Chapter 01 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, levels of organization, homeostatic mechanisms, body cavities, organ systems, and anatomical terminology from Chapter 1.

Anatomy

The study of the structure/morphology (shape) of the human body and its parts; derived from Greek for 'a cutting up'.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the human body and its parts; derived from Greek for 'relationship to nature'.

Atom

Tiny particles that make up all chemicals, such as hydrogen and carbon.

Molecule

Particles consisting of atoms joined together, such as water and glucose.

Macromolecule

Large particles consisting of molecules, such as DNA and proteins.

Organelle

A functional part of a cell, such as a mitochondrion or lysosome.

Cell

The basic unit of structure and functions of a living organism, such as a muscle, nerve, or blood cell.

Tissue

A layer or mass of cells with a specific function, such as adipose or epithelial tissue.

Organ

A group of different tissues with a common function, such as the heart, kidney, or stomach.

Organ System

A group of organs with a common function, such as the digestive system.

Organism

A living entity composed of interacting organ systems, such as a human.

Ultrasound

A noninvasive procedure using high-frequency sound waves that provides images of soft internal structures, used to obtain a sonogram.

Magnetic Resonance Scan (MR)

A noninvasive procedure where a magnetic field changes the alignment and spin of certain types of atoms to provide high-resolution images of internal structures.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively constant or stable internal environment.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism that support life, including energy production and nutrient cycling.

Receptor

A component of a homeostatic mechanism that detects and provides information about stimuli.

Control Center

The decision-maker in a homeostatic mechanism that maintains the set point.

Effector

A muscle or gland that responds to the control center and causes the necessary change in the internal environment.

Negative Feedback

The most common homeostatic mechanism in which effectors return conditions toward the normal range and the deviation from the set point lessens.

Positive Feedback

An uncommon homeostatic mechanism in which the deviation from the set point is intensified short-term instead of reversed.

Axial Portion

The central portion of the human body consisting of the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Portion

The portion of the human body consisting of the upper and lower limbs.

Cranial Cavity

The body cavity that houses the brain.

Vertebral Canal

The spinal cavity that contains the spinal cord.

Thoracic Cavity

The body cavity that houses the lungs and thoracic viscera.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

The body cavity that contains abdominal and pelvic viscera.

Diaphragm

The muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Mediastinum

The region between the lungs in the thoracic cavity that contains the heart, esophagus, trachea, and thymus gland.

Visceral Layer

The inner layer of a double-layered serous membrane that directly covers an organ.

Parietal Layer

The outer layer of a double-layered serous membrane that lines the wall of a cavity.

Serous Fluid

A slippery fluid secreted by serous membranes that prevents friction between layers.

Integumentary System

An organ system providing body covering, protection, regulation of body temperature, sensory reception, and production of Vitamin D.

Anatomical Position

The standard body position used as reference: standing erect, facing forward, upper limbs at the sides, and palms facing forward.

Superior / Inferior

Relative position terms meaning above (superior) and below (inferior).

Anterior / Posterior

Relative position terms meaning toward the front (anterior/ventral) and toward the back (posterior/dorsal).

Medial / Lateral

Relative position terms meaning toward the midline (medial) and away from the midline (lateral).

Ipsilateral / Contralateral

Relative position terms referring to structures on the same side (ipsilateral) or opposite sides (contralateral).

Proximal / Distal

Relative position terms meaning closer to the point of attachment to the trunk (proximal) or farther from the point of attachment to the trunk (distal).

Superficial / Deep

Relative position terms meaning close to the body surface (superficial) or more internal (deep).

Sagittal Section

A longitudinal cut that divides the body into left and right portions.

Transverse Section

A horizontal cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions.

Coronal Section

A frontal longitudinal cut that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Epigastric Region

The upper middle portion of the abdominal regions.