Module 6 - Body Structures and Organ Systems

cells

What are the smallest living units within the body?

tissues

What are a group of cells called that are similar in structure and organized the same?

organ

What do we have when two or more tissue types work together?

body system

Organs that work together to perform complicated tasks.

human body study

How is the human body studied?

anatomical position

Why do health care personnel refer to the patient's body in 'anatomical position' when describing the situation in the patient's health care notes?

Superior (cranial)

Above or closer to the head. Example: The esophagus is superior to the stomach.

Inferior (caudal)

Below or closer to the feet. Example: The bladder is inferior to the kidneys.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front of the body. Example: The sternum is anterior to the spine.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back of the body. Example: The sacrum is posterior to the pubis symphysis.

Medial

Closer to the midline of body. Example: The tibia is the medial bone of the lower leg.

Lateral

Further away from midline. Example: The radius is lateral to the ulna.

Proximal

Closer to the trunk of body. Example: The proximal femur articulates c pelvis to form hip.

Distal

Farther away from the trunk. Example: The distal humerus helps to form the elbow.

Superficial

Closer to the surface of body. Example: Veins are superficial to arteries.

Deep

Farther from body's surface. Example: Arteries are deeper than veins.

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into left and right sides. Midsagittal refers to an equal division of left and right sides, running along the midline of the body.

Transverse plane

Divides the body into upper and lower sections, not necessarily equally.

Frontal plane

Also called coronal plane, divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.

Cranial cavity

Within the bony cranium, houses the meninges (brain).

Spinal cavity

A continuation of the cranial cavity as it travels down the midline of the back.

Thoracic cavity

Within the chest, houses the lungs, heart and major vessels.

Abdominal cavity

Within the abdomen, houses several major organs.

Pelvic cavity

Inferior to the abdominal cavity, houses the bladder.

Homeostasis

When body systems are performing efficiently with each other.

Integumentary System

Responsible for protection, temperature regulation, sensation, excretion, and vitamin D production.

Skin

Responsible for protection, temperature regulation, sensation, excretion, and vitamin D production.

Hair Follicles

Generate hair.

Sebaceous (oil) glands

Produce sebum to keep skin and hair soft, and prevent bacteria from growing on the skin.

Fingernails and toenails

Protect the ends of fingers and toes.

Sudoriferous (sweat) glands

Produce sweat to aid in cooling the body.

Epidermis layer

Outermost layer of epithelial tissue, covers the external surface of the body.

Dermis layer

Thick layer beneath the dermis that contains arteries, veins, nerves.

Subcutaneous layer

Loose, connective tissue composed of adipose tissue and lipocytes.

Functions of skin

Protection, Temperature regulation, Excretion, Sensation, Vitamin D production.

Skeletal System Purpose

Give body structure and posture, Protect the soft internal organs from injury, Serves as attachment points for muscles in the body.

Long bones

Examples include femur, humerus, tibia, fibula, ulna and radius.

Short bones

Examples include carpals and tarsals.

Flat bones

Examples include skull and ribs.

Irregular bones

Examples include vertebrae and pelvis.

Sesamoid bones

Example includes patella.

Skeletal muscle

Responsible for body movement, and AKA voluntary muscle or striated muscle.

Smooth muscle

Found within the walls of hollow organs, blood vessels and in the iris of the eye. AKA involuntary muscle.

Cardiac muscle

Found only in the heart, cross-fibered to allow the heart to contract from the top and bottom in order to pump blood.

Tendon

Ends of skeletal muscles that attach the muscle to a bone.

Lymphatic System Components

Lymph nodes, Lymph nodules, Thymus, Spleen, Interstitial fluid.

Immune System Components

Antibody, Immunoglobulins, B-cells, T-cells, Monocytes.

Naturally acquired active immunity

Occurs when a person has an infectious disease and then develops antibodies against the pathogen that caused the disease.

Artificially acquired active immunity

Result of administering a vaccination; the antibodies are activated by the vaccine and develop memory to recognize the pathogen in the future.

Naturally acquired passive immunity

Short-lasting immunity passed from mother to child through the placenta and breast milk.

Artificially acquired passive immunity

This is created by giving an exposed person antibodies from a person who has previously had the disease.

Heart

What is the primary organ of the cardiovascular system?

Epicardium

Outermost layer of the heart.

Myocardium

Middle layer of the heart, thickest.

Endocardium

Inner layer of the heart, part of the electrical conduction system.

SA node (Sinoatrial)

AKA pacemaker of the heart; generates the electrical impulse in the heart.

Atrioventricular node

What is another name for the atrioventricular node? Gatekeeper.

Purkinje fibers

They cause the ventricles to contract and pump blood into the pulmonary artery and aorta.

Mouth (oral cavity)

Where is the beginning of the gastrointestinal system?

Alimentary canal

The primary organs of the digestive system collectively make up the alimentary canal.

Nose

Produces a person's voice.

Pharynx

Surrounded by pleura.

Larynx

Made of bones, cartilage and skin.

Trachea

AKA the windpipe.

Lungs

Air enters here from the nose and mouth.

Brain

Coordinates most body activities and is the control center for the body as well as thought, emotion and judgment.

Spinal cord

Provides a pathway for nerve impulses travelling to and from the brain, and extends from the base of the brain to the lumbar vertebrae through the vertebral column.

Peripheral nerves

Includes 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves branching off from the spinal cord. Carries nerve signals between the body and the brain.

Neuron

Functional unit of the nervous system.

Dendrites

Has multiple branching structures.

Nucleus

Directs cellular activities.

Cytoplasm

Produces neurotransmitters and energy for the neuron.

Axon

Stores neurotransmitters.

CNS

What are the two main sections of the nervous system?

PNS

What are the two main sections of the nervous system?

Somatic nervous system

What are the two main branches of the PNS?

Autonomic nervous system

What are the two main branches of the PNS?

Sympathetic

Which branch controls the 'fight or flight' response to stress?

Hormones

What are produced in the Endocrine System?

Reproductive system

What is the purpose of the reproductive system? Achieve fertilization and produce offspring.

Homeostasis

When is homeostasis achieved? When the body's systems and biological processes maintain stability.