Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Molecular Biology: Key Concepts for Health Sciences

Anatomical position

Standard body position: standing, facing forward, palms out

Anatomy

Study of body structure

Autopsy

Examination of a body after death

Cadaver

Dead body used for study

CT scan

X-ray imaging in cross-sections

Cytology

Study of cells

Distal

Farther from point of attachment

Dorsal

Toward the back

Embryology

Study of development before birth

Frontal plane

Divides body into front/back

Histology

Study of tissues

Homeostasis

Maintaining stable internal environment

Inferior

Below, toward feet

Lateral

Away from midline

Medial

Toward midline

MRI

Imaging using magnetic fields

Negative feedback

Opposes change, restores balance

Pathology

Study of disease

PET scan

Imaging using radioactive tracers

Physiology

Study of body functions

Positive feedback

Strengthens change (ex: childbirth)

Proximal

Closer to point of attachment

Sagittal plane

Divides body into left/right

Serosa

Membrane lining cavities

Sonography

Ultrasound imaging

Superior

Above, toward head

Systemic

Study of whole body systems

Transverse plane

Divides body into top/bottom

Ventral

Toward the front

X-ray

Basic imaging using radiation

Acid

Substance releasing H+ ions

Amino acid

Building block of proteins

Anion

Negatively charged ion

Atom

Smallest unit of matter

Atomic mass

Protons + neutrons

Atomic number

Number of protons

Base

Accepts H+ ions (alkaline)

Buffer

Resists pH changes

Carbohydrate

Sugars and starches, energy source

Cation

Positively charged ion

Covalent bond

Atoms share electrons

Denaturation

Protein loses shape

Disaccharide

2 sugars linked

Electron

Negatively charged particle

Enzyme

Protein catalyst

Hydrogen bond

Weak bond between polar molecules

Ion

Charged atom

Ionic bond

Transfer of electrons

Lipid

Fat, stored energy

Monosaccharide

Single sugar (glucose)

Neutron

Neutral particle

Nonpolar molecule

Equal sharing of electrons

Nucleic acid

DNA or RNA

Oxidation number

Charge of atom/ion

pH scale

Measures acidity/basicity

Phospholipid

Lipid with phosphate head (cell membrane)

Polar molecule

Unequal sharing of electrons

Polysaccharide

Many sugars linked

Primary structure

Sequence of amino acids

Protein

Macromolecule of amino acids

Proton

Positive particle in nucleus

Quaternary structure

Multiple protein chains together

Secondary structure

Folding/coiling of chain

Solute

Substance dissolved

Solvent

Substance doing the dissolving

Steroid

Lipid with 4 rings (cholesterol, hormones)

Substrate

Reactant for enzyme

Tertiary structure

3D folding of protein

Triglyceride

Fat molecule (glycerol + 3 fatty acids)

Valence electrons

Electrons in outer shell

Active transport

Movement requiring energy

Anaphase

Chromosomes pull apart in mitosis

Benign

Noncancerous tumor

Cell membrane

Barrier of the cell

Centrioles

Organize spindle fibers

Chromatin

Loose DNA in nucleus

Cilia

Hair-like projections for movement

Cytokinesis

Splitting cytoplasm after mitosis

Cytoplasm

Fluid inside cell

Desmosomes

Cell junctions holding cells together

Diffusion

Movement from high → low concentration

DNA

Genetic material

Endocytosis

Cell engulfs material in

Exocytosis

Cell releases material out

Flagella

Tail-like projection for movement

Gap junctions

Channels between cells

Gene

DNA code for proteins

Golgi apparatus

Packages and ships proteins

Hypertonic

Higher solute outside, cell shrinks

Hypotonic

Lower solute outside, cell swells

Intermediate filaments

Cytoskeleton support fibers

Interphase

Cell growth, DNA replication

Isotonic

Equal solute inside/outside

Lysosome/Peroxisome

Organelles for digestion & detox

Malignant

Cancerous tumor

Metaphase

Chromosomes line up in middle

Metastasis

Spread of cancer

Microfilaments

Smallest cytoskeleton fibers

Microtubules

Largest cytoskeleton fibers

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of cell