ANPH 111 Anatomy and Physiology — Week 1 Fundamentals

Flashcards covering Week 1 basics of anatomy and physiology, including definitions, organizational levels, life processes, homeostasis, body positioning, directional terms, body regions, planes, cavities, serous membranes, and foundational terminology.

What does the study of anatomy focus on?

Anatomy is the scientific discipline that investigates the structure of the body, including the organization and relationships of its parts.

What is physiology?

The science of body functions and processes; how living systems perform and regulate functions to maintain homeostasis.

What are the six structural levels of organization in the human body?

Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, and organism.

Name the eleven organ systems and their general purpose.

Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic/Immunity, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive systems; collectively they maintain structure, function, and homeostasis.

List the six characteristics of life.

Organization, metabolism, responsiveness, growth, development, and reproduction.

Define homeostasis.

The body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite changes in the external or internal environment.

What is a negative feedback mechanism? Provide an example.

A feedback loop that reverses a change to keep the system near a set point (e.g., regulation of blood pressure).

What is a positive feedback mechanism? Provide an example.

A feedback loop that strengthens a change in the controlled condition (e.g., childbirth with oxytocin-induced contractions).

What is the anatomical position?

An upright stance with the head level, eyes forward, feet on the floor directed forward, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward.

Name common directional terms and their purpose.

Terms describe relative positions (e.g., anterior/posterior, superior/inferior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep) and are often opposite pairs.

What are the major body regions and terms for the trunk, upper limb, and lower limb?

Trunk: head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis; Upper limb: arm, forearm, wrist, hand; Lower limb: thigh, leg, ankle, foot.

What are abdominal regions and quadrants used for?

Subdivision of the abdomen to locate organs; quadrants divide into four, regions into nine; some organs span multiple regions.

What are the planes of the body?

Sagittal (left-right), frontal/cfronal (anterior-posterior), transverse (superior-inferior); oblique is at an angle.

Define longitudinal, transverse, and oblique sections.

Longitudinal: along the long axis; transverse: a cross-section perpendicular to the long axis; oblique: at an angle other than 90 degrees.

What are body cavities and the major dorsal and ventral cavities?

Dorsal cavity (cranial and vertebral); ventral cavity (thoracic and abdominopelvic) subdivided into serous cavities like pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal.

What are serous membranes and their function?

Membranes lining trunk cavities and covering organs; they secrete serous fluid to lubricate surfaces and reduce friction; consists of parietal and visceral layers.

What does retroperitoneal mean, and give examples of retroperitoneal organs?

Located behind the peritoneum; examples include kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, portions of the intestine, and urinary bladder.

What are the four primary tissue types?

Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nerve (nervous) tissue.

What is metabolism?

All chemical reactions in an organism; includes breaking down nutrients for energy and building new molecules.

What is differentiation in development?

A process where generalized cells become specialized cell types, forming tissues and organs.

What are the components of a homeostatic control system?

Receptor (monitors condition), control center (processes input and sets a response), and effector (carries out the response).

What is a set point in homeostasis?

The desired value or range for a controlled condition that the system strives to maintain.

What is surface anatomy vs anatomical imaging?

Surface anatomy studies external features; anatomical imaging uses tools like ultrasound and X-rays to view internal structures.

What are the key differences between systemic and regional anatomy approaches?

Systemic anatomy studies body systems as a whole (e.g., cardiovascular system); regional anatomy examines specific areas (e.g., head, abdomen) and their interrelationships.

What are mesenteries and retroperitoneal regions?

Mesenteries are peritoneal folds that support abdominal organs and convey blood vessels/nerves; retroperitoneal organs lie behind the peritoneum (e.g., kidneys, portions of the intestine, pancreas).