Chapter 1: The Human Organism - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering structural levels of organization, organ systems, homeostasis, directional terminology, anatomical subdivisions, and serous membranes based on Chapter 1.

Anatomy

Investigates the body's structure.

Physiology

Investigates the processes or functions of living things.

Chemical Level

The structural level dealing with the interaction of atoms and molecules.

Cell Level

The structural level consisting of cells, which are the basic structural and functional units of living organisms.

Tissue Level

The structural level consisting of a group of similar cells and the materials surrounding them, categorized into epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissue.

Organ Level

The structural level composed of two or more tissue types functioning together.

Organ System Level

The structural level consisting of a group of organs functioning together.

Organism Level

Any living thing, whether composed of one cell or many.

Integumentary System

Body system that provides protection, regulates temperature, prevents water loss, and helps produce vitamin D; consists of skin, hair, nails, and sweat glands.

Skeletal System

Body system that provides protection and support, allows body movements, produces blood cells, and stores minerals and fat; consists of bones, associated cartilages, ligaments, and joints.

Muscular System

Body system that produces body movements, maintains posture, and produces body heat; consists of muscles attached to the skeleton by tendons.

Nervous System

Major regulatory system that detects sensations and controls movements, physiological processes, and intellectual functions; consists of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory receptors.

Endocrine System

Major regulatory system that influences metabolism, growth, reproduction, and many other functions by secreting hormones from glands.

Cardiovascular System

Body system that transports nutrients, waste products, gases, and hormones throughout the body; consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Lymphatic System

Body system that removes foreign substances from blood and lymph, combats disease, maintains tissue fluid balance, and absorbs fats from the digestive tract.

Respiratory System

Body system that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and air and regulates blood pH; consists of lungs and respiratory passages.

Digestive System

Body system that performs mechanical and chemical processes of digestion, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of wastes.

Urinary System

Body system that removes waste products from the blood and regulates blood pH, ion balance, and water balance; consists of kidneys, urinary bladder, and urine-carrying ducts.

Female Reproductive System

System that produces oocytes, serves as the site of fertilization and fetal development, produces milk, and secretes hormones influencing sexual function and behaviors.

Male Reproductive System

System that produces and transfers sperm cells to the female and produces hormones influencing sexual functions and behaviors.

Set Point

The physiological value (such as $98.6^\text{o}\text{F}$) around which a normal range fluctuates in homeostasis.

Superior

Directional term meaning a structure above another (from Latin for higher).

Inferior

Directional term meaning a structure below another (from Latin for lower).

Cephalic

Directional term meaning closer to the head than another structure (synonymous with superior).

Caudal

Directional term meaning closer to the tail than another structure (synonymous with inferior).

Anterior

Directional term meaning the front of the body.

Posterior

Directional term meaning the back of the body.

Ventral

Directional term meaning toward the belly (synonymous with anterior).

Dorsal

Directional term meaning toward the back (synonymous with posterior).

Proximal

Directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Superficial

Directional term meaning toward or on the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning away from the surface, internal.

Abdominal Subdivisions

Division of the abdomen into four quadrants (right-upper, left-upper, right-lower, left-lower) or nine regions (hypochondriac, epigastric, lumbar, umbilical, iliac, hypogastric) for anatomical reference.

Parietal Serous Membrane

The outer layer of a serous membrane lining the walls of a body cavity.

Visceral Serous Membrane

The inner layer of a serous membrane covering internal organs within a body cavity.

Mesenteries

Double layers of visceral peritoneum that attach the digestive organs to the abdominal wall.

Retroperitoneal Organs

Organs located behind the peritoneum, including the kidneys, adrenal glands, and pancreas.