Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Chapters 1 through 8 lecture notes covering key anatomical definitions, organ systems, directional terms, tissues, body cavities, and inflammation terms.

Human Anatomy

The study of internal and external body structures and physical relationships among body parts, which relies mostly on memorization.

Human Physiology

The study of how organs perform and work, which is mostly conceptual.

Pathophysiology

The study of the physiology of disease, sickness, or organ dysfunction.

Signs

Objective findings in a patient evaluation that can be scientifically measured, such as body temperature, blood pressure, height, and weight.

Symptoms

Subjective findings based on what a patient claims or feels, such as headache or fatigue.

Pleural Cavity

The fluid-filled body cavity that contains the two lungs.

Pericardial Cavity

The fluid-filled sac surrounding the heart that cushions it and prevents friction when beating.

Mediastinum

The region directly behind the sternum where structures like the trachea and esophagus pass between the lungs next to the heart.

Retroperitoneal

Describing structures located behind the membrane that separates them from the rest of the viscera and peritoneum, such as the kidneys.

Homeostasis

The condition in which systems in the body work to maintain a stable, constant internal environment.

Tight Junction

A cellular junction that binds cells together tightly so that nothing is allowed to pass through.

Gap Junction

A cellular junction containing narrow passageways that allow ions and nutrients to pass between cells for communication.

Desmosomes

Structures that hold adjacent cell walls together like magnets placed on opposite sides of paper.

Hemidesmosomes

Structures that attach a single cell wall down to the basement membrane.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Epithelium consisting of a single layer of columnar cells that appears stratified due to staggered nuclei positions.

Merocrine Glands

Exocrine glands that release fluid secretions contained in vesicles via exocytosis, such as sweat glands.

Apocrine Secretion

A secretion method where portions of the cell cytoplasm are shed during secretion, such as in milk production by mammary glands.

Holocrine Secretion

A secretion method where the entire cell bursts and dies to release its product, as seen in sebaceous glands.

Fibroblasts

Cells in connective tissue proper that secrete ground substance and proteins.

Mast Cells

Cells in connective tissue that release histamine to stimulate inflammation and heparin to prevent blood clotting.

Tendons

Connective tissue structures composed of collagen fibers that connect muscle to bone.

Ligaments

Connective tissue structures composed of collagen fibers that connect bone to bone.

Interstitial Growth

The type of cartilage growth that increases the length of the cartilage.

Appositional Growth

The type of cartilage growth that increases the thickness of the cartilage.

Avascular

Lacking a direct blood supply, a condition characteristic of cartilage.

Blood

A fluid connective tissue consisting of a plasma fluid matrix and formed elements including erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets.

Cutaneous Membrane

The skin, composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with underlying areolar and dense irregular connective tissue.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated, voluntary muscle tissue responsible for major body movements.

Cardiac Muscle

Striated, involuntary muscle tissue found in the heart that features intercalated discs.

Smooth Muscle

Nonstriated, involuntary muscle tissue found in the walls of hollow contracting organs.

Rubor

Redness, one of the four cardinal signs of acute inflammation.

Tumor

Swelling, one of the four cardinal signs of acute inflammation.

Calor

Heat, one of the four cardinal signs of acute inflammation.

Dolor

Pain, one of the four cardinal signs of acute inflammation.