The Human Body: An Orientation - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing basic anatomy, physiology, organ systems, directional terms, body planes, and cavities.

Anatomy

The study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts, utilizing observation to see sizes and relationships of parts.

Gross Anatomy

The study of large, easily observable structures in the body.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of body structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as cells and tissues, requiring a microscope.

Physiology

The study of how the body and its parts work or function.

Chemical Level

The structural organization level where atoms combine to form molecules.

Cellular Level

The structural organization level where cells are composed of molecules.

Tissue Level

The structural organization level consisting of groups of similar types of cells that perform a specific function.

Organ Level

The structural organization level made up of different types of tissues.

Organ System Level

The structural organization level consisting of different organs that work together closely.

Organismal Level

The highest level of structural organization, representing the human organism made up of many organ systems.

Integumentary System

The organ system that forms the external body covering (skin, hair, fingernails), protects deeper tissue, synthesizes vitamin D, excretes salts in perspiration, and helps regulate body temperature.

Skeletal System

The organ system consisting of bones, cartilages, ligaments, and joints that protects and supports body organs, provides a framework for movement, forms blood cells, and stores minerals.

Muscular System

The organ system consisting of skeletal muscles that contract to produce movement of bones, maintain posture, and produce heat.

Nervous System

The fast-acting control system of the body consisting of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory receptors that responds to internal and external changes.

Endocrine System

The organ system consisting of hormone-secreting glands (pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, etc.) that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use by body cells.

Cardiovascular System

The organ system consisting of the heart and blood vessels that transports blood carrying oxygen, nutrients, hormones, carbon dioxide, and wastes.

Lymphatic System

The organ system consisting of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphoid organs that returns leaked fluid to the blood, cleanses the blood, and houses white blood cells involved in immunity.

Respiratory System

The organ system including the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs that keeps blood constantly supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.

Digestive System

The organ system including the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and accessory organs that breaks down food into absorbable nutrients and eliminates indigestible material as feces.

Urinary System

The organ system including the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra that eliminates nitrogenous wastes and regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood.

Reproductive System

The organ system responsible for the production of offspring, consisting of testes and penis in males, and ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina in females.

Metabolism

All chemical reactions within the body that break down complex molecules into smaller ones, build larger molecules from smaller ones, and produce energy (ATP).

Homeostasis

The maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions in a dynamic state of equilibrium or balance.

Receptor

A homeostatic control component that detects environmental changes (stimuli) and sends information to the control center along an afferent pathway.

Control Center

A homeostatic control component that determines the set point, analyzes incoming information, and determines the appropriate response.

Effector

A homeostatic control component that receives information from the control center along an efferent pathway and provides a means for response to the stimulus.

Negative Feedback

A homeostatic control mechanism that shuts off the original stimulus or reduces its intensity to return the variable to a homeostatic level.

Positive Feedback

A rare homeostatic control mechanism that increases the original stimulus to push the variable farther, causing reactions to occur at a faster rate (e.g., blood clotting and childbirth).

Anatomical Position

The standard body reference position where a person stands erect, feet parallel, with arms hanging at sides, palms facing forward, and thumbs pointing away from the body.

Superior (Cranial / Cephalic)

Directional term meaning toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.

Inferior (Caudal)

Directional term meaning away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional term meaning toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional term meaning toward or at the backside of the body; behind.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of.

Intermediate

Directional term meaning between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Proximal

Directional term meaning close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the origin of a body part or point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial (External)

Directional term meaning toward or at the body surface.

Deep (Internal)

Directional term meaning away from the body surface; more internal.

Sagittal Section

A section cut along a longitudinal plane that divides the body or organ into left and right parts.

Median (Midsagittal) Section

A section cut along a longitudinal plane that divides the body or organ into equal left and right parts.

Frontal (Coronal) Section

A section cut along a longitudinal plane that divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse (Cross) Section

A section cut along a horizontal plane that divides the body or organ into superior and inferior parts.

Dorsal Body Cavity

The internal body cavity consisting of the cranial cavity (housing the brain) and the spinal cavity (housing the spinal cord).

Ventral Body Cavity

The internal body cavity consisting of the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity, separated by the diaphragm.

Mediastinum

The central region of the thoracic cavity that houses the heart, trachea, and other organs.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

The cavity inferior to the diaphragm divided into a superior abdominal cavity and an inferior pelvic cavity.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

The four subdivisions of the abdominopelvic cavity: Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), and Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ).

Abdominopelvic Regions

The nine regions delineated by four planes: Right Hypochondriac, Epigastric, Left Hypochondriac, Right Lumbar, Umbilical, Left Lumbar, Right Iliac (Inguinal), Hypogastric (Pubic), and Left Iliac (Inguinal).