Chapter 01: The Sciences of Anatomy and Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terminology, organ systems, body regions, planes, cavities, homeostasis, and medical imaging techniques from Chapter 01.

Anatomy

The scientific study of the form and structure of the body.

Physiology

The scientific examination of how the body and its parts function.

Scientific Method

A systematic process where scientists observe natural events, formulate hypotheses, test them through experimentation, and analyze data to support, reject, or modify the hypotheses.

Microscopic Anatomy

The branch of anatomy that examines body structures that cannot be seen by the unaided eye.

Cytology

The study of body cells and their internal structure.

Histology

The study of body tissues.

Gross Anatomy

The branch of anatomy, also known as macroscopic anatomy, that investigates structures visible to the unaided eye.

Systemic Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that studies the anatomy of each body system.

Regional Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that examines all the structures in a specific body region.

Surface Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that focuses on superficial anatomic markings and internal body structures.

Comparative Anatomy

A division of gross anatomy that examines anatomical similarities and differences in different species.

Embryology

The study of developmental changes occurring from conception to birth.

Pathologic Anatomy

The field of anatomy that examines macroscopic and microscopic structural changes resulting from disease.

Radiographic Anatomy

The field of anatomy that investigates internal structures visualized by scanning procedures.

Cardiovascular Physiology

The branch of physiology that examines the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Neurophysiology

The branch of physiology that studies the functioning of nerves and nervous system organs.

Respiratory Physiology

The branch of physiology that explores the functioning of respiratory organs.

Reproductive Physiology

The branch of physiology that investigates the functioning of reproductive hormones and the reproductive cycle.

Pathophysiology

The branch of physiology focusing on the function of a body system during disease or injury.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within the body.

Anabolism

The metabolic process in which small molecules are joined together to form larger ones.

Catabolism

The metabolic process in which large molecules are broken down into smaller ones.

Homeostasis

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

Chemical Level

The simplest level of structural organization, consisting of atoms, molecules, macromolecules, and organelles.

Cellular Level

The level of structural organization consisting of cells, which are the basic units of life.

Tissue Level

The level of structural organization composed of groups of similar cells performing common functions.

Organ Level

The level of structural organization consisting of multiple tissues working together to perform specific functions.

Organ System Level

The level of structural organization composed of related organs working together to coordinate functions.

Organismal Level

The highest level of biological organization, where all organ systems function together to form a living organism.

Integumentary System

Organ system that provides protection, prevents water loss and gain, synthesizes vitamin D, releases secretions, regulates body temperature, and houses sensory receptors.

Skeletal System

Organ system that provides support and protection, serves as the site of hematopoiesis, stores calcium and phosphorus, and provides sites for ligament and muscle attachments.

Muscular System

Organ system that produces body movement and generates heat when muscles contract.

Nervous System

Regulatory organ system that responds to sensory stimuli, controls muscles and some glands, and is responsible for consciousness, intelligence, and memory.

Endocrine System

Organ system consisting of glands and cell clusters that secrete hormones to regulate development, growth, metabolism, blood composition, digestive processes, and reproductive functions.

Cardiovascular System

Organ system consisting of the heart and blood vessels that moves blood through the body to distribute hormones, nutrients, and gases, and pick up waste products.

Lymphatic System

Organ system that transports and filters lymph and participates in immune responses.

Respiratory System

Organ system responsible for the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the blood and air in the lungs.

Digestive System

Organ system that mechanically and chemically digests food, absorbs nutrients, and expels waste products.

Urinary System

Organ system that filters blood to remove waste products and biologically active molecules, concentrates waste products as urine, and expels urine from the body.

Reproductive System

Organ system where gonads produce sex cells and sex hormones to produce new organisms.

Anatomic Position

Standard body reference position where an individual stands upright with feet parallel and flat, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing anteriorly, head level, and eyes forward.

Coronal Plane

A vertical plane, also called a frontal plane, that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane, also called a cross-sectional plane, that divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.

Midsagittal Plane

A vertical plane, also called a median plane, that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane parallel to the midsagittal plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions.

Oblique Plane

A plane that passes through a body structure at an angle.

Axial Region

Main vertical axis of the body comprising the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Region

Body region consisting of the upper and lower limbs.

Cranial Cavity

Subdivision of the posterior aspect formed by bones of the cranium that houses the brain.

Vertebral Canal

Subdivision of the posterior aspect formed by bones of the vertebral column that houses the spinal cord.

Ventral Cavity

Anteriorly placed body cavity partitioned by the thoracic diaphragm into a superior thoracic cavity and an inferior abdominopelvic cavity.

Parietal Layer

The outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the internal surface of the body wall.

Visceral Layer

The inner layer of a serous membrane that covers the external surface of organs.

Serous Fluid

A lubricating liquid secreted by cells in a serous membrane that reduces friction caused by organ movement against the body wall.

Mediastinum

Median space in the thoracic cavity containing the heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, and major blood vessels.

Pericardium

Two-layered serous membrane enclosing the heart, consisting of parietal and visceral pericardium separated by the pericardial cavity.

Pleura

Two-layered serous membrane associated with the lungs, consisting of parietal pleura and visceral pleura separated by the pleural cavity.

Peritoneum

Two-layered serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity, consisting of parietal and visceral peritoneum separated by the peritoneal cavity.

Receptor

A homeostatic component that detects changes in a regulated variable or stimulus.

Control Center

A homeostatic component, usually the brain or endocrine gland, that interprets input from receptors and initiates changes through effectors.

Effector

A homeostatic component, such as a muscle or gland, that brings about changes to alter the stimulus.

Negative Feedback

A primary homeostatic mechanism where the resulting action is in the opposite direction of the stimulus to maintain a set point.

Positive Feedback

A homeostatic mechanism where the stimulus is reinforced to move the variable in the same direction until a climactic event occurs.

Radiography

Medical imaging technique where x-rays pass through soft tissues and are absorbed by dense tissues such as bone, teeth, and tumors.

Ultrasound

Medical imaging technique, also called sonography, using high-frequency sound waves emitted from a transducer and reflected back by internal organs.

Digital Subtraction Angiography

Modified $3\text{-D}$ x-ray technique, abbreviated DSA, where an opaque medium is injected into blood vessels to view blockages or narrowing.

Computed Tomography

X-ray technique, abbreviated CT, where thin slices are reconstructed by a computer into a sharp $3\text{-D}$ image.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Imaging technique, abbreviated MRI, that uses a magnetic field to align hydrogen atom protons and detect alignment shifts for superior soft tissue visualization.

Positron Emission Tomography

Imaging technique, abbreviated PET, using radioactive glucose that emits positrons to measure tissue glucose metabolism and detect tissue damage or tumors.