ANPH 209 – Module 2

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from anatomy and physiology: body organization, membranes, cell organelles, planes, cavities, regions, and transport mechanisms.

Anatomy

The science of body structures and relationships among them.

Physiology

The science of body functions—the way body parts work.

Anatomical position

Body upright, facing the observer, head forward, feet flat, arms at the sides, palms facing forward.

Prone position

Body lying face down.

Supine position

Body lying face up.

Sagittal plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into right and left sides (midsagittal = equal halves; parasagittal = unequal).

Midsagittal plane

Sagittal plane that divides the body into equal right and left sides.

Parasagittal plane

Sagittal plane that divides the body into unequal right and left sides.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Plane that divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions.

Oblique plane

Plane that passes through the body at an angle between transverse and sagittal or frontal planes.

Dorsal body cavity

Cavities protecting the brain and spinal cord (cranial cavity and vertebral canal).

Cranial cavity

Cavity formed by the skull that protects the brain.

Vertebral canal

Cavity formed by the vertebral column that contains the spinal cord.

Meninges

protectivetissue layers that line the cranial cavity and vertebral canal.

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity containing heart and lungs; subdivided with the diaphragm separating it from the abdominopelvic cavity.

Pleural cavity

Two fluid-filled spaces surrounding each lung; lined by visceral and parietal pleura.

Pericardial cavity

Fluid-filled space surrounding the heart within the mediastinum; lined by the pericardium.

Peritoneum

Serous membrane of the abdominal cavity; visceral peritoneum covers organs and parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal wall.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Cavity that includes the abdominal and pelvic subdivisions.

Abdominal cavity

Cavity containing stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, and intestines.

Pelvic cavity

Cavity containing the urinary bladder, portions of reproductive organs, and portions of the large intestine.

Serous membrane

Thin, slippery double-layered membrane that covers viscera and lines body cavities.

Parietal layer

Serous membrane layer that lines the walls of a body cavity.

Visceral layer

Serous membrane layer that covers the organs within a cavity.

Mediastinum

Central part of the thoracic cavity containing the heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, and major vessels.

Pleura

Serous membranes surrounding the lungs; visceral pleura covers the lungs, parietal pleura lines the chest wall.

Pericardium

Serous membrane around the heart; visceral pericardium covers the heart, parietal pericardium lines the chest wall.

Abdominopelvic regions

Nine regions used to describe abdominal/pelvic organ location (e.g., right hypochondriac, epigastric, umbilical, etc.).

Abdominopelvic quadrants

Four sections (RUQ, RLQ, LUQ, LLQ) used to describe abdominal/pelvic organ location.

Superior

Toward the head (cephalic).

Inferior

Away from the head; toward the feet (caudal).

Anterior

Toward the front of the body (ventral in humans).

Posterior

Toward the back of the body (dorsal in humans).

Medial

Nearer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Farther from the midline of the body.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body as another structure.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body from another structure.

Proximal

Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Distal

Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Superficial

Nearer to the surface of the body.

Deep

More internal; farther from the surface.

Chemical level

Basic level of organization; atoms and molecules, including essential life elements.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter; the building blocks of elements.

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; genetic material of the cell.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of life.

Tissue

Groups of cells and surrounding materials that perform a specific function.

Epithelial tissue

Tissue that covers surfaces and lines cavities and glands.

Connective tissue

Tissue that supports, binds, and protects; contains extracellular matrix.

Muscular tissue

Tissue specialized for contraction and movement.

Nervous tissue

Tissue that conducts electrical impulses for communication.

Plasma membrane

Cell membrane; phospholipid bilayer that isolates the cell and regulates movement and communication.

Cytoplasm

Cell contents between the plasma membrane and nucleus; includes cytosol and organelles.

Nucleus

Organelle that houses chromosomes; control center of the cell.

Nucleolus

Region inside the nucleus where ribosomal RNA synthesis occurs.

Ribosomes

RNA-protein complexes that synthesize proteins.

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

ER studded with ribosomes; synthesizes membrane components and proteins.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

ER lacking ribosomes; synthesizes lipids and detoxifies.

Golgi apparatus

Organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids.

Mitochondrion

Organelle that generates cellular energy (ATP) via aerobic metabolism.

Lysosome

Organelle containing digestive enzymes for breaking down waste.

Vacuole

Storage vesicle; contains water and wastes in plant and some animal cells.

Cytoskeleton

Network of fibers giving the cell its shape and helping organize parts.

Centrioles

Cylindrical organelles that organize microtubules; involved in formation of cilia and flagella.

Phospholipid bilayer

Two-layer membrane formed by phospholipids; hydrophobic tails inward, hydrophilic heads outward.

Phospholipid

Molecule with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails that forms membranes.

Glycoprotein

Protein with carbohydrate attached; functions in cell recognition.

Glycolipid

Lipid with carbohydrate attached; contributes to membrane stability and signaling.

Cholesterol

Sterol in the membrane that modulates fluidity and stability.

Integral membrane protein

Membrane protein embedded within the phospholipid bilayer; often forms channels or receptors.

Peripheral membrane protein

Membrane-associated protein on the surface of the membrane.

Endocytosis

Active transport where the plasma membrane engulfs external material into a vesicle.

Phagocytosis

Endocytosis of large particles or cells;

Pinocytosis

Endocytosis of extracellular fluid and solutes in small vesicles.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis

Selective endocytosis triggered when a ligand binds to its receptor.

Exocytosis

Process by which vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane to release contents.

Passive transport

Movement of substances across the membrane without energy input (diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion).

Active transport

Energy-dependent transport moving substances against their gradient (uses ATP).

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from high to low concentration driven by kinetic energy; no energy used.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Isotonic

Solution with equal solute concentration to another; no net water movement.

Hypertonic

Solution with higher solute concentration; water leaves cells.

Hypotonic

Solution with lower solute concentration; water enters cells.