Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology Competency Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture competency notes covering anatomy and cell biology topics.

Anatomy

The study of the form and structure of the body.

Physiology

The study and examination of how the body functions.

Cytology

The study of body cells and their internal structure.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Gross Anatomy

The investigation of body structures visible to the unaided eye, also known as macroscopic anatomy.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions in the body.

Anabolism

The metabolic process that builds larger molecules from smaller ones.

Catabolism

The metabolic process that breaks larger molecules into smaller ones.

Homeostasis

The ability to maintain body structure and function, preserving a consistent internal environment despite changing conditions.

Anatomic Position

An upright posture with feet parallel and flat, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing anteriorly, head level, and eyes looking forward.

Axial Region

The major body region that includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Region

The major body region that includes the upper and lower limbs.

Coronal Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts; also known as the frontal plane.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior parts; also called a cross-sectional plane.

Midsagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves; also known as the median plane.

Sagittal Plane

A plane parallel to the midsagittal plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions.

Oblique Plane

A plane that passes through a body structure at an angle.

Posterior Cavity

A body cavity completely encased in bone that includes the cranial cavity and vertebral canal.

Ventral Cavity

An anterior body cavity divided into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Parietal Serous Membrane

The serous membrane layer that lines the internal body wall.

Visceral Serous Membrane

The serous membrane layer that directly covers organ surfaces.

Mediastinum

The median thoracic space containing the heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, and major blood vessels connected to the heart.

Receptor

A homeostatic component that detects a change or stimulus.

Control Center

A homeostatic component that interprets receptor input and initiates change.

Effector

A homeostatic component that produces the bodily response to a stimulus.

Negative Feedback

A homeostatic mechanism that moves a variable in the opposite direction of the stimulus toward a normal set point.

Positive Feedback

A control mechanism in which the stimulus is reinforced until a climactic event occurs before returning to homeostasis.

Cytosol

The fluid portion of cytoplasm within the cell, also referred to as intracellular fluid (ICF).

Passive Transport

Membrane transport that requires no energy and moves substances down their concentration gradient from greater to lesser concentration.

Osmosis

The passive movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

Active Transport

A process requiring energy in the form of ATP to move solutes up their concentration gradient.

Exocytosis

A vesicular transport process that moves materials out of the cell and can secrete large macromolecules.

Endocytosis

A vesicular transport process that brings large substances into the cell.

Phagocytosis

A form of endocytosis known as cellular eating where a cell engulfs large external particles using pseudopodia.

Pinocytosis

A form of endocytosis known as cellular drinking.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

A membrane-bound organelle studded with ribosomes that is associated with protein production.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

A membrane-bound organelle lacking ribosomes involved in lipid synthesis, transport, storage, and carbohydrate metabolism.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that modifies, packages, and sorts proteins and forms secretory vesicles.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound sacs formed by the Golgi containing digestive enzymes to digest unneeded substances.

Peroxisomes

Small membrane-enclosed sacs that participate in chemical digestion and lipid synthesis.

Mitochondria

Double-membrane organelles that perform aerobic cellular respiration and synthesize ATP.

Centrosome

A non-membrane-bound organelle that organizes microtubules and functions during cell division.

Nucleolus

A structure inside the nucleus that produces large and small ribosome subunits.

Transcription

The process occurring in the nucleus that forms an RNA copy of a gene from DNA.

Translation

The process at cytosol ribosomes where mRNA is threaded and converted into amino acids to produce proteins.

G1 Phase

The interphase stage of cell growth, creation of new organelles, preparation for DNA replication, and centriole replication.

S Phase

The interphase stage where DNA replication occurs in the nucleoplasm involving 46 double-helix strands and DNA polymerase.

G2 Phase

The interphase stage where centriole replication is completed and enzymes for cell division are synthesized.

Prophase

The first stage of mitosis where chromosomes condense into sister chromatids, nucleolus breaks down, spindle fibers grow, centrioles move to opposite poles, and the nuclear envelope dissolves.

Metaphase

The mitotic stage where chromosomes align along the equatorial plate and spindle fibers attach at centromeres.

Anaphase

The mitotic stage where spindle fibers pull sister chromatids toward opposite poles, turning each chromatid into an individual chromosome.

Telophase

The final stage of mitosis where chromosomes arrive at poles and uncoil, new nucleoli form, the spindle breaks down, and new nuclear envelopes form.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm where a ring of microfilaments pinches the mother cell to produce a cleavage furrow and two daughter cells.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death occurring in orderly steps that removes cellular components and remnants.