Chapter 01 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology - Practice Flashcards

A set of concise Q&A flashcards covering the major topics from the lecture notes on anatomy and physiology.

What is Histology?

Study of tissues (using a microscope).

What is Cytology?

Study of cells.

What is Embryology?

Study of development from fertilized egg to the 8th week in utero.

What is Gerontology?

Study of aging in older individuals.

What is Histopathology?

Study of tissues for signs of disease.

What is Neurophysiology?

Physiology of the nervous system.

What is Endocrinology?

Physiology of the endocrine system.

What is Pathophysiology?

Mechanisms of disease.

What is Exercise Physiology?

How the body responds to exercise.

What is Cardiovascular Physiology?

Activity of the heart and blood vessels.

What is the structural hierarchy of the body?

Organism → organ systems → organs → tissues → cells → organelles → macromolecules → molecules → atoms.

What are the three parts of a homeostatic mechanism?

Receptor, integrating (control) center, and effector.

What is Homeostasis?

Tendency of the body to maintain a relatively constant internal environment; the process to achieve it.

What is negative feedback?

A feedback loop that reduces or reverses the original change to restore homeostasis (e.g., temperature regulation with vasodilation/sweating or vasoconstriction/shivering).

What is positive feedback?

A self-amplifying cycle that strengthens a change in the same direction; examples include childbirth and blood clotting; can be dangerous if uncontrolled.

What is Anatomical Position?

Body erect, feet together, flat on floor, eyes forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward (supine).

What does Superior mean in human anatomy?

Above or toward the head.

What does Inferior mean in human anatomy?

Below or away from the head.

What does Cephalic/Caudal mean?

Cephalic = toward the head; Caudal = toward the tail (often used interchangeably with superior/inferior in humans).

What does Anterior mean?

Toward the front of the body.

What does Posterior mean?

Toward the back of the body.

What does Medial mean?

Toward the midline of the body.

What does Lateral mean?

Away from the midline.

What does Proximal mean?

Closer to the point of attachment or origin.

What does Distal mean?

Farther from the point of attachment or origin.

What does Superficial mean?

Toward or at the body surface.

What does Deep mean?

Away from the body surface; toward the interior.

What is a Parietal vs Visceral membrane?

Parietal = outer wall; Visceral = inner wall touching the organ.

What is an Afferent vs Efferent pathway?

Afferent carries information into an organ of importance; Efferent carries information out of it.

What is a Body Plane?

A flat surface that slices the body for study: sagittal, transverse, coronal/frontal, and oblique.

What is the sagittal plane?

Divides the body into left and right parts; a vertical plane.

What is the transverse plane?

Divides the body into superior and inferior parts; perpendicular to the floor.

What is the coronal (frontal) plane?

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

What is the oblique plane?

A plane that passes through the body at an angle.

What is the midsagittal (median) plane?

A sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

What are the dorsal body cavities?

Cranial cavity (brain) and Vertebral (spinal) cavity.

What are the ventral body cavities?

Thoracic cavity (heart and lungs), Mediastinum (between lungs), Cardiac cavity (heart), and Abdominopelvic cavity (abdomen + pelvis).

What organs reside in the cranial cavity?

Brain.

What organs reside in the thoracic cavity?

Heart and lungs (within pleural and pericardial spaces).

What are the abdominal and pelvic cavities?

Abdominal cavity contains digestive organs; Pelvic cavity contains reproductive organs and urinary bladder.

What is Anatomical Variation?

No two humans are exactly alike; examples include missing muscles, atypical vertebrae counts, kidney variations, situs inversus.

What is Physiological Variation?

Differences due to sex, age, diet, weight, and activity; reference values; variation affects medical treatment.

What are common methods to study anatomy?

Inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion; cadaver dissection; comparative anatomy.