Characteristics of Living Human and Homeostasis

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the basic life processes, homeostasis, body fluids, feedback systems, and clinical terminology based on the lecture notes.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes that occur in the body, consisting of anabolism and catabolism.

Anabolism

The phase of metabolism involved in building up complex chemical substances from smaller components.

Catabolism

The phase of metabolism involved in breaking down complex chemical substances into simpler components.

Responsiveness

The body's ability to detect and respond to changes in its internal or external environment.

Movement

Includes motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells, and tiny structures inside cells.

Growth

An increase in body size resulting from an increase in the size of existing cells, an increase in the number of cells, or both.

Differentiation

The development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state.

Reproduction

Refers to the formation of new cells for tissue growth, repair, or replacement (cell division) and the production of a new individual.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of relatively stable conditions in the body's internal environment.

Walter Cannon

The American Physiologist who coined the term Homeostasis in 1929.

Intracellular fluid (ICF)

The fluid found within individual cells.

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

The fluid found outside body cells; it serves as the body's internal environment.

Interstitial Fluid

The specific type of ECF that fills the narrow spaces between cells of tissues.

Blood Plasma

The extracellular fluid specifically found within blood vessels.

Lymph

The extracellular fluid found within lymphatic vessels.

Cerebral System Fluid

The extracellular fluid located in and around the brain and spinal cord.

Synovial Fluid

The extracellular fluid found within joints.

Aqueous humor and Vitreous body

The extracellular fluid associated with the eyes.

Electrolytes in ECF

Contains large amounts of $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, and Bicarbonate ions.

Electrolytes in ICF

Contains large amounts of $K^+$, Magnesium, and Phosphate ions.

Nerve impulses (AP)

Electrical signals sent by the nervous system to organs to counteract changes from a balanced state.

Hormones

Messenger molecules secreted by endocrine glands into the blood to regulate homeostasis.

Feedback System (Feedback Loop)

A cycle of events in which the status of a body condition is monitored, evaluated, changed, re-monitored, and re-evaluated.

Controlled condition

A monitored variable such as body temperature, blood pressure, or blood glucose level.

Stimulus

Any disruption that changes a controlled condition.

Receptor

A body structure that monitors changes in a controlled condition and sends input to a control center via an Afferent Pathway.

Control Center

A body structure, such as the brain, that sets the range for a controlled condition, evaluates input, and generates output commands via an Efferent Pathway.

Effector

A body structure that receives output from the control center and produces a response that changes the controlled condition.

Negative Feedback System

A system that reverses a change in a controlled condition, such as the regulation of blood pressure.

Positive Feedback System

A system that tends to strengthen or reinforce a change in a controlled condition, continuing until interrupted by an external mechanism.

Oxytocin

A hormone released during childbirth that causes uterine muscles to contract more forcefully in a positive feedback loop.

Vicious Cycle

A term for a positive feedback loop that leads to instability, such as the progressive weakening of the heart during severe blood loss.

Disorder

Any abnormality of structure or function.

Disease

A specific term for an illness characterized by a recognizable set of symptoms and signs.

Symptoms

Subjective changes in body functions that are not apparent to an observer.

Signs

Objective changes in the body that can be observed and measured.

Local disease

A disease that affects one part or a limited region of the body.

Systemic Disease

A disease that affects either the entire body or several parts.

Epidemiology

The science that deals with why, when, and where diseases occur and how they are transmitted among individuals in a community.

Pharmacology

The science that deals with the effects and uses of drugs in the treatment of disease.