Anatomy and Physiology Chapter 1 Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Anatomy and Physiology Chapter 1, including anatomy divisions, physiological subdisciplines, characteristics of life, and homeostatic feedback mechanisms.

Microscopic Anatomy

The branch of anatomy that studies structures that cannot be observed by the unaided eye.

Cytology

A division of microscopic anatomy focusing on the study of body cells and their internal structure.

Histology

A division of microscopic anatomy focusing on the study of tissues.

Gross (Macroscopic) Anatomy

The branch of anatomy that examines structures visible to the unaided eye.

Systematic Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that studies each body system.

Regional Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that examines structures in a specific body region.

Surface Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that focuses on superficial anatomic markings and internal body structures.

Comparative Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that examines anatomical similarities and differences in different species.

Embryology

A division of gross anatomy that studies developmental changes occurring from conception to birth.

Physiology

The study that examines the function of body structures, focusing on the molecular and cellular level.

Subdisciplines of Physiology

Specialized fields of physiological study including cardiovascular physiology, neurophysiology, respiratory physiology, reproductive physiology, and pathophysiology.

Organization

A characteristic of living organisms wherein all organisms exhibit a complex structure and order.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within the body.

Growth and Development

A characteristic of living organisms involving the assimilation of materials from the environment to grow and develop.

Responsiveness

The ability of an organism to sense and react to stimuli or environmental changes.

Regulation

The ability of an organism to adjust internal function to accommodate environmental changes.

Reproduction

The process of producing new cells or sex cells (gametes) to produce new organisms.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining a consistent internal environment in response to changing internal or external conditions.

Body Temperature Homeostatic Value

The normal homeostatic benchmark value for human body temperature, recorded as $98.6^\text{o}\text{F}$.

Blood Glucose Normal Range

The normal homeostatic range for blood glucose, specified as $80\text{ to }110\text{ mg/dL}$.

Blood Pressure Normal Range

The normal homeostatic blood pressure range, specified as $90\text{ to }120 / 60\text{ to }80\text{ mm Hg}$.

Negative Feedback

A homeostatic control mechanism regulating most processes in the body, where a variable fluctuates around a set point, resulting in an action in the opposite direction.

Positive Feedback

A less frequent homeostatic control mechanism in which a stimulus is reinforced to continue moving a variable in the same direction until a climactic event occurs, after which the body returns to homeostasis.

Homeostatic Imbalance

A condition resulting when a body system fails to maintain homeostasis, leading to disease.

Diagnosis

The identification of a specific cause of homeostatic imbalance when treating patients.

Diabetes Mellitus

An example of a homeostatic imbalance involving blood glucose regulation.