Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Human Body

Vocabulary flashcards covering introductory concepts of human anatomy and physiology, including body organization, homeostasis, terminology, directional terms, planes, cavities, and imaging techniques.

Anatomy

The study of body structures.

Physiology

The study of how body parts function.

Embryology

The study of the first eight weeks of growth and development after fertilization of a human egg.

Histology

The microscopic structure of tissues.

Gross Anatomy

Structures that can be examined without a microscope.

Principle of Complementarity of Structure and Function

The principle stating that function always reflects structure, and what a structure can do depends on its specific form.

Surface Anatomy

Surface markings of the body used to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation.

Pathological Anatomy

Structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease.

Endocrinology

The study of hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how they control body functions.

Immunology

The study of the body's defenses against disease-causing agents.

Pathophysiology

Functional changes associated with disease and aging.

Chemical Level

The level of body organization comprising atoms, molecules, and organelles.

Cytology

The microscopic study of cells.

Homeostasis

A condition of equilibrium, or balance, in the body's internal environment maintained by regulatory processes.

Extracellular Fluid

Fluid surrounding body cells upon which cell survival depends through precise regulation of its chemical composition.

Anatomical Position

Standardized method of observing or imaging the body where the subject stands erect facing the observer, upper extremities at sides, palms turned forward, and feet flat on the floor.

Prone Position

Body position in which the body is lying facedown.

Supine Position

Body position in which the body is lying faceup.

Midsagittal Plane

A vertical plane that passes directly through the midline, dividing the body into equal right and left sides.

Frontal Plane

A plane that divides the body vertically into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts; also called coronal plane.

Transverse Plane

A plane that divides the body horizontally into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts; also called horizontal plane.

Mediastinum

Central portion of the thoracic cavity between the lungs, extending from the sternum to the vertebral column and from the first rib to the diaphragm.

Parietal and Visceral Serous Layers

Parietal serosa lines the walls of thoracic and abdominal cavities (comparable to outer balloon wall), while visceral serosa covers the viscera within the cavities directly (comparable to inner balloon wall).

Retroperitoneal

The classification given to organs located posterior to the peritoneum rather than surrounded by it.

Radiograph

A two-dimensional image of interior body structures produced by a single barrage of x-rays passing through the body.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Imaging technique exposing the body to a high-energy magnetic field and radio waves to construct a 2D or 3D blueprint of cellular chemistry.

Computed Tomography

Computer-assisted radiography where an x-ray beam traces an arc at multiple angles around a body section to generate transverse section CT scans.

Aging

A normal process characterized by a progressive decline in the body's ability to restore homeostasis.