Anatomy, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering basic human anatomy and physiology definitions, body systems, metabolic concepts, basic atomic chemistry, and macromolecules.

Anatomy

The scientific study of the body's structure or form.

Physiology

The study of the chemistry and physics of the body or function.

Cytology

The scientific study of cells.

Gross Anatomy

The examination of relatively large structures and features, usually visible with the unaided eye.

Microscopic Anatomy

The examination of body structures that cannot be seen without magnification.

Histology

The scientific study of tissues.

Integumentary System

An organ system comprising skin, hair, nails, and accessory structures that provides external support, protection, temperature regulation, and immune barrier functions.

Skeletal System

An organ system composed of bones, cartilage, and joints that provides internal support, organ protection, movement framework, blood cell formation, and mineral storage.

Muscular System

An organ system consisting of skeletal muscles and tendons that functions in locomotion, support, and body heat production.

Nervous System

An organ system made up of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves that detects sensory information and coordinates responses across other systems.

Endocrine System

An organ system composed of hormone-secreting glands that secretes hormones to act as signals regulating various body processes.

Circulatory System

An organ system consisting of the heart, blood, and blood vessels that transports nutrients and wastes while maintaining body temperature homeostasis.

Lymphatic and Immune System

An organ system including lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and vessels that returns extracellular fluid to blood, houses immune cells, and protects against disease.

Respiratory System

An organ system including the lungs, trachea, larynx, and nasal passages responsible for gas exchange ($\text{O}_2$ and $\text{CO}_2$) between air and blood.

Digestive System

An organ system responsible for the intake, breakdown, and absorption of food, nutrients, and water, as well as the elimination of feces.

Urinary System

An organ system comprising kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra that controls water balance, filters nitrogenous wastes, and regulates pH and electrolytes.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes in the body involving the breaking and building of molecular bonds.

Catabolism

A metabolic pathway that breaks down chemical bonds and releases energy.

Anabolism

A metabolic pathway that builds chemical bonds and requires energy input.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of an internal steady state that keeps body conditions within a specific, normal set range.

Negative Feedback

A homeostatic control mechanism that reverses a deviation and brings a physiological variable back to its normal set point.

Positive Feedback

A physiological feedback mechanism where the outcome amplifies or accelerates the ongoing process.

Diaphragm

The muscular structural barrier that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Anatomical Position

A standardized body posture standing upright with feet shoulder-width, parallel, toes forward, and upper limbs at the sides with palms facing forward.

Isotopes

Varieties of an element that differ only in their number of neutrons, altering atomic weight while sharing chemical properties due to equal valence electrons.

Proton

A subatomic particle in the atomic nucleus with a single positive charge ($+1$) and a mass of approximately $1\,\text{amu}$.

Neutron

A subatomic particle in the atomic nucleus with no electrical charge ($0$) and a mass of approximately $1\,\text{amu}$.

Electron

A subatomic particle orbiting in electron clouds with a single negative charge ($-1$) and very low mass.

Valence Electrons

Electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom that determine its chemical bonding properties.

Cation

An atom or molecule that carries a positive electrical charge.

Anion

An atom or molecule that carries a negative electrical charge.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms donate or gain electrons, resulting in electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share pairs of electrons to achieve a stable outer shell.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two monomers are covalently linked by removing a hydroxyl group ($\text{OH}$) and a hydrogen atom ($\text{H}$), forming water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$) as a byproduct.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that splits covalent bonds between monomers by adding a water molecule ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$) as a hydrogen atom ($\text{H}$) and hydroxyl group ($\text{OH}$).

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Substrate

The specific chemical substance or molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Acid

A chemical compound that acts as a proton donor, releasing hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$) in aqueous solutions.

Base

A chemical compound that acts as a proton acceptor, taking up hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$) or releasing hydroxyl ions ($\text{OH}^-$) in solution.

Buffer

A chemical solution that resists changes in pH, helping maintain stable physiological hydrogen ion concentrations.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide used for energy storage in human liver, muscle, brain, uterus, and vagina cells.

Starch

A plant-derived polysaccharide energy storage molecule that is digestible by humans.

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls that serves as indigestible dietary fiber for humans.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid chain containing only single carbon bonds, creating a straight molecular structure.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid chain containing one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, producing a kinked molecular structure.

Cholesterol

The primary ring-shaped steroid from which other steroids are synthesized, essential for cell membrane integrity and nervous system function.

Primary Protein Structure

The specific linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain encoded by genetic information.

Secondary Protein Structure

The local coiling or folding of a polypeptide chain (such as an alpha helix or beta sheet) held together by hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary Protein Structure

The overall three-dimensional shape of a protein (globular or fibrous) produced by hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions and van der Waals forces.

Quaternary Protein Structure

The structural level occurring when two or more distinct polypeptide chains combine to form a functional complex.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary cellular energy currency, consisting of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups linked by high-energy bonds.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

A double-stranded nucleic acid containing deoxyribose sugar and bases A, T, C, G that encodes instructions for protein synthesis.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A single-stranded nucleic acid containing ribose sugar and bases A, U, C, G that executes genetic instructions to assemble amino acids.