The Human Body: Orientation, Organization, Terminology, Planes, Cavities, and Homeostasis

Vocabulary flashcards covering core topics: anatomical organization, organ systems and components, directional terms, body planes, cavities, serous membranes, quadrants, and homeostasis.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships.

Physiology

The study of the function of body parts and how they work together.

Chemical level

The lowest level of organization, consisting of atoms and molecules.

Cellular level

Level of organization that includes cells, the basic units of life.

Tissue level

Level of organization where groups of similar cells perform a common function.

Organ level

Level of organization where an organ is a structure composed of two or more tissue types.

System level

Level of organization where a group of organs work together for a common function.

Organismal level

Highest level of organization—the whole living being with all organ systems.

Integumentary System

Protects the body, regulates temperature, eliminates wastes, produces vitamin D, and detects sensation.

Skeletal System

Supports and protects; provides a framework for movement; stores minerals and lipids; produces blood cells.

Muscular System

Produces movements, maintains posture, and generates heat.

Nervous System

Regulates body activities; detects, interprets, and responds to perturbations.

Endocrine System

Regulates body activities through hormones transported in the blood.

Cardiovascular System

Heart pumps blood; transports O2, CO2, and nutrients; helps regulate body fluids and defense.

Respiratory System

Delivers O2 to cells and removes CO2; helps regulate body fluid acidity; enables sound.

Digestive System

Breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and excretes solid wastes.

Urinary System

Produces, stores, and eliminates urine; regulates blood volume/composition and mineral balance; RBC production regulation.

Reproductive System

Gonads produce gametes; release hormones; transport/store gametes; mammary glands produce milk.

Immune and Lymphatic System

Returns protein/fluid to blood; carries lipids from GI tract to blood; protects against harmful agents.

Homeostasis

Regulation of internal conditions to remain stable and relatively constant.

Negative feedback

Response counteracts the original stimulus to maintain homeostasis.

Positive feedback

Response enhances the original stimulus, leading to a greater change (e.g., childbirth).

Receptor

Structure that detects changes in a controlled variable.

Control center

Analyzes information and directs a response.

Effector

Structure that carries out the response commanded by the control center.

Anatomical position

Upright stance, facing observer, feet flat and forward, arms at sides with palms forward.

Prone

Lying face down.

Supine

Lying face up.

Cephalic region

Head region, including skull (cranial), face (facial), forehead (frontal), nose (nasal), and mouth (oral).

Cervical region

Neck region.

Trunk

Central body region including thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic areas.

Thoracic

Chest region of the trunk.

Abdominal

abdomen region of the trunk.

Pelvic

Pelvic region of the trunk.

Sternal

Breastbone region.

Mammary

Breast region.

Upper limb

Armpit (axillary) to hand (manual); includes brachial and antebrachial.

Lower limb

Leg region from hip to foot; includes femoral and crural.

Occipital

Base of the skull.

Scapular

Shoulder blade region.

Vertebral

Spinal column region.

Gluteal

Buttock region.

Planar terms: Midsagittal

Left and right portions divided by the midline into equal halves.

Planar terms: Parasagittal

Left and right portions divided unequally by a vertical plane.

Frontal plane

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse plane

Divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions.

Oblique plane

Divides the body at an angle.

Cranial cavity

Houses the brain.

Vertebral cavity

Contains the spinal cord and beginning of spinal nerves.

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity containing pleural, mediastinum, and pericardial subcavities.

Pleural cavity

Surrounds a lung.

Mediastinum

Central area of the thoracic cavity containing the heart and other structures.

Pericardial cavity

Surrounds the heart.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Contains abdominal and pelvic cavities; lined by the peritoneum.

Serous membranes

Thin, slippery double-layer membranes lining cavities and covering viscera; consist of parietal layer, visceral layer, and serous fluid.

Parietal layer

Lines the walls of the body cavities.

Visceral layer

Covers the viscera within the cavities.

Serous fluid

Lubricating fluid between parietal and visceral layers.

RUQ (Right Upper Quadrant)

Contains liver (right lobe), gallbladder, right kidney, portions of stomach/intestines.

LUQ (Left Upper Quadrant)

Contains left lobe of liver, stomach, pancreas, left kidney, spleen, portions of large intestine.

RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant)

Contains cecum, appendix, portions of small intestine, and reproductive organs (right ovary or right spermatic cord).

LLQ (Left Lower Quadrant)

Contains most of small intestine, portions of large intestine, left ureter, reproductive organs.