The Human Body Flashcards

Flashcards based on Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, Twelfth Edition, Chapter 6: The Human Body

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body.

Physiology

The study of body function.

Pathophysiology

The study of functional changes that occur when the body reacts to disease.

Topographic Anatomy

Applies to a body in the anatomic position, patient stands facing you, arms at side, palms forward.

Coronal (frontal) plane

divides the body front/back

Sagittal (lateral) plane

divides the body left/right

Midsagittal (midline) plane

divides the body into equal left and right halves

Transverse (axial) plane

divides the body top/bottom

Cells

foundation of the human body

Tissues

cells that share a common function

Organs

groups of tissues that perform similar or interrelated jobs

Body systems

organs with similar function working together

Axial skeleton

Foundation to which the arms and legs are attached. Includes the skull, facial bones, thoracic cage, and vertebral column.

Appendicular skeleton

Arms, legs, their connection points, and pelvis; includes joints, upper extremities, pelvis, and lower extremities.

Ball-and-socket joint

Allows rotation and bending

Hinge joint

Motion restricted to flexion and extension

Spinal column

Composed of 33 bones (vertebrae) divided into 5 sections: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacrum, and Coccyx

Thorax

Formed by of 12 thoracic vertebrae and 12 pairs of ribs. Thoracic cavity contains the heart, lungs, esophagus and great vessels.

Pelvic girdle

consists of two coxae (hip bones), the sacrum, and the coccyx.

Femur

Longest bone in body Connects into the acetabulum (pelvic girdle) by a ball-and-socket joint

Tibia

Shinbone; anterior of leg

Fibula

Lateral side of leg

Skeletal System Physiology

Gives the body its shape, protects fragile organs, allows for movement, stores calcium, helps create blood cells

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary Muscle

Respiratory System

Structures of the body that contribute to respiration (the process of breathing)

Upper Airway

Includes the nose, mouth (oral cavity), tongue, jaw (mandible), larynx, pharynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx, trachea, and epiglottis

Lower Airway

Thyroid cartilage, Adam’s apple, Cricoid cartilage, Cricothyroid membrane, Trachea

Alveoli

Allow for gas exchange in the lungs

Pleura

A layer of smooth, glistening tissue that covers each lung and lines the chest cavity.

Diaphragm

Primary muscle of breathing

Inhalation

Diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, pressure in the thoracic cavity decreases, lungs fill with air. Active part of the respiratory cycle.

Exhalation

Diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, thoracic cavity returns to it normal shape and volume. Passive portion of the respiratory cycle.

Respiration

Is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli and tissues. Provides oxygen to the cells and removes waste carbon dioxide.

Diffusion

passive process in which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

Tidal volume

amount of air moved into or out of the lungs during a single breath

Residual volume

the gas that remains in the lungs to keep the lungs open

Dead space

the portion of the respiratory system that has no alveoli and where little or no exchange of gas between air and blood occurs

Minute volume

Respiratory rate × tidal volume

Systemic circulation

Circulation throughout the body

Pulmonary circulation

Circulation in the lungs

Atrium

Upper chamber of the heart

Ventricle

Lower chamber of the heart

Stroke volume (SV)

Amount of blood moved by one beat

Cardiac output (CO)

Amount of blood moved in 1 minute

Aorta

The main artery leaving the left side of the heart and carrying freshly oxygenated blood to the body.

Capillaries

Connect arterioles to venules; fine end divisions of arterial system. Allow contact between blood and cells.

Superior vena cava

Carries blood returning from the head, neck, shoulders, and upper extremities.

Inferior vena cava

Carries blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and lower extremities.

Spleen

Solid organ located under the rib cage; Filters blood; Particularly susceptible to injury from blunt trauma

Plasma

Liquid component of blood

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

Blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the body cells.

White blood cells (leukocytes)

Blood cells that are part of the body's defense system.

Platelets

Blood components that help with clotting

Systole

when the left ventricle of the heart contracts, it pumps blood from the ventricle into the aorta.

Diastole

when the muscle of the ventricle relaxes, the ventricle fills with blood.

Systolic blood pressure

High point of blood pressure wave

Diastolic blood pressure

Low point of blood pressure wave

Perfusion

circulation of blood in organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the needs of cells

Hypoperfusion

inadequate blood supply to organs, tissues, and cells

Sympathetic nervous system

responsible for fight-or-flight response. Sends commands to adrenal glands. Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) are secreted to stimulate heart and blood vessels.

Central nervous system (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

Nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord; divided into the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

Cerebrospinal fluid

Cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord

Somatic nervous system

Transmits signals from brain to voluntary muscles

Autonomic nervous system

Involuntary actions split into two areas: Sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) and Parasympathetic nervous system (slows body)

Epidermis

Superficial layer of the skin.

Dermis

Deeper layer of the skin.

Abdomen

The second major body cavity and contains major organs of digestion and excretion

Enzymes

Added to food in the digestive system by salivary glands, stomach, liver, pancreas, and small intestine

Lymphatic System

Supports the circulatory system and immune system

Endocrine System

Complex message and control system Integrates many body functions. Hormones are released directly into the bloodstream, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and insulin

Urinary System

Controls the discharge of certain waste materials filtered from the blood by the kidneys and controls fluid balance in the body.

Aerobic metabolism

uses oxygen

Anaerobic metabolism

Cells switch to this when oxygen is limited

Respiratory compromise

is the inability of the body to move gas effectively.

Hypoxia

Low oxygen levels

Hypercarbia

Increased carbon dioxide levels

Shock

Occurs when organs and tissue do not receive enough oxygen. Impaired oxygen delivery causes cellular hypoxia.