Anatomy and Physiology 1 Starter Pack

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering basic anatomical terminology, body organization, homeostasis, organ systems, and tissue types for A&P 1.

Anatomy

The study of the body's structures, focusing on what body parts are and where they are located.

Physiology

The study of the body's functions, focusing on what body parts do and how they work together to keep the body alive.

Chemical Level

The smallest building blocks of the body, consisting of atoms and molecules like water, glucose, and proteins.

Cellular Level

The basic units of life; examples include muscle cells, neurons, and red blood cells.

Tissue Level

Groups of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function, such as nervous, muscle, or connective tissue.

Organ Level

Structures made of two or more different types of tissues working together to perform a specific job, such as the heart or stomach.

Organ System Level

Groups of organs that work together to carry out major functions, such as the cardiovascular or respiratory systems.

Organism Level

The complete living individual where all organ systems work together to maintain life.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment, such as temperature and blood pH, even when the outside environment changes.

Stimulus

A change that occurs outside the normal range, such as high blood sugar or high body temperature.

Receptor

A component of the control system that detects a change in the body, such as thermoreceptors or nerve endings.

Control Center

The component that processes information and determines the response; examples include the brain, spinal cord, and endocrine glands.

Effector

A muscle or gland that carries out the response determined by the control center to return the body to homeostasis.

Negative Feedback Loop

The most common feedback mechanism that maintains homeostasis by reversing the original change to return the body to its normal range.

Positive Feedback Loop

A less common feedback mechanism that amplifies and reinforces the original change until a specific endpoint is reached.

Oxytocin

A hormone released during childbirth that causes the uterus to contract as part of a positive feedback loop.

Anatomical Position

A universal reference position where the person is standing upright, eyes and head facing forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward, and thumbs pointing outward.

Sagittal Plane

A flat surface that divides the body into right and left portions.

Midsagittal Plane

A plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves.

Frontal Plane

Also known as the coronal plane, it divides the body into front and back halves.

Transverse Plane

A plane that divides the body into top (upper) and bottom (lower) halves.

Superior

A directional term meaning above another body part.

Inferior

A directional term meaning below another body part.

Lateral

Farther from the body's midline.

Medial

Closer to the body's midline.

Proximal

Closer to the trunk or point of attachment.

Distal

Farther from the trunk or point of attachment.

Cranial

Toward the head.

Caudal

Toward the tail or coccyx.

Deep

Farther from the body's surface.

Superficial

Closer to the body's surface.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Dorsal Body Cavity

The workspace that protects the brain (cranial cavity) and spinal cord (vertebral cavity).

Ventral Body Cavity

Contains the thoracic cavity (lungs and heart) and the abdominopelvic cavity (digestive and reproductive organs).

Mediastinum

The center of the chest within the thoracic cavity.

Integumentary System

Protects the body and regulates temperature; includes skin, hair, nails, and sweat glands.

Skeletal System

Supports the body, protects organs, and produces blood cells; includes bones and cartilage.

Endocrine System

Uses hormones to regulate body functions over time; includes the pituitary and thyroid glands.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue that covers and lines body surfaces and cavities; helps with protection, absorption, and secretion.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that supports, connects, and binds other tissues together; examples include bone, blood, and fat.

Active Recall

An effective study method of forcing the brain to retrieve information, such as quizzing labels or explaining concepts out loud.