Human Physiology

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on Human Physiology, focusing on the definitions and roles of physiological components and processes.

What is physiology?

The study of biological function and how the body works.

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Make observations, form a hypothesis, design and conduct experiments, analyze the data, and replicate results.

What is the difference between in vitro and in vivo studies?

In vitro studies are conducted in a culture dish, while in vivo studies are conducted in living creatures.

What are the four major categories of tissues in the human body?

Muscle tissue, Nervous tissue, Epithelial tissue, and Connective tissue.

What are the types of muscle tissue?

Skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle.

What role does nerve tissue play in the body?

It functions in communication and is composed of neurons and neuroglia.

How is epithelial tissue classified?

By the number of layers: simple epithelium (one layer) and stratified epithelium (multiple layers).

What is the function of connective tissue?

To connect and support other tissues and organs.

What is homeostasis?

Dynamic constancy in the body's internal environment.

What regulates most controlled variables in the body?

Negative feedback system.

What is a positive feedback system?

A system that strengthens or reinforces a change in a controlled variable.

What is an organ?

A structure composed of two or more tissues serving different functions.

How many inter-related organ systems are present in the human body?

There are 11 inter-related organ systems.

What is the role of the control center in a feedback system?

To process information received from receptors and determine the appropriate response.

Give an example of an organ system in the human body.

The circulatory system, which includes the heart and blood vessels.