Anatomy & Physiology Retrieval Practice Worksheets

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering Chapters 1 to 4 of Anatomy and Physiology, including key terms, body systems, chemical bonding, cellular transport, and tissue types.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body.

Physiology

The study of the processes or functions of living things.

Macroscopic Anatomy

The study of the larger structures of the body, typically with the unaided eye.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of very small structures of the body using magnification.

Anatomical Position

Standing upright, palms facing forward, looking forward, and feet flat.

Anterior (Ventral)

Refers to the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Refers to the back of the body.

Superior (Cranial)

Towards the head.

Inferior (Caudal)

Away from the head.

Deep

Farther inward from the surface of the body.

Superficial

Closer to the surface of the body.

Medial

Towards the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Integumentary System

Organ system that acts as a barrier for the body, regulates body temperature, and senses environmental changes; includes skin.

Lymphatic System

Organ system that returns fluid to blood and defends against pathogens; includes spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.

Skeletal System

Organ system that provides support, structure, and movement; includes bones, ligaments, and cartilage.

Respiratory System

Organ system that removes carbon dioxide from the body and delivers oxygen to blood; includes lungs and trachea.

Muscular System

Organ system responsible for movement and heat production; includes muscles.

Digestive System

Organ system that processes food for the body and removes wastes from undigested food; includes stomach, liver, large and small intestines.

Nervous System

Organ system that controls and coordinates the body's responses to internal and external stimuli; includes brain and spinal cord.

Urinary System

Organ system that controls water balance in the body and removes wastes from blood; includes urinary bladder and kidneys.

Endocrine System

Organ system that secretes hormones to control growth, development, and metabolism; includes pancreas, ovaries, thyroid gland, testes, and adrenal glands.

Cardiovascular System

Transportation system of the body that delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues; includes heart.

Homeostasis

The body's process of maintaining stable internal conditions.

Set Point

The ideal or normal range for a particular body variable.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

A mechanism that reverses a physiological change to prevent an excessive response to a stimulus, such as producing sweat to reduce body temperature.

Positive Feedback Mechanism

A mechanism that supports or intensifies a change in the body's physiological condition in response to a stimulus, such as exerting the fetus out during childbirth.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that still keeps the properties of that element.

Proton

A heavy subatomic particle with a positive charge found in the nucleus.

Neutron

A heavy subatomic particle with no electrical charge found in the nucleus.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge that orbits the nucleus.

Electron Shell

The area of space between an atom's nucleus and its electrons.

Valence Shell

The outermost shell of an atom.

Octet Rule

Principle stating that atoms prefer to have 8 electrons in their valence shell, and will give, gain, or share electrons to achieve this.

Isotope

An atom that has the same number of protons as other atoms of the element but a different number of neutrons.

Compound

A substance made out of two or more elements joined in a fixed proportion.

Molecule

A group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.

Free Radical

A molecule or ion that has at least one unpaired valence electron, making it highly chemically reactive.

Ion

An atom with an overall positive or negative charge.

Cation

An atom with a positive charge.

Anion

An atom with a negative charge.

Ionic Bond

Attraction between a cation and an anion.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond where atoms share electrons.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond where electrons are shared fairly and well-balanced between both atoms.

Polar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond where electrons are shared unequally, giving one side a partial positive charge and the other a partial negative charge.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak force that holds water molecules, DNA, and proteins together.

Synthesis Reaction

A reaction where two or more atoms or molecules bond to form a larger molecule ($A + B \rightarrow AB$).

Decomposition Reaction

A reaction where a larger molecule is broken down into smaller atoms or molecules ($AB \rightarrow A + B$).

Exchange Reaction

A reaction where both synthesis and decomposition occur, resulting in a transfer of components ($A + BC \rightarrow AB + C$).

Reversible Reaction

A reaction where products can react to reform the original reactants, indicated by a double arrow ($\rightleftharpoons$).

Oxidation-Reduction Reaction

A chemical reaction where one reactant loses electrons (oxidized) while another reactant gains electrons (reduced).

Inorganic Compound

A substance that does not contain carbon and hydrogen.

Organic Compound

A substance that contains carbon and hydrogen.

Surface Tension

Force caused by the cohesion of water molecules at the surface.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that builds polymers by removing a water molecule (a hydroxyl group from one monomer and a hydrogen atom from another).

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks bonds in polymers by adding a water molecule (a hydroxyl group and a hydrogen atom).

Solution

A clear, homogeneous mixture where solute particles are completely dissolved within a solvent.

Colloid

A liquid mixture where solute particles are clumps of large molecules that scatter light (e.g., milk).

Suspension

A liquid mixture containing larger particles that settle out over time.

Acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in solution.

Base

A substance that releases hydroxyl ions ($OH^-$) or accepts $H^+$ in solution.

pH Scale

A measurement scale from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most basic) representing hydrogen ion concentration, with 7 being neutral.

Buffer

A substance that prevents drastic changes in pH when acids or bases are added.

Selective Permeability

Property of the cell membrane that allows only certain substances to enter and leave while blocking others.

Intracellular Fluid

Fluid located inside cells.

Extracellular Fluid

Fluid located outside cells.

Concentration Gradient

The difference in the concentration of a substance between two regions.

Diffusion

Movement of a substance from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Facilitated Diffusion

Movement of substances across a membrane down their concentration gradient aided by membrane proteins.

Tonicity

The ability of an extracellular solution to alter a cell's volume and shape by affecting water movement.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a higher solute concentration outside the cell than inside, causing water to leave the cell.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower solute concentration outside the cell than inside, causing water to enter the cell.

Isotonic Solution

A solution that has the same solute concentration as the cytoplasm inside the cell.

Uniporter

A carrier protein that transports a single type of molecule in one direction.

Symporter

A carrier protein that moves two different molecules in the same direction.

Antiporter

A carrier protein that moves two different molecules in opposite directions.

Phagocytosis

A type of endocytosis ('cell eating') in which a cell engulfs large particles or debris.

Pinocytosis

A type of endocytosis ('cell drinking') in which a cell brings in extracellular fluid containing dissolved substances.

Chromatin

Uncoiled DNA wrapped around proteins within the nucleus.

Chromosome

Tightly coiled structure of DNA and proteins that carries genetic information during cell division.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides on tRNA that is complementary to an mRNA codon.

Transcription

The process occurring in the nucleus where a gene's DNA sequence is copied into mRNA.

Translation

The process occurring at the ribosome where mRNA sequence is read to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain.

Tight Junction

Cell junction that creates a leak-proof seal between adjacent cells to prevent substances from passing through.

Anchoring Junction

Cell junction that mechanically attaches cells together to maintain tissue integrity.

Gap Junction

Cell junction providing channels that allow ions and small molecules to pass directly from cell to cell.

Endocrine Gland

Ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into surrounding fluid and bloodstream.

Exocrine Gland

Gland that secretes substances through a duct onto an epithelial surface or cavity.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body.

Physiology

The study of the processes or functions of living things.

Macroscopic Anatomy

The study of the larger structures of the body, typically with the unaided eye.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of very small structures of the body using magnification.

Anatomical Position

Standing upright, palms facing forward, looking forward, and feet flat.

Anterior (Ventral)

Refers to the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Refers to the back of the body.

Superior (Cranial)

Towards the head.

Inferior (Caudal)

Away from the head.

Deep

Farther inward from the surface of the body.