Chapter 1 – Major Themes of Anatomy and Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms, people, methods, and concepts from Chapter 1: Major Themes of Anatomy and Physiology. These cards help reinforce definitions and significance of each term for exam review.

Anatomy

The study of bodily structure and form.

Physiology

The study of bodily function and processes.

Inspection

Observing the body’s surface appearance to study anatomy.

Palpation

Examining the body by touch to feel structures.

Auscultation

Listening to natural body sounds (e.g., heart, lungs) for diagnosis.

Percussion

Tapping on the body to feel for resistance or hear sounds that indicate abnormalities.

Cadaver Dissection

Cutting and separating tissues of a deceased human to study relationships.

Comparative Anatomy

Comparing multiple species to learn about form, function, and evolution.

Exploratory Surgery

Opening the body to examine interior organs directly.

Medical Imaging

Techniques for viewing the inside of the body without surgery.

Radiology

The medical specialty focused on imaging techniques (e.g., X-rays).

Gross Anatomy

Study of structures visible to the naked eye.

Histology

Microscopic examination of tissues (also called microscopic anatomy).

Histopathology

Microscopic study of diseased tissues.

Cytology

Study of the structure and function of individual cells.

Ultrastructure

Fine detail of tissues revealed by the electron microscope.

Neurophysiology

Physiology subdiscipline dealing with nervous-system function.

Endocrinology

Study of hormones and hormonal regulation.

Pathophysiology

Study of disease mechanisms and functional changes.

Comparative Physiology

Comparing different species to understand body functions and develop medical advances.

Robert Hooke

Scientist who improved the compound microscope and coined the term “cells.”

Antony van Leeuwenhoek

Inventor of a powerful single-lens microscope; first to observe many microorganisms.

Cell Theory

Concept that all organisms are composed of cells and all functions arise from cellular activity.

Francis Bacon

Philosopher who formalized the inductive method of scientific inquiry.

René Descartes

Philosopher who promoted objective, systematic scientific thought.

Inductive Method

Scientific approach that draws generalizations from repeated observations.

Hypothetico–Deductive Method

Scientific method involving hypothesis formulation and testing to falsify or support ideas.

Sample Size

Number of subjects in a study; larger sizes increase reliability.

Control Group

Subjects not receiving treatment, used for comparison in experiments.

Placebo

Inactive substance given to a control group to test psychosomatic effects.

Double-Blind Study

Procedure where neither subjects nor experimenters know who receives treatment, preventing bias.

Statistical Testing

Mathematical assessment of whether experimental results are likely due to chance.

Peer Review

Evaluation of research by other experts before publication or funding.

Scientific Fact

Information that can be independently verified.

Law of Nature

Generalization about how matter and energy behave, often expressed mathematically.

Scientific Theory

Explanatory framework derived from facts, laws, and tested hypotheses.

Evolution

Change in genetic composition of a population over time.

Natural Selection

Process whereby individuals with advantageous traits reproduce more successfully.

Selection Pressure

Environmental force that favors reproductive success of certain traits.

Adaptation

Inherited trait that improves survival or reproduction in a given environment.

Animal Model

Non-human species used to study biological processes relevant to humans.

Primate

Order of mammals including humans, apes, and monkeys.

Arboreal

Tree-dwelling lifestyle characteristic of early primates.

Opposable Thumb

Digit arrangement allowing thumb to touch fingertips for grasping.

Stereoscopic Vision

Depth perception gained from forward-facing eyes.

Bipedalism

Habitual standing and walking on two legs.

Australopithecus

Early bipedal hominin genus living over 3 million years ago.

Homo Genus

Lineage appearing 2.5 million years ago with larger brains and tool use.

Homo Erectus

Early human species that migrated out of Africa about 1.8 million years ago.

Homo Sapiens

Modern human species, originating ~200,000 years ago.

Reductionism

Theory that complex systems can be understood by studying simpler components.

Holism

Idea that properties of the whole organism cannot be predicted from parts alone.

Situs Inversus

Left-right reversal of organ placement in the body.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions.

Negative Feedback

Mechanism that reverses a change to maintain homeostasis.

Set Point

Average value around which a physiological variable fluctuates.

Feedback Loop

Cycle of events where information about a change triggers a response.

Receptor (in feedback)

Structure that detects a change in the body.

Integrating Center

Control center that processes information and directs response.

Effector

Cell or organ that carries out corrective action.

Positive Feedback

Self-amplifying process that produces rapid change in the same direction.

Gradient

Difference in chemical concentration, charge, temperature, or pressure between two points.

Concentration Gradient

Variation in solute concentration between regions.

Electrical Gradient

Difference in charge between two points.

Thermal Gradient

Difference in temperature between two regions.

Eponym

Anatomical term based on a person’s name (e.g., “Fallopian tube”).

Terminologia Anatomica (TA)

International standard of anatomical nomenclature established in 1998.

Acronym

Word formed from initial letters of a series of terms (e.g., PET).

Radiography

Imaging technique using X-rays; dense tissues appear white on film.

Computed Tomography (CT)

Imaging method producing slice-type images via low-intensity X-rays and computer analysis.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Imaging technique using magnetic fields; excellent for soft tissues and no X-ray exposure.

Functional MRI (fMRI)

MRI variation that tracks real-time changes in brain activity.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Scan that assesses tissue metabolism using radioactively labeled glucose.

Sonography

Imaging using high-frequency sound waves; common in obstetrics.