signals are transmitted.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse.

Endocrine System

System of glands that produce and secrete hormones to regulate various body functions.

Hormones

Chemicals secreted by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to target cells.

Pancreas

Produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar, and digestive enzymes.

Thyroid Gland

Produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and development.

Adrenal Glands

Produce hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, involved in stress response.

Digestive System Function

Breaks down food into nutrients, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste.

Peristalsis

Wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

Small Intestine

Primary site of nutrient absorption.

Large Intestine

Absorbs water and electrolytes, forms feces.

Kidneys

Filter blood, produce urine, and regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance.

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney, responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.

Integumentary System

Includes skin, hair, and nails; protects the body, regulates temperature, and senses stimuli.

Epidermis

Outermost layer of the skin, provides protection.

Dermis

Layer beneath the epidermis, contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and glands.

Lymphatic System

Returns interstitial fluid to the bloodstream, aids in immune response, and transports fats.

Lymph Nodes

Small organs that filter lymph and house immune cells.

Immunity

The body's ability to resist disease.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the immune system to neutralize pathogens.

Antigens

Substances that trigger an immune response.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels where gas, nutrient, and waste exchange occurs.

Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)

Carry oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.

White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)

Part of the immune system, fight infection and disease.

Platelets (Thrombocytes)

Aid in blood clotting to stop bleeding.