Ch. 1: Intro to Human Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering structural levels of organization, homeostatic mechanisms, body cavities, organ systems, relative directional terms, and body sections from Chapter 1.

Anatomy

The study of the structure/morphology of the human body and its parts; derived from Greek for "a cutting up".

Physiology

The study of the functions of the human body and its parts; derived from Greek for "relationship to nature".

Levels of Organization

The hierarchical structural levels of all materials in the human body, from subatomic particles and atoms up to the complete organism.

Subatomic Particles

Protons, neutrons, and electrons that make up atoms.

Atom

Tiny particles that make up chemicals, such as hydrogen and carbon.

Molecule

Particles consisting of atoms joined together, such as water and glucose.

Macromolecule

Large particles consisting of molecules, such as DNA and proteins.

Organelle

Functional part of a cell, such as a mitochondrion or lysosome.

Cell

Basic unit of structure and functions in living things, such as muscle, nerve, or blood cells.

Tissue

Layer or mass of cells with a specific function, such as adipose tissue.

Organ

Group of different tissues with a specific function, such as the heart, kidney, or stomach.

Organ System

Group of organs with a common function, such as the digestive system.

Organism

An individual living creature composed of interacting organ systems.

Ultrasound (US)

A noninvasive procedure using high-frequency sound waves that provide images of soft internal structures, used to obtain a sonogram of a fetus in the uterus.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A noninvasive procedure where a magnetic field changes the alignment and spin of certain types of atoms to provide high-resolution images of internal structures, such as the brain.

Metabolism

All of the chemical reactions in an organism that support life, consisting of events inside the body which obtain, release, and utilize energy.

Movement

Change in position of the body or of a body part, or the motion of an internal organ.

Responsiveness

Reaction to a change inside or outside the body.

Growth

Increase in body size without change in shape.

Reproduction

Production of new organisms and new cells.

Respiration

Obtaining oxygen, removing carbon dioxide, and releasing energy from foods (some forms of life do not use oxygen in respiration).

Digestion

Breakdown of food substances into simpler forms that can be absorbed and used.

Absorption

Passage of substances through membranes and into body fluids.

Circulation

Movement of substances in body fluids.

Assimilation

Changing of absorbed substances into different chemical forms.

Excretion

Removal of wastes produced by metabolic reactions.

Water

The most abundant substance in the body that acts as an environment for metabolic processes, is required for transport of substances, and regulates body temperature.

Food

Environmental requirement that provides necessary nutrients, supplies energy, and supplies raw materials for building living tissue.

Oxygen

Gas making up one-fifth of air that is used to release energy from nutrients.

Heat

Form of energy in our environment that helps maintain body temperature and partly controls the rate of metabolic reactions.

Pressure

Application of force on an object; atmospheric pressure is important for breathing, while hydrostatic pressure keeps blood flowing.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of a stable internal environment.

Homeostatic Mechanisms

Self-regulating systems that monitor aspects of the internal environment and correct them as needed, consisting of a receptor, control center, and effector.

Receptor

Homeostatic mechanism component that detects and provides information about stimuli.

Control Center

Decision-maker in a homeostatic mechanism that maintains the set point.

Effector

Muscle or gland that responds to the control center and causes the necessary change in the internal environment.

Negative Feedback

The most common homeostatic mechanism where effectors return conditions toward normal range, moving the variable in the opposite direction of the deviation from set point.

Positive Feedback

An uncommon homeostatic mechanism where the deviation from set point is intensified instead of reversed, leading to short-lived and unstable conditions.

Axial Portion

Major body portion that includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Portion

Major body portion that includes the upper and lower limbs.

Cranial Cavity

Cavity within the axial portion of the body that houses the brain.

Vertebral Canal

Cavity within the axial portion of the body that contains the spinal cord; also called the spinal cavity.

Thoracic Cavity

Cavity within the axial portion that houses the lungs and thoracic viscera.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Cavity within the axial portion that contains abdominal and pelvic viscera.

Diaphragm

Muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Mediastinum

Region between lungs in the thoracic cavity containing the heart, esophagus, trachea, and thymus gland.

Abdominal Cavity

Upper portion of abdominopelvic cavity extending from diaphragm to top of pelvis, containing stomach, liver, spleen, kidneys, small intestine, and most of large intestine.

Pelvic Cavity

Lower portion of abdominopelvic cavity enclosed by pelvic bones, containing end of large intestine, urinary bladder, and internal reproductive organs.

Serous Fluid

Slippery fluid secreted by double-layered serous membranes that prevents friction between membrane layers.

Visceral Layer

Inner layer of a serous membrane that covers an organ.

Parietal Layer

Outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the wall of a cavity.

Integumentary System

Organ system providing protection, body temperature regulation, sensory reception, and production of Vitamin D.

Skeletal System

Organ system providing framework, protection, attachment sites, storage of inorganic salts, production of blood cells, and support/movement.

Muscular System

Organ system responsible for movement, posture maintenance, and serving as the main source of body heat.

Nervous System

Organ system responsible for integration and coordination of organ function through nerve impulses.

Endocrine System

Organ system responsible for integration and coordination of organ function through hormones.

Cardiovascular System

Organ system responsible for transportation of gases, nutrients, blood cells, and wastes.

Lymphatic System

Organ system responsible for transportation of fluids, lymphocyte production, and body defense.

Digestive System

Organ system that receives food, breaks down food, and excretes waste.

Respiratory System

Organ system responsible for the exchange of gases.

Urinary System

Organ system that removes blood wastes, regulates electrolyte and water balance, and regulates blood pressure.

Reproductive System

Organ system in males and females that produces and transports sex cells, and in females provides fetal development and childbirth.

Anatomical Position

Body posture standing erect, facing forward, upper limbs at the sides, with palms facing forward.

Superior

Relative position term meaning above or closer to the head.

Inferior

Relative position term meaning below or closer to the feet.

Anterior

Relative position term meaning toward the front; also known as ventral.

Posterior

Relative position term meaning toward the back; also known as dorsal.

Medial

Relative position term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Relative position term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Bilateral

Relative position term referring to paired structures located on both sides of the body.

Ipsilateral

Relative position term referring to structures located on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Relative position term referring to structures located on opposite sides of the body.

Proximal

Relative position term meaning close to point of attachment to the trunk.

Distal

Relative position term meaning farther from point of attachment to the trunk.

Superficial

Relative position term meaning close to the body surface.

Deep

Relative position term meaning more internal.

Sagittal Section

Longitudinal cut that divides body into left and right portions.

Midsagittal Section

Cut that divides body into equal left and right portions; also called median section.

Parasagittal Section

Sagittal section lateral to midline that divides body into unequal left and right portions.

Transverse Section

Cut that divides body into superior and inferior portions; also called horizontal section.

Coronal Section

Longitudinal cut that divides body into anterior and posterior portions; also called frontal section.

Cross Section

A cut straight across a cylindrical organ.

Oblique Section

An angular cut across a cylindrical organ.

Longitudinal Section

A lengthwise cut along a cylindrical organ.

Abdominal Regions

The nine division zones of the abdominal area, including hypochondriac, epigastric, lateral, umbilical, inguinal, and pubic regions.

Abdominal Quadrants

The four divisions of the abdomen: Right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant (LUQ), Right lower quadrant (RLQ), and Left lower quadrant (LLQ).