Physiology Wescott

Gross Anatomy

The study of the larger structures of the body, those visible without the help of magnification.

Macroscopic anatomy

Another term for gross anatomy, focusing on structures visible to the naked eye.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of structures that cannot be seen without magnification, focusing on cells and tissues.

Regional Anatomy

The study of the connections between 2 or more things of the structures in a specific body region, such as the abdomen.

• Example: Studying regional anatomy helps us appreciate the interrelationships of body structures, such as how muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and other structures work together to serve a particular body region.

Systemic anatomy

The study of the body's systems, such as the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems, focusing on their structure and function.

Homeostasis

The state of a balanced internal condition being maintained by living things

Anatomy

Studying the structure of the human body; what it is made of.

Physiology

The function of the human body; what the body does. The study of how the body's systems work together to maintain life and health.

Subatomic Particles

The smallest particles of matter, including protons, neutrons, and electrons, that make up atoms.

Atom

Atoms are made up of subatomic particles such as the proton, electron and neutron. Two or more atoms combine to form a molecule, such as the water molecules, proteins, and sugars found in living things.

Molecule

Are the chemical building blocks of all body structures.

Cell

They are the smallest unit of life capable of replicating independently and providing structure, nutrients, and energy for the body

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, making up complex organisms such as plants and animals.

Tissue

A group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function in the body, such as muscle or nervous tissue.

Organelles

Specialized structures within a cell that perform distinct processes to maintain cellular function, including the nucleus, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum.

Organ

A collection of tissues that work together to perform a specific function in an organism, such as the heart or liver.

Organ System

A group of organs that work together to perform functions necessary for life, such as the digestive or respiratory system.

Organism Level

An organism is a living being that has a specific structure and that can independently perform all physiologic functions necessary for life.

Example: In multicellular organisms, including humans, all cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems of the body work together to maintain the life and health of the organism.

Organization

The arrangement of cells, tissues, and organs in a living organism that allows for the performance of vital functions. It refers to how different biological structures interact to sustain life.

Metabolism

 

sum of all chemical reactions in an organism in the body. Both anabolism and catabolism occur simultaneously and continuously to keep you alive.

Anabolism

is a metabolic process that builds larger molecules from smaller ones, using energy.

Catabolism

is a metabolic process that breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy.

Responsiveness

is the ability of an organism to detect and respond to stimuli in its environment, an essential function for survival.

Movement

is the ability of an organism to change its position or location. It includes both voluntary and involuntary actions, essential for interaction with the environment.

Development

is the process by which organisms grow and mature, involving changes in size, shape, and function throughout their life. This process can include differentiation of cells and tissues, as well as reproduction and aging.

Differentiation

in which unspecialized cells become specialized in structure and function to perform certain tasks in the body.

Growth

is the increase in body size

Reproduction

is the formation of a new organism from parent organisms.

Oxygen

is a vital element that is essential for cellular respiration and energy production in living organisms. And Humans have the most urgent need for a continuous supply of oxygen

Nutrients

A nutrient is a substance in foods and beverages that is essential to human survival. The three basic classes of nutrients are water, the energy-yielding and body-building nutrients, and the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).

Set point

the ideal value or narrow range that homeostasis strives to maintain

• For example, the set point for normal human body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) Physiological parameters, such as body temperature and blood pressure, tend to fluctuate within a normal range a few degrees above and below that point.

Normal range

is the set of values that is optimally healthful and stable.

Negative Feedback

a self-regulating system that reverses a change to maintain stability or balance (homeostasis)

Sensor

is a component that detects changes in a physiological variable and relays that information to the control center for regulation.

Control center

is the component in a feedback system that compares the value to the normal range.

Effector

is the component in a feedback system that causes a change to reverse the situation and return the value to the normal range.

Positive Feedback

intensifies a change in the body’s physiological condition rather than reversing it.

Prone

Laying face down

Supine

Laying face up

Brachial

relating to the arm, specifically the upper arm region.