Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Flashcards for Anatomy and Physiology review.

Anatomy

The study of the structure and organization of living organisms.

Macroscopic (Gross) Anatomy

Study of structures visible to the naked eye.

Microscopic Anatomy

Study of structures that require a microscope; includes histology and cytology.

Regional Anatomy

Study of the body by specific regions, focusing on the relationships of structures within those areas.

Systemic Anatomy

Examination of the body by systems, such as the circulatory or nervous systems.

Physiology

The study of the functions and processes of living organisms.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in an organism despite external changes.

Levels of Organization (smallest to most complex)

Subatomic particles, atoms, molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, biosphere.

Chemical levels of organization

Subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules focusing on the composition and interactions of matter.

Human body levels of organization

Cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems emphasize the organization and function of biological structures.

Integumentary System

Includes hair, skin, and nails and protects the body from the external environment; regulates temperature; provides sensory information.

Muscular System

Includes skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle and enables movement, maintains posture, generates heat, facilitates internal organ functions.

Skeletal System

Includes bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons and provides support and structure to the body; protects internal organs; enables movement; produces blood cells; stores minerals.

Endocrine System

Glands that produces and secretes hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

Nervous System

Brain, spinal cord, nerves detects and processes sensory information; controls and coordinates bodily functions; enables rapid communication between different parts of the body.

Cardiovascular System

Heart, blood vessels, blood transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body; helps regulate body temperature and blood pressure; plays a role in immune response.

Lymphatic System

Lymph nodes, lymph vessels, spleen, thymus returns fluid to the bloodstream; filters lymph fluid; plays a crucial role in the immune system by housing white blood cells and producing antibodies.

Respiratory System

Lungs, trachea, bronchi, alveoli facilitates gas exchange (oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal) between the body and the environment.

Digestive System

Mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, gallbladder breaks down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream; eliminates solid waste.

Urinary System

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra filters waste products from the blood; regulates blood volume and pressure; maintains electrolyte and pH balance.

Male Reproductive System

Testes, penis, vas deferens, prostate gland produces sperm and male hormones (e.g., testosterone); facilitates fertilization.

Female Reproductive System

Ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands produces eggs and female hormones (e.g., estrogen, progesterone); supports fertilization, pregnancy, and childbirth; produces milk.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.

Metabolism

Catabolism + Anabolism

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Anabolism

The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate, the cellular energy currency.

Oxygen

Essential for cellular respiration to produce energy.

Carbon Dioxide

A waste product of cellular respiration needing to be removed.

Macronutrients

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Micronutrients

Vitamins and minerals needed in small amounts for bodily functions.

Controlled Hypothermia

Used during certain surgeries or to reduce brain damage after cardiac arrest, slows metabolic rate and reduces the body's need for oxygen.

Decompression Sickness

A condition caused by the rapid decrease in surrounding pressure, leading to the formation of gas bubbles in the body.

Acclimation

Physiological adjustments to a change in environment over time.

Adaptation

Genetic changes that allow a species to become better suited to its environment over generations.

Negative Feedback

A regulatory mechanism that reverses a change in a controlled condition, returning it to a set point.

Positive Feedback

A regulatory mechanism that amplifies a change in a controlled condition.

X-rays

Penetrate soft tissues and be absorbed by denser tissues like bone, creating an image based on differential absorption. Discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen.

Computed Tomography (CAT Scan)

A series of X-ray images taken from different angles and processed by a computer to create cross-sectional images of the body; used for detailed imaging of bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A medical imaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues in the body.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A nuclear medicine imaging technique that uses a radioactive tracer to detect metabolic activity in the body; often used to diagnose cancer, heart problems, and brain disorders.

Ultrasonography

A medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of internal body structures.