Anatomy and Physiology Foundation

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the fundamentals of human anatomy, physiology, levels of organization, homeostatic mechanisms, organ systems, directional terms, and the chemical basis of life based on the lecture notes.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body and its parts.

Physiology

The study of the function of the body and its parts.

Gross Anatomy

The study of large, visible structures such as organs.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of structures that need magnification to be seen, such as cells and tissues.

Chemical Level

The level of organization where atoms combine to form molecules like $H_2O$.

Cellular Level

The level of organization where molecules form organelles, which are the basic units of cells.

Tissue Level

Groups of similar cells that work together to perform specific functions.

Organ Level

Two or more types of tissues working together to perform specific, complex functions.

Organ System Level

Groups of organs that interact to perform specific functions, such as the cardiovascular system.

Organism Level

The highest level of organization where all organ systems work together to maintain life and health.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

Negative Feedback

A mechanism that counteracts changes to return to a set point, such as body temperature regulation.

Positive Feedback

A mechanism that enhances or increases the change that triggered it, such as blood clotting.

Receptor

A component of homeostatic regulation that detects changes in the environment known as stimuli.

Control Center

A component that receives and processes information from the receptor and sends out commands.

Effector

A component that responds to commands from the control center to either oppose or enhance the stimulus.

Epithelial Tissue

A primary tissue type that covers body surfaces and lines cavities.

Connective Tissue

A primary tissue type that supports and binds tissues.

Muscle Tissue

A primary tissue type that produces movement.

Nervous Tissue

A primary tissue type that transmits nerve impulses.

Integumentary System

The organ system comprising skin, hair, and nails that protects against hazards and regulates temperature.

Skeletal System

The system comprising bones, cartilage, and ligaments that supports tissues, stores calcium, and forms blood cells.

Muscular System

The system primarily consisting of skeletal muscles that provides movement, posture, and heat production.

Nervous System

The system including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that coordinates activities and directs immediate responses to stimuli.

Endocrine System

The system including glands like the pituitary and thyroid that directs long-term changes by adjusting metabolic activity.

Cardiovascular System

The system comprising the heart and blood vessels that distributes blood, nutrients, oxygen, and waste.

Lymphatic System

The system including lymph nodes and the spleen that defends against infection and returns tissue fluids to the bloodstream.

Respiratory System

The system including lungs and trachea that provides oxygen to the bloodstream and removes carbon dioxide.

Digestive System

The system including the stomach and intestines that processes food and absorbs nutrients.

Urinary System

The system including the kidneys and bladder that excretes waste and controls water balance.

Reproductive System

The system that produces sex cells and hormones and supports fetal development in females.

Medical Terminology Word Roots

The core part of a medical term that provides the basic meaning, such as 'Cardi-' for heart.

Medical Terminology Prefixes

Added to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning, such as 'Tachy-' meaning fast.

Medical Terminology Suffixes

Added to the end of a word root to modify its meaning, such as '-itis' meaning inflammation.

Anatomical Position

Standing upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

Superior (Cranial)

Toward the head or upper part of the structure.

Inferior (Caudal)

Away from the head or toward the lower part of the structure.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into right and left parts.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Protects the nervous system and is divided into the cranial and vertebral (spinal) cavities.

Ventral Body Cavity

Houses internal organs (viscera) and contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Serous Membranes

Thin, double-layered membranes including the parietal serosa (lining walls) and visceral serosa (covering organs).

Autoregulation (Intrinsic Regulation)

Occurs when a cell, tissue, or organ adjusts activities automatically in response to environmental change.

Extrinsic Regulation

Involves the nervous or endocrine system to coordinate responses throughout the body.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

Protons

Particles that carry a positive charge and are found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons

Electrically neutral particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electrons

Particles that carry a negative charge and whirl around the nucleus.

Ionic Bond

Formed when an electron moves from the outer shell of one atom to another.

Covalent Bond

Formed when atoms share one or more electrons.

Catabolism

The metabolic process of breaking down complex compounds into simpler ones, which releases energy.

Anabolism

The metabolic process of building larger, more complex compounds.

pH Scale

A scale from $0$ to $14$ measuring acidity or alkalinity; blood pH is between $7.35$ and $7.45$.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A nucleic acid polymer that stores all of the cell's genetic information (the genome).

RNA (ribonucleic acid)

A single strand nucleic acid containing ribose and nitrogenous bases: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Uracil.