Chapter 1: Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Chapter 1 anatomical and physiological definitions, body regions, planes, cavities, and homeostatic principles.

Anatomy

Body structures and relationships among structures.

Physiology

Body functions.

Catabolism

The breaking down phase of metabolism.

Anabolism

The building up phase of metabolism.

Differentiation

The development or change of cells from unspecialized to specialized states.

Anatomical Position

Standard frame of reference for anatomical descriptions where the body is standing up, feet flat on the floor, hands at sides, and palms, eyes, and face facing forward.

Supine

Position of lying face up.

Prone

Position of lying face down.

Antebrachial Region

Forearm; the portion of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist.

Antecubital Region

Region anterior to the elbow; also known as the cubital region.

Axillary Region

Armpit region.

Brachial Region

Arm; the portion of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow.

Buccal Region

Cheek region.

Calcaneal Region

Heel of the foot.

Carpal Region

Wrist region.

Cephalic Region

Head region.

Cervical Region

Neck region.

Coxal Region

Hip region.

Crural Region

Leg; the portion of the lower limb between the knee and the ankle.

Femoral Region

Thigh region.

Gluteal Region

Buttock region.

Hallux

Great toe.

Inguinal Region

Groin; sometimes used to indicate the crease or junction of the thigh with the trunk.

Lumbar Region

The 'small of the back'; the inferior part of the back between the ribs and the pelvis.

Mental Region

Chin region.

Olecranal Region

Posterior aspect of the elbow.

Patellar Region

Kneecap region.

Plantar Region

Sole of the foot.

Pollex

Thumb.

Popliteal Region

Area posterior to the knee.

Sural Region

Calf; posterior part of the leg.

Tarsal Region

Proximal part of the foot and ankle.

Thoracic Region

Part of torso superior to thoracic diaphragm; contains the pectoral, axillary, and sternal regions.

Transverse Plane

Horizontal plane dividing the body or structure into superior and inferior halves.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions.

Oblique Plane

Plane that passes through a structure at an angle.

Viscera

Organs inside body cavities.

Retroperitoneal

Descriptive position of organs (such as the kidneys) that lie posterior to the peritoneal membrane.

Infraperitoneal

Descriptive position of organs (such as the urinary bladder) that extend inferior to the peritoneal cavity.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a consistent internal environment in response to changing internal or external conditions.

Negative Feedback

A control mechanism where a variation outside the desired range triggers an automatic response that opposes the situation.

Positive Feedback

A control mechanism that reinforces a change rather than opposing it, resulting in an escalating cycle in the same direction.