ANTH 1105 Introduction to Biological Anthropology - Chapter 2 Flashcards

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts from Chapter 2 of the ANTH 1105 Introduction to Biological Anthropology lecture notes.

Androgens

A group of hormones that play a role in male traits and reproductive activity.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics or traits of an organism.

Morphology

The study of the form and structure of organisms.

Physiology

The branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.

Animalia

A major group of organisms that are eukaryotic, multicellular, and heterotrophic.

Mammalia

A class of animals that are warm-blooded and have hair or fur and mammary glands.

Primates

An order of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys, and prosimians.

Simiiformes

Also known as anthropoids, a suborder of primates that includes monkeys, apes, and humans.

Hominidae

The biological family that includes modern humans and our closest relatives.

Homo sapiens

The species name for modern humans.

Anthropomorphize

To attribute human characteristics to non-human entities.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms.

Ancestral vs derived traits

Ancestral traits are inherited from distant ancestors, while derived traits are evolved characteristics that differ from the ancestral form.

Molecular data

Genetic information used to analyze relationships between organisms.

Epithelial tissue

A type of tissue that forms protective layers on body surfaces and lines cavities.

Connective tissue

A type of tissue that supports, binds together, and protects tissues and organs.

Muscle tissue

Tissue that provides the ability to contract, with types including smooth, skeletal, and cardiac.

Tendons

Fibrous connective tissue that connects muscles to bones.

Ligaments

Fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones.

Skull

The bony structure that encases the brain.

Foramen magnum

The large opening in the base of the skull for the spinal cord.

Dental formula

A notation that indicates the number of each type of tooth in an animal's mouth.

Vertebral column

The series of vertebrae that makes up the backbone.

Cervical vertebrae

The set of seven vertebrae that form the neck region.

Thoracic vertebrae

The twelve vertebrae in the upper and middle back.

Lumbar vertebrae

The five vertebrae in the lower back.

Hyoid

A U-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue.

Os coxae

A set of bones that make up the hip.

Sacrum

The triangular bone at the base of the spine, formed by the fusion of vertebrae.

Shoulder girdle

The structure that connects the arm to the body, including the clavicle and scapula.

Humerus

The bone of the upper arm.

Radius

One of the two bones in the forearm, located on the thumb side.

Ulna

The other bone in the forearm, located on the little finger side.

Carpals

The eight wrist bones.

Metacarpals

The five bones in the hand.

Phalanges

The bones of the fingers and toes.

Femur

The thigh bone, the longest bone in the human body.

Tibia

The larger of the two bones in the lower leg.

Fibula

The smaller bone of the lower leg.

Tarsals

The seven ankle bones.

Metatarsals

The five bones in the foot.

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

Cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.

White blood cells (leukocytes)

Cells of the immune system that protect the body against infection.

Endocrine glands

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses throughout the body.

Central nervous system

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system

The part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord.

Hormones

Chemical messengers that regulate physiological processes.

Steroids

A class of hormones derived from cholesterol that often have anti-inflammatory effects.

Amino acid hormones

Hormones made up of amino acids that regulate a variety of physiological functions.

Chyme

The semi-fluid mass of partially digested food expelled by the stomach into the small intestine.

Placentals

Mammals that give birth to live young and have a complex placenta.

Mammary glands

Glands that produce milk in female mammals for feeding their young.