Anatomy and Physiology of Body Systems Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on the anatomy, physiology, directional terms, body planes, cavities, homeostasis, and major disorders of human body systems.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of an organism.

Physiology

The study of how the body functions.

Pathophysiology

The study of disease and how it affects the body.

Directional Terms Diagram

Anatomical reference terms used to describe locations on the body relative to other structures, including superior/inferior, anterior/posterior, proximal/distal, and medial/lateral.

Frontal (Coronal) Section

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

Sagittal Section

A body plane section that divides the body into left and right portions.

Transverse (Horizontal) Section

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

Body Planes Diagram

Illustrates the three principal anatomical planes of division: frontal (coronal), sagittal, and transverse (horizontal).

Body Cavities Diagram

Displays the internal spaces of the body containing organs, divided into ventral (thoracic, abdominal, pelvic) and dorsal (cranial, spinal) cavities.

Homeostasis

The steady state or balance state that allows the body to maintain internal balance by compensating with changes.

Integumentary System Components

The body system comprising skin, sweat and oil glands, fingernails, hair, and fascia.

Fascia

Connective tissue structured in superficial and deep layers, containing compartments that locally restrict the spread of infections or tumors.

Hematopoiesis

The formation of blood cells, which takes place in red bone marrow in the skeletal system.

Skeletal System Components

The structural system made up of $206$ bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and joints.

Vertebrae Divisions Diagram

The divisions of the spinal column consisting of $7$ cervical, $12$ thoracic, $5$ lumbar, $5$ sacral, and the coccyx.

Glycogen

The form of stored glucose that muscles use for energy.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary muscle tissue attached to bones that permits movement, produces heat, and maintains posture.

Cardiac Muscle

Specially adapted, involuntary heart muscle capable of initiating its own electrical impulses.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue found in the walls of hollow internal organs.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The core division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The division of the nervous system comprising sensory, motor, and connective nerves.

Somatic Nervous System

The portion of the nervous system that regulates voluntary activities.

Autonomic Nervous System

The portion of the nervous system that regulates involuntary body functions.

Acidosis

A condition in which blood $\text{pH}$ drops below $7$.

Alkalosis

A condition in which blood $\text{pH}$ rises above $7$.

Respiratory Acidosis

A condition resulting when the respiratory system is unable to eliminate adequate amounts of $\text{CO}_2$ (an acid).

Respiratory Alkalosis

A condition resulting from hyperventilation or the excessive loss of $\text{CO}_2$ from the lungs.

Alimentary Canal

The continuous digestive tract extending from the mouth to the anus.

Peristalsis

Involuntary smooth muscle movement that propels food through the digestive tract.

Pancreas

An organ that aids in digestion and secretes hormones, including insulin and glucagon, to regulate blood sugar.

Nephron Diagram

The microscopic structural and functional filtering unit of the kidney that produces urine from blood.

Urinary System Components

The organ system composed of two kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder, and the urethra.

Pituitary Gland

An endocrine gland that regulates growth, sexual development, and immune response.

Thyroid Gland

An endocrine gland that controls the rate of body metabolism and secretes $\text{T}_3$, $\text{T}_4$, and calcitonin.

Adrenal Gland

An endocrine gland positioned above the kidneys that releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, activates the sympathetic system, and regulates aldosterone, cortisol, estrogen, and androgenic hormones.

Parathyroid Glands

Endocrine glands responsible for regulating $\text{Ca}^{2+}$ metabolism.

Thymus Gland

A gland in the lymphatic and endocrine systems that stimulates the development and maturation of disease-fighting T cells.

Lymphatic System Components

A network of lymph vessels and nodes, spleen, thymus gland, tonsils, and bone marrow.

Circulatory System Components

The cardiovascular system consisting of the heart (pump), blood vessels (pipes), and blood (fluid).

Arthritis

Joint disorder characterized by joint inflammation, pain, and swelling.

Bursitis

Inflammation of a bursa (fluid-filled sac near a joint).

Gout

A painful form of arthritis precipitated by deposits of needlelike uric acid crystals in the joints and surrounding tissues as a result of faulty uric acid metabolism.

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bone (especially the marrow) caused by bacterial infection.

Osteoporosis

Disorder involving loss of bone density.

Scoliosis

Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.

Atrophy

A decrease in size (wasting) of a muscle, usually due to inactivity.

Muscular Dystrophy (MD)

Genetic disease in which muscles waste away or atrophy.

Myalgia

Painful muscle.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of muscle tendons, usually due to overexertion.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A disease involving muscle weakness and atrophy due to degeneration of portions of the brain and spinal cord.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain.

Epilepsy

Recurrent pattern of seizures.

Hydrocephalus

Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Disease involving destruction of the myelin sheath of CNS nerves.

Neuralgia

Severe pain along a nerve.

Parkinson Disease

Chronic nervous disease characterized by fine muscle tremors and muscle weakness.

Shingles

Acute eruption of herpes blisters along the course of a peripheral nerve.

Apnea

A temporary cessation of breathing.

Asthma

Difficulty in breathing accompanied by wheezing caused by spasm or swelling of the bronchial tubes.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

A term that describes chronic inflammatory lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that result in obstructed airflow from the lungs.

Cystic Fibrosis

Genetic endocrine disease that causes an excess production of mucus.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing.

Hypoxia

Deficiency of oxygen.

Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS)

Severe impairment of respiratory function in the newborn due to a lack of surfactant in the baby's lungs.

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleural membrane.

Pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs.

Pulmonary Edema

Accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Infectious respiratory system disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Cystitis

Bladder inflammation.

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Final stage of kidney disease in which the kidneys cease to function.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the kidney glomeruli.

Uremia

Impaired kidney function with a buildup of waste products in the blood.

Diabetes Mellitus

A condition in which carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism is impaired because of a deficiency of insulin.

Hyperglycemia

Increased blood sugar that often precedes diabetic coma if not treated.

Hypoglycemia

Abnormally low glucose (blood sugar), often resulting from hyperinsulinism.

Hodgkin Disease

Chronic, malignant disorder, common in males, characterized by lymph node enlargement.

Infectious Mononucleosis

An infection of the lymphatic system caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Splenomegaly

Spleen enlargement.