Chapter 01 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards for vocabulary review.

Anatomy

The study of the structure/morphology 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 chemicals (hydrogen, carbon)

Molecule

particles consisting of atoms joined together (water, glucose)

Macromolecule

large particles consisting of molecules (DNA, protein)

Organelle

functional part of a cell (mitochondrion, lysosome)

Cell

basic unit of structure and functions (muscle, nerve, or blood cell)

Tissue

layer or mass of cells with specific function (adipose or epithelial tissue)

Organ

group of different tissues with a function (heart, kidney, stomach)

Organ System

group of organs with common function (digestive system)

Organism

composed of interacting organ systems (human)

Ultrasound

High-frequency sound waves that provide images of soft internal structures; used to obtain sonogram of fetus in the uterus.

Magnetic Resonance Scan (MR)

Magnetic field changes alignment and spin of certain types of atoms; provides high-resolution images of internal structures, such as the brain.

The cell

All living things consist of cells

Internal environment

Environment within body

Homeostasis

Maintenance of constant internal environment

Interdependency of cells

Cells depend on each other

Structure and Function

Interrelated

Cellular differentiation

Specialization of cells due to gene expression

Feedback loops

Homeostatic mechanisms for stability

Growth

Increase in cell number and size and increase in body size

Reproduction

Production of new cells and organisms

Responsiveness

Reaction to a change inside or outside of the body

Movement

Change in body position or location; motion of internal organs

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions in a living system: Energy production and nutrient cycling

Respiration

Making energy. Most organisms do it by taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide

Digestion

Breaking down food into usable nutrients for absorption into the blood

Circulation

Moving chemicals and cells through the body fluids

Excretion

Removing waste products

Water

Most abundant substance in body and an environment for metabolic processes

Food

Provides necessary nutrients to supply energy

Oxygen

Releases energy from food

Heat

Form of energy that helps maintain body temperature and partly controls rate of metabolic reactions

Pressure

Application of force on an object that is important for breathing and keeps blood flowing

Homeostatic Mechanisms

Self-regulating systems that monitor aspects of the internal environment and correct them as needed.

Receptor

Detects and provides information about the stimuli

Control Center

Decision-maker that maintains the set point

Effector

Muscle or gland that responds to the control center, and causes the necessary change in the internal environment

Negative Feedback

Effectors return conditions toward normal range, and the deviation from set point lessens

Positive Feedback

The change/deviation is intensified, instead of reversed

Axial portion

head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular portion

upper and lower limbs

Cranial cavity

houses brain

Vertebral canal (spinal cavity)

contains spinal cord

Thoracic cavity

houses lungs and thoracic viscera

Abdominopelvic cavity

contains abdominal and pelvic viscera

Diaphragm

muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Mediastinum

region between lungs in thoracic cavity, which contains heart, esophagus, trachea, thymus gland

Abdominal cavity

extends from diaphragm to top of pelvis, and contains stomach, liver, spleen, kidneys small intestine, most of large intestine

Pelvic cavity

enclosed by pelvic bones, and contains end of large intestine, urinary bladder, internal reproductive organs

Visceral layer

inner layer

Parietal layer

outer layer

Sagittal section

longitudinal cut that divides body into left and right portions

Mid-sagittal/Median section

divides body into equal left and right portions

Parasagittal section

sagittal section lateral to midline; divides body into unequal left and right portions

Transverse or Horizontal section

divides body into superior and inferior portions

Coronal or Frontal section

longitudinal cut that divides body into anterior and posterior portions

Cross section

A cut across the structure

Oblique section

An angular cut

Longitudinal section

A lengthwise cut

Epigastric

upper middle portion

Hypochondriac

on right and left sides of epigastric region

Umbilical

central portion

Lateral (lumbar)

on right and left sides of umbilical region

Pubic (hypogastric)

lower middle portion

Inguinal (iliac)

on right and left sides of pubic region