Unit 1: Anatomy & Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering structural levels, organ systems, homeostasis, directional terms, planes, cavities, and membranes from Chapter 1.

Anatomy

The study that investigates body structure; the term means to dissect.

Physiology

The study that investigates processes and functions of the body.

Systemic Physiology

The subdiscipline of physiology that studies body organ-systems.

Cellular Physiology

The subdiscipline of physiology that studies body cells.

Systemic Anatomy

The approach to anatomy that studies body organ-systems.

Regional Anatomy

The approach to anatomy that studies body regions, commonly emphasized in medical schools.

Surface Anatomy

The study of external anatomical features, such as bone projections.

Anatomical Imaging

The use of technologies such as x-rays, ultrasound, and MRI to examine internal body structures.

Chemical Level

The smallest level of structural organization, consisting of atoms, chemical bonds, and molecules.

Cellular Level

The level of structural organization comprising cells, which are the basic units of life containing compartments and organelles.

Tissue Level

A level of organization consisting of a group of cells with similar structure and function plus the extracellular substances they release.

Organ Level

A level of organization composed of two or more tissue types acting together to perform one or more functions.

Organ-System Level

A group of organs that contribute to a common function, such as the digestive or reproductive system.

Organism Level

The highest level of structural organization, consisting of all organ systems working together along with associated microorganisms.

Integumentary System

An organ system consisting of skin, hair, nails, and glands that provides protection, regulates temperature, prevents water loss, and helps produce vitamin D.

Skeletal System

An organ system consisting of bones, cartilages, ligaments, and joints that provides protection and support, allows movement, produces blood cells, and stores minerals and adipose tissue.

Muscular System

An organ system consisting of muscles attached to skeleton or connective tissue that produces body movements, maintains posture, and produces body heat.

Nervous System

A major regulatory system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory receptors that detects sensations and controls movements, physiological processes, and intellectual functions.

Endocrine System

A major regulatory system consisting of glands that secrete hormones to influence metabolism, growth, reproduction, and many other functions.

Cardiovascular System

An organ system consisting of the heart, blood, and blood vessels that transports nutrients, waste products, gases, and hormones throughout the body.

Lymphatic System

An organ system consisting of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen that removes foreign substances from blood and lymph, combats disease, maintains fluid balance, and absorbs dietary fats.

Respiratory System

An organ system consisting of the lungs, diaphragm, and respiratory passages that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and air and regulates blood pH.

Digestive System

An organ system consisting of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and accessory organs that performs digestion, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of wastes.

Urinary System

An organ system consisting of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra that removes waste products from blood and regulates blood pH, ion balance, and water balance.

Organization

A characteristic of life referring to the functional interrelationships between parts of an organism.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical and physical changes sustaining an organism, including the ability to acquire and use energy.

Responsiveness

The ability of an organism to sense and respond to changes in both its internal and external environments.

Differentiation

The developmental process where cells change in structure and function from generalized to specialized.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment despite fluctuations in the external or internal environment.

Set Point

The normal or average value of a physiological variable.

Normal Range

The normal extent of increase or decrease of a physiological variable around its set point.

Negative Feedback

The primary homeostatic mechanism that involves the detection of a deviation from a set point and correction by reversing that deviation back toward the set point.

Receptor

A homeostatic component that detects changes in a variable.

Control Center

A homeostatic component that receives signals from receptors, establishes the set point, and sends signals to effectors.

Effector

A homeostatic component that directly causes a change in a variable to reverse or adjust a deviation.

Positive Feedback

A non-homeostatic control mechanism in which an initial stimulus further increases or stimulates the response, causing a progressive deviation away from the set point.

Anatomical Position

The standard reference position of a human standing erect with face and palms facing forward.

Superior

A directional term meaning above.

Inferior

A directional term meaning below.

Anterior (Ventral)

A directional term meaning toward the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

A directional term meaning toward the back of the body.

Medial

A directional term meaning close to the midline of the body.

Lateral

A directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

A directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment.

Distal

A directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment.

Superficial

A directional term describing a structure close to the surface of the body.

Deep

A directional term describing a structure located toward the interior of the body.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical body plane that separates the body into right and left parts.

Median Plane

A sagittal plane located directly along the midline that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane that separates the body into superior and inferior parts.

Frontal Plane

A vertical plane that separates the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Dorsal Body Cavity

The cavity enclosing the organs of the nervous system, divided into the cranial cavity and vertebral canal.

Ventral Body Cavity

The main body cavity containing the majority of internal organs (viscera), divided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Mediastinum

The space within the thoracic cavity located between the lungs that contains the heart, thymus gland, esophagus, and trachea.

Visceral Serous Membrane

The inner layer of serous membrane that directly covers internal organs.

Parietal Serous Membrane

The outer layer of serous membrane that lines the walls of body cavities.

Pericardium

The serous membrane surrounding the pericardial cavity and heart.

Pleura

The serous membrane surrounding the pleural cavity and lungs.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane surrounding the peritoneal cavity and abdominopelvic organs.

Mesenteries

Double layers of visceral peritoneum that anchor and cover abdominopelvic organs.

Matter

Occupies space and has mass (solid, liquid & gas)

Mass

The amount of matter in an object

Weight

gravitational force acting on an object

Element

Smallest form of matter (C,H,O,N)

Atom

Smallest particle (protons, electrons, & neurons)

Proton

POSITIVE particle in nucleus

Neutron

NEUTRAL particle in nucleus

Electron

NEGATIVE particle OUTSIDE nucleus

Atomic Number

Number of protons in each atom

Mass Number

Number of protons AND neutrons in each atom

Chemical Bonds

Occur when outermost electrons / valence shell are transferred / shared between atoms.

EXAMPLE: HYDROGEN

Ions

A charged atom formed because of a donation or gain of electron

EXAMPLE: NaCi (2 oppositely charged)

Covalent Bonding

Occurs when atoms share ONE or More pairs of electrons

EXAMPLE:Hydrogen Molecule (H2)

Polar Covalent

Unequal sharing of electrons between atoms of the bond

EXAMPLE: H2O

Polar Molecules

Asymmetrical electrical charge

Polar Covalent Bonds

Bonded molecules (water) have positive AND negative ends.

Molecule*

2 or more atoms chemically combined '

EXAMPLE: Water (H2O)

Compound

Chemical combination of 2 or more different types of atoms

EXAMPLE: NaCI

Intermolecular Forces

Weak cahrge attractions between separate molecules or between ions and molecules.

No exchange of electrons is involved!

EXAMPLE: Hydrogen bond

Synthesis Reaction

Builds a new molecule, energy REQUIRING

EXAMPLE: ADP+P—> ATP

Decomposition Reaction

Breaks down molecule, energy RELEASING

EXAMPLE: ATP→ ADP+P

Exchange Reaction

Combination of synthesis and decomposition reactions

EXAMPLE: AB+CD→AC+BD

Kinetic energy

energy IN MOTION

potential energy

STORED energy

Chemical Energy

• production of ATP from ADP

• form of potential energy stored in chemical bonds

• Less product MORE energy input (& vice versa)

Acid

Proton H+ donor (pH BELOW 7)

Base

Proton H+ donor (pH ABOVE 7)

Inorganic

Substances that DON”T contain carbon

Organic

Study of CARBON - CONTAINING substances

Exception

Some carbon containing compounds aren’t organic (doesn’t contain hydrogen / CO2)

Water

• Polar molecule made of 2 hydrogen bonds by polar covalent bonds

• stabilizes body temp, protects body, required for chem reactions

Hydrophobic

NOT attracted to water

Hydrophilic

Molecules ATTRACTED to water

ATP stands for

Adenoise Tri Phosphate

Monosaccharides

One sugar building blocks; glucose & fructose.

Disaccharides

2 sugars / glucose + fructose = sucrose

Carbohydrates: Glycogen

Stored form of glucose in humans in the liver.

Quickly broken down cells to make ATP

Carbohydrates are broken down by ——- to provide energy** and where?

Amilase (in stomach and saliva)

Lipids

Lower proportion of oxygen to carbon than carbohydrates

INSOLUBLE in water

EXAMPLES: Fats, oils

Saturated Lipid

Single covalent bonds between carbon atoms

EXAMPLE: beef, pork, milk, cheese & eggs