Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture notes covering anatomy, physiology, levels of biological organization, organ systems, and homeostatic regulation mechanisms.

Anatomy

The study of internal or external structures and the relationship among body parts (derived from words meaning to 'cut up' or dissect).

Physiology

The study of how living organisms perform their vital functions.

Structure and Function Relationship

A key concept in physiology stating that all specific physiological functions are performed by specific anatomical structures.

Chemical Level

The simplest level of structural organization where individual atoms (such as hydrogen and oxygen) combine to form molecules (such as water).

Cellular Level

The level of organization where complex molecules combine to form organelles, cell fluid, and the structural components of cells.

Tissue Level

The level of organization where similar specialized cells combine to perform a specific function (e.g., smooth muscle tissue).

Organ Level

The level of organization where two or more different tissue types combine to form a distinct structure with specific functions (e.g., the urinary bladder).

Organ System Level

The level of organization where organs interact and work together to accomplish a shared function (e.g., the urinary tract system).

Organismal Level

The highest level of structural organization, comprising all organ systems working together to maintain life and health in an individual.

Integumentary System

An organ system composed of skin, hair, and nails that encloses internal body structures and serves as the site of many sensory receptors.

Skeletal System

An organ system consisting of bones, cartilage, and joints that supports the body and enables movement in coordination with the muscular system.

Muscular System

An organ system consisting of skeletal muscles and tendons that enables movement alongside the skeletal system and helps maintain body temperature.

Nervous System

An organ system comprising the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves that detects and processes sensory information and activates bodily responses.

Endocrine System

An organ system including the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries that secretes hormones and regulates bodily processes.

Cardiovascular System

An organ system consisting of the heart and blood vessels that delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues and equalizes temperature in the body.

Lymphatic System

An organ system consisting of the thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, and lymphatic vessels that returns fluid to the blood and defends against pathogens.

Respiratory System

An organ system consisting of nasal passages, trachea, and lungs that removes carbon dioxide from the body and delivers oxygen to the blood.

Digestive System

An organ system consisting of the stomach, liver, gall bladder, large intestine, and small intestine that processes food for use by the body and removes wastes from undigested food.

Urinary System

An organ system consisting of the kidneys and urinary bladder that controls water balance in the body, removes wastes from blood, and excretes them.

Male Reproductive System

An organ system consisting of the epididymis and testes that produces sex hormones and gametes and delivers gametes to the female.

Female Reproductive System

An organ system consisting of mammary glands, ovaries, and uterus that produces sex hormones and gametes, supports an embryo/fetus until birth, and produces milk for an infant.

Homeostasis

The existence and maintenance of a stable internal environment within an organism.

Homeostatic Regulation

The adjustment of physiological systems to preserve a stable internal environment.

Receptor (Homeostasis)

The sensor component of homeostatic regulation that detects changes or stimuli in the internal environment.

Control Center (Homeostasis)

The component of homeostatic regulation that receives and processes signals from the receptor and sends commands.

Effector (Homeostasis)

A cell or organ that responds to the commands of the control center to alter physiological activity.

Negative Feedback

The most common type of homeostatic regulatory control in which variations trigger a response that opposes the stimulus to correct the problem.

Positive Feedback

A feedback mechanism where a stimulus produces a response that enhances or increases the initial change, seldom occurring because it moves the body away from homeostasis.

Hypothalamus

The region of the brain that functions as the body's thermostat to regulate temperature.

Core Body Temperature

The internal body temperature maintained stable at approximately $37^\text{o}\text{C}$ ($98.6^\text{o}\text{F}$) via homeostatic regulation.

Vasoconstriction

A physiological response triggered when the body is too cold, in which blood vessels constrict to reduce heat flow to the skin.

Shivering

A physiological response triggered when the body is too cold, in which muscles contract rapidly to generate heat.

Vasodilation

A physiological response triggered when the body is too hot, in which blood vessels dilate to increase heat flow to the skin.

Sweating

A physiological response triggered when the body is too hot, in which the evaporation of sweat cools the skin.