KINE 301 Chapter 1

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body

Physiology

The study of the function of the body, how structures work

Deconstructionist view

Approach that breaks an organism into component parts to understand function, limited because it cannot predict emergent properties

Emergent properties

Complex characteristics (like emotions) that cannot be predicted just by looking at an organism's individual parts

Teleological view

Approach to physiology focused on the "why," the purpose of a structure or process

Mechanistic view

Approach to physiology focused on the "how," the mechanism by which something works

Teleological example (RBCs)

Red blood cells transport oxygen because the cells of the body need it

Mechanistic example (RBCs)

Red blood cells transport oxygen via hemoglobin, which oxygen binds to

Bar graph

Graph type best used for distinct/categorical independent variables (e.g., favorite color survey)

Line graph

Graph type best used for a continuous independent variable (e.g., time), shows direct or inverse relationships

Scatter plot

Graph type used to show the relationship or trend between two variables

Independent variable

The variable being manipulated or changed, plotted on the x-axis

Dependent variable

The variable being measured in response to the independent variable, plotted on the y-axis

Why use animals in physiology research

Cheaper cost, genetically homogenous subjects, fewer ethical restrictions, and easier to control diet, exercise, and environment

Why use humans despite animal advantages

Small genetic variations between species can cause big differences in function, animal results don't always translate 100% to humans

Placebo effect

When a participant believes a treatment works, and so it produces the expected effect, even without active treatment

Nocebo effect

When a participant expects a negative side effect from a treatment, and so they experience it

Control group

Group used in human studies to account for and remove placebo and nocebo effects

Atom

Smallest unit of matter in the levels of organization

Molecule

Formed when atoms combine together, studied by chemistry

Chemistry

The study of atoms and molecules

Cell

Smallest unit of structure capable of carrying out all life processes, formed by molecules combining together

Tissue

Formed by a group of cells working together

Molecular biology

Scientific discipline concerned with molecules

Cell biology

Scientific discipline concerned with cells

Organ

Formed by tissues working together

Organ system

Formed by organs working together

Organism

Formed by all organ systems working together

Levels of organization (order)

Atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism

Life process 1

Living things require energy

Life process 2

Living things respond to stimuli

Life process 3

Living things grow

Life process 4

Living things reproduce

Life process 5

Living things maintain homeostasis

Circulatory system

Organ system including the heart and blood vessels, transports materials between all cells of the body

Digestive system

Organ system including the stomach, intestine, liver, and pancreas, converts food into transportable particles and eliminates some wastes

Endocrine system

Organ system including the thyroid and adrenal glands, coordinates body function via hormones

Immune system

Organ system including the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes, defends against foreign invaders

Integumentary system

Organ system consisting of the skin, protects from the external environment

Musculoskeletal system

Organ system including skeletal muscles and bones, provides support and movement

Nervous system

Organ system including the brain and spinal cord, coordinates body function through electrical signals and regulatory molecules

Reproductive system

Organ system including the ovaries/uterus and testes, perpetuates the species

Respiratory system

Organ system including the lungs and airways, exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between internal and external environments

Urinary system

Organ system including the kidneys and bladder, maintains water/solute balance and removes waste

Structure/function relationship (key theme)

Key theme in physiology involving compartmentation, molecular interactions, and mechanical properties of cells, tissues, and organs

Biological energy use (key theme)

Key theme describing how energy flows through an organism and its organ systems

Communication (key theme)

Key theme describing how information flows through body systems to coordinate function

Homeostasis (key theme)

Key theme describing the maintenance of internal stability via control systems

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment

Critical variable

Any physiological factor the body monitors and regulates to maintain homeostasis (e.g., oxygen, CO2, heart rate, blood glucose)

Homeostatic range

The idea that critical variables are kept within an acceptable range of values, not at one single fixed value

Homeostatic imbalance

Failure to maintain homeostasis, in its simplest form this equals disease or pathology

Pathophysiology

The study of body functions in a diseased state

ICF

Intracellular fluid, the fluid found inside the cell

ECF

Extracellular fluid, the fluid that surrounds cells and buffers between the external environment and the ICF

Plasma

The fluid portion of blood, an example of extracellular fluid

Dynamic steady state

State in which materials continually move between ICF and ECF to maintain homeostasis, without the two being equal

Homeostasis vs equilibrium

Homeostasis does NOT equal equilibrium, ICF and ECF can have very different compositions (e.g., ICF high in K+, ECF high in Na+/Cl-) while still being in homeostasis

Internal causes of disease

Abnormal cell growth (cancer), production of self-antibodies (autoimmune disease), and cell process failure/death

Autoimmune disease

Disease caused by the body producing self-antibodies that attack its own tissues

External causes of disease

Physical trauma, toxic chemical exposure, and introduction of foreign pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites)

Control system

System used to keep a regulated variable within its homeostatic range

Input signal

First part of a control system, monitors a variable and reports information to the integrating center

Integrating center

Also called the control center, the decision-making part of a control system that determines whether a response is needed

Output signal

Signal sent by the integrating center to generate a necessary response

Local control system

Control system regulated to a single cell or a localized tissue

Long-distance/systemic control system

Control system that uses long-distance signaling for a broader, more widespread response

Negative feedback loop

Feedback loop that returns the body to homeostasis, stabilizing (e.g., sweating to cool down when overheated)

Positive feedback loop

Feedback loop that reinforces an abnormal response, moving the body further from homeostasis until a task is completed

Positive feedback example 1

Labor/childbirth, uterine contractions intensify until delivery is complete

Positive feedback example 2

Blood clotting, clotting response reinforces itself until vessel damage is controlled

Feed-forward response

A response that occurs in anticipation of a disruption to homeostasis, before it actually happens (e.g., drooling at the sound of popcorn popping)

Set point

The optimum value for a regulated variable (e.g., 98.6°F for body temperature)

Biorhythm/circadian rhythm

Regular, rhythmic fluctuations of a critical variable around its set point

Body temperature rhythm

Lowest in the early morning, peaks in the late afternoon/evening due to muscle activity and metabolism from eating

Cortisol rhythm

Long-term stress hormone that peaks around 9:00 AM and decreases throughout the day and night

Acclimation

Adaptation to an environmental change that occurs in a controlled, lab setting

Acclimatization

Adaptation to an environmental change that occurs naturally in the real world