A&P I – Chapter 1 Flashcards: The Human Body: An Orientation (Marieb 12e) – Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from The Human Body: An Orientation chapter notes.

Anatomy

Study of the structure of body parts and their relationships.

Physiology

Study of how body parts function to carry out life-sustaining activities.

Principle of complementarity

Function reflects structure; what a part can do depends on its form.

Chemical level

The simplest level of organization; atoms and molecules form the chemical foundations of life.

Cellular level

Cells, the basic units of life, carry out the activities of life.

Tissue level

Groups of similar cells performing a common function.

Organ level

Structures composed of two or more tissue types that perform a specific function.

Organ system level

A group of organs that work together to achieve a common purpose.

Organism

An individual living thing; the highest level of structural organization.

Cardiovascular system

Transports blood throughout the body; includes the heart and blood vessels.

Integumentary system

Forms the external body covering; protects, regulates temperature, and synthesizes vitamin D.

Skeletal system

Protects and supports the body; stores minerals and forms blood cells.

Endocrine system

Glands secrete hormones that regulate body processes (growth, metabolism, reproduction).

11 body systems

Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, Reproductive.

Survival needs

Nutrients, oxygen, water, normal body temperature, and atmospheric pressure required for life.

Metabolism

All chemical reactions in body cells; includes catabolism (breakdown) and anabolism (synthesis).

Homeostasis

Maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite environmental changes.

Law of mass balance

Input equals output; the amount of a substance in the body remains constant.

Variable

A detectable change in a controlled condition monitored by receptors.

Receptor (sensor)

Structure that senses changes in a variable and sends information to the control center.

Control center

Determines the set point and analyzes input, then directs responses via effectors.

Effector

Organ or tissue that carries out a response to restore homeostasis.

Negative feedback

Reverses change to return conditions toward normal (e.g., body temperature, blood glucose).

Positive feedback

Amplifies change; typically occurs during processes like labor contractions or platelet plug formation.

Feedforward

Anticipatory actions; e.g., smell of food triggers saliva and digestive juice secretion.

Anatomical position

Body erect, feet apart, palms facing forward, thumbs away from the body.

Superior

Toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior

Toward the feet or lower part of a structure.

Anterior (ventral)

Front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Back of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or from a reference point.

Sagittal plane

Plane that divides the body into right and left parts.

Midsagittal plane

Sagittal plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves (midline).

Parasagittal plane

Sagittal plane offset from the midline; not equal halves.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

Oblique plane

Plane that passes through the body at an angle; less commonly used.

Dorsal cavity

Encased by the skull and vertebral column; contains the brain and spinal cord; lined by meninges.

Ventral cavity

Contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities; subdivided into thoracic (pleural, mediastinum, pericardial) and abdominopelvic (abdominal, pelvic).

Serosa

Double-layered membranes (parietal + visceral) with serous fluid between to reduce friction.

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleural membranes causing pain and friction.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity.

Abdominopelvic quadrants

Right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant (LUQ), Right lower quadrant (RLQ), Left lower quadrant (LLQ).

Nine abdominopelvic regions

Umbilical, Epigastric, Hypogastric (Pubic), Right Inguinal (Iliac), Left Inguinal (Iliac), Right Lumbar (Lateral), Left Lumbar (Lateral), Right Hypochondriac, Left Hypochondriac.

Hiatal hernia

Stomach protrudes through the diaphragm; can cause acid reflux.

Wrong-site surgery

Critical surgical error arising from poor terminology or orientation.