Anatomy and Physiology Practice Review

Practice flashcards covering vocabulary from skin anatomy, body systems, skeletal physiology, joint classifications, and muscular and nervous system concepts based on lecture notes.

Epidermis

The outermost, superficial region of the skin.

Areolar tissue

A tissue with a gel-like matrix containing all three connective tissue fibers, fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, and white blood cells that functions in wrapping and cushioning organs.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.

Physiology

The study of the function of the body’s structural machinery.

Developmental anatomy

A branch of anatomy that traces the structural changes throughout life.

Melanocytes

Cells of the epidermis that produce a brown pigment in the skin.

Simple squamous epithelium

Tissue that functions mainly in diffusion and filtration, providing a slick, friction-reducing lining in the lymphatic and cardiovascular systems.

Adpose tissue

A connective tissue that reserves food stores, insulates against heat loss, and cushions organs.

Tissue

A group of cells that form a specific function.

Bone

Connective tissue with a hard, calcified matrix containing collagen fibers and osteocytes.

Dendritic cells

Epidermal macrophages that help activate the immune system.

Chemical level

The most basic level of organization that consists of atoms.

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

A tissue composed of cells with different heights where some do not reach the free surface; it often contains cilia and goblet cells.

Dense regular connective tissue

Tissue that attaches muscles to bone or to other muscles and bone to bone.

Blood

The only fluid connective tissue with a matrix known as plasma; it functions in the transport of respiratory gases and nutrients.

Stratum corneum

The superficial layer of the epidermis that functions in waterproofing and protection from abrasion and penetration.

Integumentary system

The body organ system composed of the skin, sweat glands, oil glands, hair, and nails.

Elastic cartilage

A type of cartilage that supports the external ear and the epiglottis.

Skeletal system

The system that protects and supports body organs, provides the framework for muscles, and synthesizes Vitamin D.

Nervous system

The fast-acting control system of the body that responds to stimuli by activating muscles and glands.

Muscular system

The system that allows for locomotion, facial expression, posture maintenance, and heat production.

Alopecia

The thinning of hair in both sexes.

Stratum basale

The deepest epidermal layer firmly attached to the dermis, consisting of a single row of the youngest keratinocytes, melanin granules, and dendritic cells.

Lymphatic system

The system that picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels, disposes of debris, and houses white blood cells involved in immunity.

Eccrine sweat glands

Glands abundant on the palms, soles, and forehead that are important in thermoregulation.

Cardiac muscle

Muscle found only in the heart that propels blood into the circulation.

Terminal hair

Coarse, long hair found on the eyebrows, scalp, axillary, and pubic regions.

Respiratory system

System composed of the nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

Primary germ layers

The layers consisting of the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm.

Digestive system

System that breaks down food into units for blood entry and eliminates indigestible foodstuff as feces.

Chondroblasts

Cells that produce cartilage.

Smooth muscle

Muscle composed of sheets of spindle-shaped cells with central nuclei and no striations; it forces food through internal channels.

Neurons

Cells that function in transmitting electrical signals from sensory receptors to effectors.

Hypodermis

Subcutaneous layer deep to the skin composed of adipose and areolar tissue.

Basal cell carcinoma

The least malignant and most common skin cancer; it is slow growing and does not often metastasize.

Metabolism

All the chemical reactions that occur in the body.

Arrector pili

A small band of smooth muscle attached to a hair follicle responsible for goose bumps.

Homeostasis

The ability to maintain a relatively stable internal environment despite a changing external environment.

Negative feedback

A feedback system where the output shuts off the original stimulus.

Cyanosis

A blue skin color alteration caused by low oxygenation of hemoglobin.

Axon hillock

The point where an axon attaches to the neuron cell body.

Collagen fibers

Connective tissue fibers that are tough and provide high tensile strength.

Carotene

A yellow to orange pigment of the skin most obvious in the palms and soles of the feet.

Ceruminous glands

Modified apocrine sweat glands that secrete earwax.

Second-degree burn

A burn where the epidermis and upper regions of the dermis are damaged, involving redness, swelling, pain, and blisters.

Osteoblasts

Cells that form new bone tissue.

Rickets

A condition in children involving bowed legs and delayed growth, often due to low sun exposure and Vitamin D.

Long bone

A bone characterized as being longer than it is wide.

Greenstick fracture

A fracture where the bone breaks partly and one side bends; common in children.

Medullary cavity

The central cavity inside long bones that contains yellow bone marrow.

Proliferation zone

The zone of the epiphyseal plate where new cartilage forms and pushes the epiphysis away from the diaphysis.

Perichondrium

Structure that surrounds skeletal cartilage to maintain its structure and resist expansion.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage type specifically designed to withstand heavy pressure and tensile strength.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Hormone that stimulates osteoclasts to break down bone matrix, increasing calcium in the blood.

Endochondral ossification

The process of bone formation that begins with a bone collar forming around the diaphysis of a cartilage model.

Simple (closed) fracture

A bone fracture that does not penetrate the skin.

Osteomalacia

A condition of weak, softened bones due to inadequate mineralization in adults.

Osteoporosis

A condition characterized by reduced bone mass, often resulting in fractures from minor stress in the elderly.

Spongy bone

Bone characterized by a honeycomb structure of trabeculae.

Irregular bone

A bone characterized by a complex shape that does not fit into other categories.

Hemopoiesis

The formation of blood cells within bones.

Pivot joint

A joint type that allows for rotation around an axis.

Gouty arthritis

A joint condition characterized by uric acid crystal deposits, often causing sudden pain in the big toe.

Articular capsule

The structure that surrounds synovial joints and contains synovial fluid.

Amphiarthroses

Functional classification for joints that permit slight movement.

Osteoarthritis

A diagnosis involving joint stiffness, narrowed joint spaces, and bone spurs.

Fibrous joints

Joints with no joint cavity and where bones are bound together by connective tissue; they are mostly immovable.

Synchondroses

Joints primarily consisting of hyaline cartilage, such as the connection between the first rib and the sternum.

Symphyses

A joint designed for strength and flexibility with fibrocartilage in the center.

Growth hormone

Hormone primarily responsible for stimulating epiphyseal plate activity during a growth spurt.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of the tendon sheath.

Ball-and-socket joint

A joint type that allows for the greatest range of motion.

Paget’s disease

A condition characterized by excessive bone formation with poor structure.

Sprain

A joint injury characterized by the stretching or tearing of ligaments.

Flexion

A type of movement that decreases the angle of the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An inflammatory condition involving joint pain, fatigue, and deformed fingers.

Sutures

Fibrous joints found between the bones of the skull.

Gomphosis

The fibrous connection between a tooth and its socket.

Intramembranous ossification

The process that forms flat bones such as the skull during fetal development.

Opposition

The movement involving the thumb touching the little finger.

Synovial joints

A category of joints that contains a joint cavity.

Epimysium

Fibrous connective tissue that surrounds the whole muscle.

Elasticity

The ability of a muscle to recoil and resume its resting length after being stretched.

Origin

The attachment of a muscle tendon to a stationary bone.

Deltoid

The prime mover in arm abduction.

Sarcoplasm

The cytoplasm of a muscle cell.

Tendon

Structure formed by muscle wrappings that attaches muscle to bone.

Isometric contraction

A type of muscle contraction in which tension increases to capacity, but the muscle neither shortens nor lengthens.

Sarcomere

The smallest contractile unit of a muscle fiber, located between two successive Z discs.

Treppe

Increased muscle contraction in response to multiple stimuli of the same strength due to the availability of $Ca^{2+}$ in the sarcoplasm.

Motor unit

A unit composed of a motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it supplies.

Muscle tone

The constant, slightly contracted state of all muscles that does not produce active movements.

Sarcopenia

The loss of muscle mass (up to $50\%$ by age $80$) which can be reversed by regular exercise.

Oxygen debt

The extra amount of oxygen needed for restorative processes to return a muscle to its resting state.

Slow oxidative fibers

Muscle fibers that are resistant to fatigue.

CNS and PNS

The two principal divisions of the nervous system (Central and Peripheral).

Dendrites

Short, tapering, and diffusely branched processes of a neuron that serve as receptive regions for input.

Dura mater

The outermost, leathery, and strong meningeal layer.

Filum terminale

Fibrous extensions of the pia mater that anchor the spinal cord to the coccyx.

Motor (efferent) neuron

A neuron that carries impulses away from the CNS.