Human Anatomy and Physiology: The Human Body Orientation

These vocabulary flashcards cover the fundamental definitions and structural organizations of the human body as introduced in Chapter 1 of the Eleventh Edition of Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of body parts and their relationship to one another.

Physiology

The study of the function of body parts; how they work to carry out life-sustaining activities.

Gross anatomy

Also known as macroscopic anatomy, it is the study of large, visible structures.

Microscopic anatomy

The study of structures that are too small to be seen by the naked eye.

Cytology

The microscopic study of cells.

Histology

The microscopic study of tissues.

Developmental anatomy

The study of anatomical and physiological development throughout life.

Embryology

The study of structural changes that occur in an individual from conception to birth.

Principle of complementarity of structure and function

The principle that what a structure can do depends on its specific form, as function always reflects structure.

Chemical level

The structural level including atoms, molecules, and organelles.

Cellular level

The level of organization consisting of a single cell.

Tissue level

The level of organization consisting of groups of similar cells.

Organ level

A level of organization that contains two or more types of tissues.

Organ system level

The level of organization where organs work closely together; humans have $11$ such systems.

Organismal level

The highest level of organization, where all organ systems combine to make the whole organism.

Contractility

A term for movement at the cellular level.

Responsiveness

The ability to sense and respond to stimuli, such as the withdrawal reflex or control of breathing rate.

Metabolism

All chemical reactions that occur in body cells, representing the sum of all catabolism and anabolism.

Catabolism

The part of metabolism involving the breakdown of molecules.

Anabolism

The part of metabolism involving the synthesis of molecules.

Excretion

The removal of wastes from metabolism and digestion, such as urea, carbon dioxide, and feces.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite continuous changes in the environment; a dynamic state of equilibrium.

Negative feedback

The most-used feedback mechanism where the response reduces or shuts off the original stimulus, causing the variable to change in the opposite direction of the initial change.

Positive feedback

A feedback mechanism where the response enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus so that the response is accelerated.

Standard anatomical position

A common point of reference where the body is erect, feet slightly apart, arms at sides, and palms face forward with thumbs pointing away from the body.

Axial division

One of the two major divisions of the body, including the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular division

One of the two major divisions of the body, consisting of the limbs (legs and arms).

Sagittal plane

A plane that divides the body into right and left parts.

Frontal (coronal) plane

A plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

A plane that divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.

Dorsal body cavity

A main body cavity closed to the environment that contains the cranial and vertebral subdivisions.

Ventral body cavity

A main body cavity closed to the environment that contains the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic subdivisions.

Synovial cavities

Joint cavities that are not exposed to the external environment.