Chapter 1-7: Overview of Body Systems and Tissues

A set of question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from body systems, tissues, skin, skeletal and muscular systems, nervous and endocrine systems, and the cardiovascular system as described in the notes.

What is a body system?

A group of organs and tissues that work together to perform a specific functional function essential for the body's survival and health.

How many body systems are in the human body?

11 body systems.

Do body systems interact with other systems?

Yes. They all interact with other systems to accomplish bodily functions.

What are the four main tissue types?

Connective tissue, muscular tissue, nervous tissue, and epithelial tissue.

What are the general functions of epithelial tissue?

Covers body surfaces and lines cavities; forms glands; functions in protection, secretion, absorption, and filtration.

What is the primary role of connective tissue?

Supports, protects, and binds other tissues; stores energy (fat); transports substances (blood); includes bone, cartilage, and blood.

What are the main functions of muscular tissue?

Specialized for contraction, producing movement, maintaining posture, and generating heat.

What is the primary function of nervous tissue?

Transmits electrical signals to control body activities; found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Which tissue type forms the epidermis?

Epithelial tissue.

Which tissue makes up the epidermis?

Epithelial tissue.

What are the main functions of the integumentary system?

Protection of the internal environment, temperature regulation, and sensation.

What are the two main layers of the skin?

Epidermis and dermis.

Name the two main epidermal layers discussed.

Stratum basale (base layer) and stratum corneum (horny, outer layer).

What is the stratum corneum composed of?

20–30 layers of dead keratinocytes filled with keratin.

Do epidermal cells have a blood supply?

No. The epidermis is avascular.

Which cells produce melanin?

Melanocytes.

What is the role of melanin?

Protects the nucleus from UV light; skin color depends on amount and distribution of melanin.

What are Langerhans (dendritic) cells?

Dendritic cells in the epidermis that digest foreign substances and activate the immune system.

What are Merkel (tactile) cells?

Disc-like cells at the epidermis-dermis junction that connect to sensory nerves for touch.

What do keratinocytes do?

Produce keratin; form a protective barrier; are involved in vitamin D production.

What is the role of hair in humans?

Protective structure; helps detect insects and protect against trauma; air on the head helps insulation and sun protection.

What are sebaceous glands and sebum?

Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, an oily substance that lubricates hair/skin and contains bactericides.

What is the dermis made of?

Dense, irregular connective tissue with collagen and elastic fibers; contains blood vessels and nerves.

What is the hypodermis?

Loose adipose connective tissue beneath the dermis; attaches skin to deeper structures and provides energy storage, insulation, and shock absorption.

What components are included in the skeletal system besides bones?

Cartilage and ligaments.

Name the three main types of cartilage and a key feature of each.

Hyaline cartilage (glassy, reduces friction at joints), elastic cartilage (more flexible, found in ear and epiglottis), fibrocartilage (highly compressible, strong tensile strength, found in menisci and intervertebral discs).

What are ligaments?

Dense regular connective tissue that binds bones at joints and helps stabilize them.

What are the main functions of bones?

Provide a frame, protect soft tissues, anchor muscles as levers, store minerals (calcium, phosphate), produce blood cells (hematopoiesis in red marrow), store fat (yellow marrow), and contribute to glucose homeostasis via osteocalcin.

What are the three layers of the heart wall?

Pericardium (outer connective tissue), Myocardium (muscular middle), Endocardium (inner epithelial lining).

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the CNS, including cranial and spinal nerves).

What are the three functional parts of the nervous system activity?

Sensory input (afferent), integration, and motor output (efferent).

How are the peripheral nerves organized in terms of connective tissue coverings?

Endoneurium around each axon, perineurium around fascicles, and epineurium around the whole nerve.

What are the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system and their general roles?

Sympathetic (fight or flight) and Parasympathetic (rest and digest).

What hormones are associated with the hypothalamus-pituitary axis as discussed here?

Oxytocin (uterine contractions and milk ejection), Growth Hormone (growth), and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which regulates thyroid hormone release.

What gland regulates circadian rhythm and sleep?

Pineal gland.

What hormones regulate the thyroid and calcium balance?

Thyroid gland regulates metabolism and temperature; Parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels.

What are the four main tissue types?

Connective tissue, muscular tissue, nervous tissue, and epithelial tissue.

What are the general functions of epithelial tissue?

Covers body surfaces and lines cavities; forms glands; functions in protection, secretion, absorption, and filtration.

Where is epithelial tissue typically found in the body?

It covers body surfaces (like the epidermis), lines body cavities and hollow organs (e.g., digestive tract, respiratory tract, blood vessels, urinary tract), and forms glands (e.g., sweat glands, salivary glands).

What is the primary role of connective tissue?

Supports, protects, and binds other tissues; stores energy (fat); transports substances (blood); includes bone, cartilage, and blood.

What are some examples of where connective tissue is found?

It is widespread, found as bone, cartilage, blood, tendons and ligaments, the dermis of the skin, and adipose (fat) tissue that underlies the skin and surrounds organs.

What are the main functions of muscular tissue?

Specialized for contraction, producing movement, maintaining posture, and generating heat.

What are the three types of muscular tissue and where are they located?

1. Skeletal muscle: Attached to bones, responsible for voluntary movement (e.g., biceps, quadriceps).
2. Cardiac muscle: Found only in the walls of the heart, responsible for rhythmic involuntary contractions that pump blood.
3. Smooth muscle: Found in the walls of internal organs (e.g., digestive tract, blood vessels, airways, bladder), responsible for involuntary movements like peristalsis and blood pressure regulation.

What is the primary function of nervous tissue?

Transmits electrical signals to control body activities; found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Which tissue type forms the epidermis?

Epithelial tissue.

Which tissue makes up the epidermis?

Epithelial tissue.

What are the main functions of the integumentary system?

Protection of the internal environment, temperature regulation, and sensation.

What are the two main layers of the skin?

Epidermis and dermis.

Name the two main epidermal layers discussed.

Stratum basale (base layer) and stratum corneum (horny, outer layer).

What is the stratum corneum composed of?

20–30 layers of dead keratinocytes filled with keratin.

Do epidermal cells have a blood supply?

No. The epidermis is avascular.

Which cells produce melanin?

Melanocytes.

What is the role of melanin?

Protects the nucleus from UV light; skin color depends on amount and distribution of melanin.

What are Langerhans (dendritic) cells?

Dendritic cells in the epidermis that digest foreign substances and activate the immune system.

What are Merkel (tactile) cells?

Disc-like cells at the epidermis-dermis junction that connect to sensory nerves for touch.

What do keratinocytes do?

Produce keratin; form a protective barrier; are involved in vitamin D production.

What is the role of hair in humans?

Protective structure; helps detect insects and protect against trauma; air on the head helps insulation and sun protection.

What are sebaceous glands and sebum?

Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, an oily substance that lubricates hair/skin and contains bactericides.

What is the dermis made of?

Dense, irregular connective tissue with collagen and elastic fibers; contains blood vessels and nerves.

What is the hypodermis?

Loose adipose connective tissue beneath the dermis; attaches skin to deeper structures and provides energy storage, insulation, and shock absorption.

What components are included in the skeletal system besides bones?

Cartilage and ligaments.

Name the three main types of cartilage and a key feature of each.

Hyaline cartilage (glassy, reduces friction at joints), elastic cartilage (more flexible, found in ear and epiglottis), fibrocartilage (highly compressible, strong tensile strength, found in menisci and intervertebral discs).

What are ligaments?

Dense regular connective tissue that binds bones at joints and helps stabilize them.

What are the main functions of bones?

Provide a frame, protect soft tissues, anchor muscles as levers, store minerals (calcium, phosphate), produce blood cells (hematopoiesis in red marrow), store fat (yellow marrow), and contribute to glucose homeostasis via osteocalcin.

What are the three layers of the heart wall?

Pericardium (outer connective tissue), Myocardium (muscular middle), Endocardium (inner epithelial lining).

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the CNS, including cranial and spinal nerves).

What are the three functional parts of the nervous system activity?

Sensory input (afferent), integration, and motor output (efferent).

How are the peripheral nerves organized in terms of connective tissue coverings?

Endoneurium around each axon, perineurium around fascicles, and epineurium around the whole nerve.

What are the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system and their general roles?

Sympathetic (fight or flight) and Parasympathetic (rest and digest).

What hormones are associated with the hypothalamus-pituitary axis as discussed here?

Oxytocin (uterine contractions and milk ejection), Growth Hormone (growth), and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which regulates thyroid hormone release.

What gland regulates circadian rhythm and sleep?

Pineal gland.

What hormones regulate the thyroid and calcium balance?

Thyroid gland regulates metabolism and temperature; Parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels.