Major Themes of Anatomy and Physiology

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the major themes of Anatomy and Physiology, focusing on definitions and key concepts.

Anatomy

The study of structure and form in organisms.

Physiology

The study of function in organisms.

Homeostasis

The ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite changes in external conditions.

Negative Feedback

A mechanism that reverses a change, maintaining homeostasis by keeping variables close to a set point.

Positive Feedback

A self-amplifying cycle that leads to greater change in the same direction, often used in processes like childbirth.

Reductionism

The approach of understanding complex systems by studying their simpler components.

Holism

The viewpoint that observes emergent properties that arise from complex systems which cannot be predicted from the properties of individual parts alone.

Hierarchy of Complexity

The organization of human structure from the most complex (organism) to the simplest (atom).

Comparative Anatomy

The study of multiple species to gain insight into form, function, and evolution.

Eponym

A name derived from a person, often used in anatomical terminology.