Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, anatomical concepts, organ systems, directional terms, cavities, and body divisions from Anatomy & Physiology 1, Chapter 1.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another (the study of form).

Physiology

The study of how body parts work and perform their functions.

Gross Anatomy

The study of body structures that can be seen with the naked eye.

Systemic Anatomy

The study of body structure evaluated system by system.

Microscopy

The study of structures too small to be seen with the naked eye using a microscope.

Cytology

The study of cells.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Histopathology

Microscopic examination of tissues for signs of disease.

Dissection

Cutting and separation of tissues to reveal their relationships.

Cadaver

A dead human body.

Palpation

Feeling a structure with the fingertips, such as taking a pulse or feeling swollen glands.

Auscultation

Listening to the natural sounds made by the body, such as heart and lung sounds.

Percussion

Tapping on the body and listening to the sound for signs of abnormalities such as pockets of fluid or air.

Complementarity of Structure and Function

The principle that function always reflects structure, and what a structure can do depends on its specific form.

Scientific Method

A series of steps followed by scientific investigators to answer specific questions about the natural world.

Hypothesis

An educated guess formulated during the scientific method.

Atom

The smallest particle of an element that still retains the properties of that element.

Molecule

A structure consisting of $2$ or more atoms joined together.

Organelle

Specialized parts of a cell that perform specific functions.

Cell

The basic structural unit of the body.

Tissue

Groups of similar cells working together to perform a specific function.

Organ

A complex structure made up of $2$ or more tissues working together to perform a specific function.

Organ System

A group of organs working together to perform one or more major functions.

Organism

A single complete living individual.

Integumentary System

Organ system consisting of skin, hair, and nails that forms the external body covering, protects deeper tissues, synthesizes vitamin D, and houses cutaneous pain receptors and sweat/oil glands.

Skeletal System

Organ system consisting of bones and joints that protects and supports body organs, provides a framework for movement, serves as the site for blood cell formation, and stores minerals.

Muscular System

Organ system consisting of muscles that produces movement, maintains posture, and produces heat.

Nervous System

Fast-acting control system of the body consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that responds to internal and external changes by activating appropriate muscles and glands.

Endocrine System

Slower-acting control system of the body consisting of glands that secrete hormones regulating processes such as growth, reproduction, and metabolism.

Cardiovascular System

Organ system consisting of the heart and blood vessels that transports blood carrying nutrients and wastes.

Lymphatic System

Organ system consisting of lymph nodes, lymph vessels, thymus, spleen, and red bone marrow that returns leaked fluid to the blood and houses the immune system.

Respiratory System

Organ system consisting of the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs that supplies blood with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.

Digestive System

Organ system consisting of the oral cavity, esophagus, liver, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus that breaks down food into smaller absorbable molecules and eliminates indigestible food.

Urinary System

Organ system consisting of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra that eliminates nitrogenous wastes and regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood.

Reproductive System

Organ system whose functions include producing offspring and hormone production.

Situs Inversus

A condition involving the reversal in position of major thoracic and abdominal organs right and left, occurring in about $1\text{ out of }8{,}000$ people.

Responsiveness

The ability of an organism to sense and react to stimuli or changes in its environment.

Metabolism

The sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in an organism.

Anabolism

Phase of metabolism in which complex molecules are formed from simpler ones.

Catabolism

Phase of metabolism in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones.

Cellular Respiration

Process in which chemical energy in food molecules is used to produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).

Excretion

The removal of wastes (excreta) from tissues and their elimination from the body.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain relatively stable internal conditions despite changes in the external environment.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state of balance between continuing processes.

Receptor

A structure that senses a change (stimulus) in the body and sends input to the control center.

Afferent (Sensory) Neuron

Neuron that transmits an impulse from the receptor to the integrating center.

Integrating (Control) Center

Mechanism that processes information and initiates a response by producing output.

Efferent (Motor) Neuron

Neuron that transmits an impulse from the integrating center to an effector.

Effector

A structure that receives output from the control center and carries out the response that restores homeostasis.

Negative Feedback System

A homeostatic process in which the body senses a change and activates mechanisms that negate or reverse it.

Positive Feedback System

A process in which a physiological change leads to an even greater change in the same direction.

Anatomical Position

Standard reference position where the body is erect, feet flat on the floor and slightly apart, with head and palms facing forward.

Superior

Directional term meaning above.

Inferior

Directional term meaning below.

Ventral / Anterior

Directional term meaning towards the front.

Dorsal / Posterior

Directional term meaning towards the back.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Intermediate

Directional term meaning between two structures.

Proximal

Directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther away from the point of attachment or origin.

Superficial / External

Directional term meaning closer to the body surface.

Deep / Internal

Directional term meaning farther from the body surface.

Axial Region

Body region consisting of the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Region

Body region consisting of the appendages (upper and lower limbs).

Sagittal Plane

A plane passing vertically through the body or an organ, dividing it into right and left portions.

Midsagittal (Median) Plane

A sagittal plane that lies exactly on the midline.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

A plane extending vertically that separates the body into anterior and posterior sections.

Transverse Plane

A plane extending horizontally that divides the body into superior and inferior parts (also called a cross section).

Oblique Plane

A plane passing diagonally between horizontal and vertical planes.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Body cavity consisting of the cranial and vertebral cavities.

Cranial Cavity

Cavity that surrounds the brain.

Vertebral Cavity

Cavity that surrounds the spinal cord.

Ventral Body Cavity

Body cavity consisting of the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities, separated by the diaphragm.

Thoracic Cavity

Cavity located above the diaphragm that contains the mediastinum and pleural cavities.

Mediastinum

Subdivision of the thoracic cavity containing the pericardial cavity, esophagus, and trachea.

Pericardial Cavity

Cavity that contains the heart.

Pleural Cavities

Cavities that contain the lungs.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Cavity containing the digestive viscera, urinary, and reproductive organs.

Abdominal Cavity

Superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity containing the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and gallbladder.

Pelvic Cavity

Inferior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity containing the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.

Serous Membranes (Serosa)

Double-layered membranes separated by a thin layer of serous fluid that reduce friction caused by organ movement.

Serous Fluid

A thin, watery, lubricating fluid secreted by serous membranes to prevent friction between organs and cavity walls.

Visceral Layer

The inner layer of a serous membrane that lines the organ directly.

Parietal Layer

The outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the inner surface of the cavity wall.

Pericardium

Serous membrane surrounding the heart.

Pleurae

Serous membrane surrounding the lungs.

Peritoneum

Serous membrane located in the abdominopelvic cavity.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Four areas of the abdomen divided by two imaginary lines (one vertical and one horizontal) intersecting at the umbilicus: Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), and Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ).

Abdominopelvic Regions

Nine regions formed by two vertical and two horizontal planes: Right Hypochondriac, Epigastric, Left Hypochondriac, Right Lumbar, Umbilical, Left Lumbar, Right Iliac, Hypogastric, and Left Iliac.