Anatomy and Physiology - Module 1: Introduction to the Body

Vocabulary flashcards covering Module 1: Introduction to the Body, including levels of organization, body cavities, quadrants/regions, and homeostasis mechanisms.

Anatomy

The study of the structures of the human body, derived from Greek words meaning 'cutting up'.

Physiology

The study of the functions of living organisms and their parts, explaining how structures work.

Chemical Level

The lowest hierarchical level of organization, consisting of atoms and molecules such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, water, DNA, and proteins.

Cellular Level

The level of organization consisting of cells, which are the smallest units of life (e.g., blood cells, muscle cells, nerve cells).

Tissue Level

The level of organization made up of groups of similar cells working together, including epithelial, connective, nervous, and muscle tissue.

Organ Level

The level of organization composed of two or more different tissue types working together to perform specific functions (e.g., skin, heart, brain, lungs).

Organ System Level

The level of organization consisting of organs with a shared function; the human body contains 11 organ systems in total.

Organism Level

The highest level of biological organization, formed by all 11 organ systems combined to create the complete living human body.

Dorsal Cavity

The major body cavity located in the back of the body, subdivided into the cranial cavity and the spinal cavity.

Ventral Cavity

The major body cavity located in the front of the body, divided by the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Cranial Cavity

A division of the dorsal body cavity that houses the brain and space inside the skull.

Spinal Cavity

A division of the dorsal body cavity that contains the spinal cord within the spinal column.

Thoracic Cavity

The upper division of the ventral cavity separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm; contains the mediastinum and two pleural cavities.

Mediastinum

The midportion cavity of the thoracic cavity located between the two pleural cavities, containing the heart, trachea, esophagus, and pericardial cavity.

Pleural Cavities

The two lateral compartments of the thoracic cavity, containing the right lung (right pleural cavity) and left lung (left pleural cavity).

Abdominopelvic Cavity

The lower division of the ventral body cavity below the diaphragm, containing the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.

Abdominal Cavity

The upper compartment of the abdominopelvic cavity housing the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.

Pelvic Cavity

The lower compartment of the abdominopelvic cavity containing reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, and the lowest part of the intestine.

Four Quadrants of the Abdomen

A system dividing the abdominopelvic cavity into Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), and Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) for diagnostic reference.

Nine Regions of the Abdomen

A grid system dividing the abdomen into Right/Left Hypochondriac, Epigastric, Right/Left Lumbar (Flank), Umbilical, Right/Left Iliac (Groin), and Hypogastric (Pubic) regions.

Homeostasis

The state in which the internal environment of the body remains stable by responding appropriately to changes, maintaining a balance needed for survival.

Negative Feedback Loop

A control mechanism where the body response reverses or reduces the original stimulus to bring the system back to a target set point (e.g., sweating to cool down body temperature).

Positive Feedback Loop

A control mechanism where the response increases or reinforces the original stimulus, moving the system further away from its starting point to drive rapid events to completion.

Receptor

A primary component of homeostasis that senses changes or stimuli in the internal environment and sends input to the control center.

Control Center

A component of homeostasis (such as the brain) that processes information from receptors and determines the appropriate response.

Effector

A component of homeostasis (such as muscles or organs) that receives commands from the control center and executes the action to adjust the internal environment.