Anatomy & Physiology Lecture Review

Flashcards covering basic concepts of Anatomy & Physiology, including body organization, organ systems, directional terms, body cavities, tissues, and the integumentary system.

Anatomy

The study of body structure.

Physiology

The study of dynamic processes in a living body.

Pathology

The study of disease.

Pathophysiology

The study of the function of disease when homeostatic control fails.

Histology

The study of the microscopic structure of tissues and organs.

Cytology (cell biology)

The study of cellular structure and function.

Embryology

The study of prenatal development.

Chemical (molecular) level

Atoms combining to form molecules, then macromolecules, which make up organelles and cells.

Cellular level

The smallest unit of an organism that carries out all basic functions of life, enclosed in a plasma membrane.

Tissue level

A group of similar cells and cell products (epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous).

Organ level

Composed of two or more tissue types that carry out a particular function (e.g., heart, skin).

Organ system level

A group of organs that carry out a basic function (e.g., circulation, digestion), with 11 major systems.

Organism level

Formed by a group of organ systems working together.

Immune System

Composed of physical barriers, immune cells, and antimicrobial proteins that destroy pathogens before they cause disease.

Integumentary system

Provides protection, water retention, thermoregulation, Vitamin D synthesis, cutaneous sensation, and nonverbal communication (e.g., skin, hair, nails).

Skeletal system

Provides support, movement, protective enclosure for viscera, forms blood, stores minerals, and balances electrolytes and acid-base (e.g., bones, cartilages, ligaments).

Muscular system

Responsible for movement, stability, communication, control of body openings, and heat production (e.g., skeletal muscles).

Nervous system

Facilitates rapid internal communication, coordination, motor control, and sensation (e.g., brain, spinal cord, nerves).

Digestive system

Breaks down nutrients and absorbs them, with the liver performing metabolism and detoxification (e.g., stomach, intestines, liver).

Endocrine system

Produces hormones for internal chemical communication and coordination (e.g., testes, ovaries, pituitary gland).

Respiratory system

Absorbs oxygen, discharges CO2, helps maintain acid-base balance, and facilitates speech (e.g., nose, lungs).

Cardiovascular system

Distributes nutrients, oxygen, wastes, hormones, electrolytes, heat, and immune cells throughout the body (e.g., heart, blood vessels).

Urinary system

Eliminates waste, regulates blood volume and pressure, stimulates RBC formation, and controls fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance (e.g., kidneys, bladder).

Lymphatic system

Recovers excess tissue fluid, detects pathogens, produces immune cells, and defends against diseases (e.g., lymph nodes, spleen).

Reproductive system (Male)

Produces and delivers sperm and secretes sex hormones (e.g., testes, penis).

Reproductive system (Female)

Produces eggs, is the site of fertilization and fetal development, facilitates birth and lactation, and secretes sex hormones (e.g., ovaries, uterus).

Anatomical position

Standing upright, head and face forward, feet shoulder-width apart, arms at sides with palms facing forward and thumbs out.

Sagittal Plane

A directional plane that divides the body into left and right portions.

Frontal (coronal) Plane

A directional plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse Plane

A directional plane that divides the body horizontally into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Superior

Toward the head or upper part of a structure or body; above.

Inferior

Toward the feet or toward the lower part of a structure or body; below.

Anterior or Ventral

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Posterior or Dorsal

Toward or at the backside of the body; behind.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side.

Proximal

Close to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk; closer to the torso.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk; further from the torso.

Superficial

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Dorsal Cavity

One of the two major body cavities, subdivided into the cranial and vertebral cavities.

Ventral Cavity

One of the two major body cavities, subdivided into the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Cranial cavity

A subdivision of the dorsal body cavity, containing the brain.

Vertebral cavity

A subdivision of the dorsal body cavity, containing the spinal cord.

Thoracic cavity

A subdivision of the ventral body cavity, containing the lungs, heart, esophagus, and trachea.

Abdominopelvic cavity

A subdivision of the ventral body cavity, containing digestive organs, spleen, kidneys, bladder, and reproductive organs.

Diaphragm

A muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities; crucial for breathing.

R. & L. Hypochondriac regions

The upper outer regions of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Epigastric region

The upper central region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

R. & L. Lumbar regions

The middle outer regions of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Umbilical region

The middle central region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

R. & L. Inguinal (iliac) regions

The lower outer regions of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Hypogastric region

The lower central region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

One of the four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity, containing parts of the liver, gallbladder, and right kidney.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

One of the four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity, containing parts of the stomach, spleen, left liver, body of pancreas, left kidney and transverse and descending colon.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

One of the four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity, containing the appendix and parts of the small and large intestines.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

One of the four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity, containing parts of the sigmoid colon and small intestine.

Abdominal region

A region of the body referring to the abdomen.

Acromial region

A region of the body referring to the shoulder.

Antebrachial region

A region of the body referring to the forearm.

Antecubital region

A region of the body referring to the front of the elbow.

Axillary region

A region of the body referring to the armpit.

Brachial region

A region of the body referring to the arm (upper arm).

Buccal region

A region of the body referring to the cheek.

Carpal region

A region of the body referring to the wrist.

Calcaneal region

A region of the body referring to the heel.

Cephalic region

A region of the body referring to the head.

Cervical region

A region of the body referring to the neck.

Coxal region

A region of the body referring to the hip.

Cranial region

A region of the body referring to the skull.

Crural region

A region of the body referring to the leg (shin).

Cubital region

A region of the body referring to the elbow.

Cutaneous region

A region of the body referring to the skin.

Deltoid region

A region of the body referring to the deltoid muscle area of the shoulder.

Digital region

A region of the body referring to the fingers or toes.

Facial region

A region of the body referring to the face.

Femoral region

A region of the body referring to the thigh.

Frontal region

A region of the body referring to the forehead.

Gluteal region

A region of the body referring to the buttock.

Inguinal region

A region of the body referring to the groin.

Lumbar region

A region of the body referring to the lower back.

Mammary region

A region of the body referring to the breast.

Manual region

A region of the body referring to the hand.

Mental region

A region of the body referring to the chin.

Occipital region

A region of the body referring to the back of the head.

Olecranal region

A region of the body referring to the back of the elbow.

Oral region

A region of the body referring to the mouth.

Orbital region

A region of the body referring to the eye.

Nasal region

A region of the body referring to the nose.

Palmar region

A region of the body referring to the palm of the hand.

Patellar region

A region of the body referring to the kneecap.

Pedal region

A region of the body referring to the foot.

Pelvic region

A region of the body referring to the pelvis.

Perineal region

A region of the body referring to the perineum.

Plantar region

A region of the body referring to the sole of the foot.

Popliteal region

A region of the body referring to the back of the knee.

Pubic region

A region of the body referring to the pubic area.

Sacral region

A region of the body referring to the sacrum or lower back.

Scapular region

A region of the body referring to the shoulder blade.