Unit 1: Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering introductory human anatomy and physiology concepts including anatomical terminology, levels of organization, homeostasis, directional terms, body planes, cavities, serous membranes, medical imaging, and case study applications.

Anatomy

The study of body structures and their physical relationships within the human body.

Physiology

The study of human body function and how structural components work together to maintain life.

Gross Anatomy

The study of large, visible body structures without the use of magnification.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of body structures that require magnification to be seen, such as cells and tissues.

Regional Anatomy

The approach to anatomical study focused on all structures within a specific region of the body.

Systemic Anatomy

The approach to anatomical study focused on organ systems individually throughout the body.

Anatomical Variation

Structural differences among individual real human bodies that account for variations from standardized textbook diagrams.

Levels of Organization

The hierarchy of biological complexity (the Step Ladder of Life), progressing from atoms to molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and organisms.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment necessary for human survival.

Homeostatic Control System

A physiological mechanism consisting of five basic parts: stimulus, receptor, control center, effector, and response.

Negative Feedback Loop

The primary and most common feedback mechanism in the body, which reverses or counteracts a change to maintain homeostasis.

Positive Feedback Loop

A feedback mechanism that amplifies or enhances a change in physiological condition away from its initial state.

Mount Everest's "Death Zone"

An extreme environment that demonstrates the physiological limits of human homeostasis.

Surface Anatomy

The study of internal body structures as they relate to external landmarks on the skin, useful in medical diagnosis and physical examination.

Anatomical Position

The standard physical reference posture used in medicine to describe body landmarks, regions, and directional locations.

Supine

A body orientation describing a person lying horizontally face upward.

Prone

A body orientation describing a person lying horizontally face downward.

Abdominal Quadrants

Four anatomical regions of the abdomen used to map and identify the locations of underlying internal organs, pain, or injuries.

Directional Terms

Standardized anatomical terminology used to compare relative positions of body structures, including superior/inferior, anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, and superficial/deep.

Body Planes

Sectional cuts dividing the body to study internal structures, including sagittal, midsagittal, parasagittal, frontal/coronal, transverse/horizontal, and oblique planes.

Dorsal Body Cavity

The posterior internal space of the body containing the cranial cavity and the vertebral canal.

Ventral Body Cavity

The anterior internal space of the body containing the thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, pelvic cavity, and abdominopelvic cavity.

Serous Membranes

Double-layered membranes (pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum) that produce serous fluid to reduce friction around internal organs.

Parietal and Visceral Serous Membranes

The outer membrane layer lining cavity walls (parietal) and the inner membrane layer directly covering organ surfaces (visceral).

Medical Imaging Techniques

Diagnostic tools used to observe internal sectional anatomy, including X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, PET scan, ultrasound, spiral CT scan, and bone scan.

Signs and Symptoms

Diagnostic findings in a medical report, where symptoms are subjective patient experiences and signs are objective observations.

Frank Netter

A prominent anatomical illustrator whose detailed artwork is historically significant to the study of medical anatomy.

Laparoscopic Surgery

A minimally invasive surgical procedure relying on precise knowledge of surface anatomy, anatomical regions, abdominal quadrants, and body cavities.

Malignant Melanoma

A form of skin cancer where early detection is vital, requiring exact anatomical terminology to document lesion locations.

Mink Dissection

An animal dissection used as a comparative model for human anatomy to study major body cavities and organ systems.