Chapter 1 – Major Themes of Anatomy and Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 1—including methods of study, scientific principles, human evolution, homeostasis, gradients, terminology, and common medical imaging techniques.

Anatomy

The study of form; the structural organization of the human body.

Physiology

The study of function; how the body’s structures work and carry out life-sustaining activities.

Inspection

Looking at the body’s appearance as part of a physical examination.

Palpation

Feeling a structure with the hands during a physical examination.

Auscultation

Listening to natural body sounds, such as the heartbeat or breathing.

Percussion

Tapping on the body and listening to sounds for signs of abnormalities.

Cadaver Dissection

Cutting and separating tissues of a deceased human to reveal relationships.

Comparative Anatomy

Studying multiple species to learn about form, function, and evolution.

Exploratory Surgery

Opening the body to determine the cause of a disorder—now largely replaced by imaging.

Medical Imaging

Techniques for viewing the inside of the living body without surgery.

Radiology

The medical branch that uses X-rays or other radiation for imaging.

Gross Anatomy

Study of structures visible to the naked eye.

Histology

Microscopic study of tissues; also called microscopic anatomy.

Histopathology

Microscopic examination of tissues to detect disease.

Cytology

Study of the structure and function of individual cells.

Ultrastructure

Fine structural detail observable with an electron microscope.

Neurophysiology

Subdiscipline focusing on the physiology of the nervous system.

Endocrinology

Physiology of hormones and the endocrine system.

Pathophysiology

Study of the mechanisms of disease.

Comparative Physiology

Investigating how different species solve similar physiological problems.

Robert Hooke

17th-century scientist who improved the compound microscope and coined the term “cell.”

Antony van Leeuwenhoek

Inventor of a powerful single-lens microscope; first to observe many microorganisms.

Cell Theory

Concept that all organisms are composed of cells and that all life processes arise from cellular activity.

Inductive Method

Scientific approach that draws generalizations from numerous observations (Francis Bacon).

Hypothetico–Deductive Method

Scientific approach that tests hypotheses through prediction and experimentation.

Falsifiability

Principle that a scientific claim must be testable and capable of being proven wrong.

Sample Size

Number of subjects in a scientific study; larger sizes increase reliability.

Control Group

Participants not receiving the experimental treatment, used for comparison.

Placebo

A harmless, inert treatment given to test for psychosomatic effects.

Double-Blind Study

Experimental design in which neither subjects nor researchers know who receives treatment, preventing bias.

Peer Review

Critical evaluation by experts before research is funded or published.

Scientific Fact

Information that can be independently verified by any trained observer.

Law of Nature

Generalization about how matter and energy behave, often expressed mathematically.

Theory (Scientific)

An explanatory statement derived from facts, laws, and confirmed hypotheses.

Evolution

Change in the genetic composition of a population over time.

Natural Selection

Process by which individuals with beneficial traits reproduce more successfully.

Selection Pressure

Environmental factor that favors reproductive success of some individuals.

Adaptation

Inherited trait that improves an organism’s chances of survival or reproduction.

Bipedalism

Habitual standing and walking on two legs; hallmark of human lineage.

Hierarchy of Complexity

Levels of structural organization: atom → molecule → organelle → cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism.

Anatomical Variation

Normal structural differences among individuals, such as missing muscles or reversed organ placement (situs inversus).

Homeostasis

Body’s ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Negative Feedback

Process that detects change and activates mechanisms to reverse it, restoring stability.

Positive Feedback

Self-amplifying cycle that produces rapid change in the same direction (e.g., childbirth).

Gradient

Difference in chemical concentration, charge, temperature, or pressure between two points.

Terminologia Anatomica (TA)

International standard of anatomical terminology adopted in 1998.

Acronym

Pronounceable word formed from initial letters of a series of terms (e.g., PET).

Radiography (X-ray)

Imaging technique that sends X-rays through the body; dense tissues appear white.

Computed Tomography (CT)

Imaging method that uses low-intensity X-rays and computer analysis to create slice-type images.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to visualize soft tissues without X-rays.

Functional MRI (fMRI)

MRI variant that displays moment-to-moment changes in brain activity.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Imaging that tracks radioactive glucose to assess tissue metabolism.

Sonography

Imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound); common in obstetrics.