Ch. 1 : The Study of Body Function

Definition of Physiology: (think, "the study of...")

Definition of Physiology: (think, "the study of...")

The study of biological function; how the body works

Name the various levels:

• Cells

• Tissues

• Organs

• Organ Systems

• Organisms

How is information about the body obtained?

By the scientific method, hypothesis-drive experimentation

Cells

the fundamental unit

Tissues

groups of same cell type

Organs

multiple tissues w/ a common function

Organ System

multiple organs

Organism

multiple organ systems

Circulatory/Cardiovascular System consists of:

heart and vessels

Respiratory

lungs and air passageways

Digestive/Gastrointestinal

digestive tract, glands

Urinary/Renal

kidneys, bladder

Musculoskeletal

muscles, tendons, bones

Nervous

brain, spinal cord, sensory organs

Endocrine

pituitary gland, thyroid, etc.

Reproductive

ovaries, uterus, testes

Definition of homeostasis:

• State of relative constancy of the internal environment

• The framework we use for physiology concepts, need to maintain certain range for our health

Give examples of homeostasis mechanisms

• Body temperature

• Sodium

• Glucose

• pH

• Oxygen

What two concepts are important for understanding physiological homeostasis?

Exchange and communication

What does ICF stand for and what is it?

Intercellular Fluid and it's fluid within the cell

What does ISF stand for and what is it?

Interstitial Fluid and it's fluid around the cells, within the tissue

plasma

Fluid component of blood, within blood vessels

Changes in a physiological variable are detected by a _______

sensor (senses the change)

Where is the information sent?

Integrating center (coordinates output)

Afferent pathway does what?

Carries information TO the integrating center

Efferent pathway does what?

Carries information AWAY FROM the integrating center

The integrating center then sends it to the...

effector

What does the effector do?

Produces change in the opposite direction

Negative feedback

an increase or decrease in a variable which causes the variable to move in the opposite direction

Name two examples of negative feedback

Maintenance of body temperature:

• Shivering = response to decreased body temp.

• Sweating = response to increased body temp.

Dynamic constancy

Levels change over short periods of time, remains relatively constant over long periods of time

Name the four primary tissues

• Muscle

• Nervous

• Epithelial

• Connective

Muscle Tissue

Used for contraction

Nervous Tissue

Used for generation & conduction of electrical events (carries information to support functions)

Epithelial Tissue

Forms membranes covering and lining body surfaces and glands compromised of these membranes

Connective Tissue

characterized by large amount of extracellular material; blood, bone and cartilage (fills space)