Anatomy and Physiology: Human Organism, Cells, Tissues, Integumentary, and Skeletal Systems

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing key terms and concepts across all five Anatomy & Physiology lecture sources.

Systemic Anatomy

The study of the body by systems, such as the cardiovascular, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems.

Regional Anatomy

The study of the organization of the body by areas, where structures within a specific region are studied together.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment within a narrow range suitable to support life.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

A homeostatic mechanism in which a deviation from the set point is made smaller or resisted.

Positive Feedback Mechanism

A mechanism in which the response causes a deviation from the set point to become even greater, driving a process toward completion.

Anatomical Position

The standard reference position where a person stands upright, face forward, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing forward, and feet directed forward.

Fluid-Mosaic Model

A model describing the structure of the cell membrane as a flexible phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a solution with a higher concentration of water to one with a lower concentration of water.

Active Transport

A carrier-mediated process that moves substances across the cell membrane against a concentration gradient, requiring energy in the form of $ATP$.

Phagocytosis

A form of endocytosis ('cell-eating') in which solid particles are ingested into the cell via a membrane-bound vesicle.

Transcription

The process occurring in the nucleus where information stored in a region of $DNA$ is used to produce a complementary messenger $RNA$ ($mRNA$) molecule.

Translation

The synthesis of proteins at the ribosome based on the genetic code sequence carried by an $mRNA$ molecule.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, a normal physiological process by which cell numbers within tissues are controlled and damaged or excess cells are eliminated.

Histology

The microscopic study of tissue structure, including tissue development, growth, aging, trauma, and disease-related changes.

Basement Membrane

A nonliving support layer composed of specialized extracellular material secreted by epithelial cells that anchors the basal surface of the epithelium.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

A special type of simple epithelium consisting of a single layer of cells where all cells contact the basement membrane, but varied cell heights give a falsely multi-layered appearance.

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream rather than through ducts.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that secrete products into ducts that carry the secretions onto a body surface or into an organ cavity.

Holocrine Secretion

A mode of exocrine secretion involving the release of secretory products through the shedding and complete disintegration of entire cells.

Fibroblasts

Connective tissue cells that create and form the extracellular matrix in fibrous connective tissues.

Keratinization

The process by which epithelial cells move toward the surface, change shape and chemical composition, accumulate keratin, and die to form a protective outer barrier.

Stratum Basale

The deepest layer of the epidermis, consisting of cuboidal or columnar cells that undergo mitotic division approximately every $19$ days.

Stratum Corneum

The most superficial layer of the epidermis, composed of $25$ or more layers of dead squamous cells filled with keratin and surrounded by waterproofing lipids.

Melanin

The primary pigment produced by melanocytes in the stratum basale that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes while protecting underlying structures from UV radiation.

Sebaceous Glands

Simple, branched acinar glands connected to hair follicles that produce sebum, an oily substance rich in lipids that lubricates skin and hair.

Eccrine Sweat Glands

Simple, coiled tubular glands distributed across most of the skin that produce a watery secretion directly onto the surface for thermoregulation.

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell and platelet production that actively occurs within red bone marrow cavities.

Osteoblasts

Bone-building cells that form new bone matrix by producing collagen and proteoglycans and secreting calcium and phosphate.

Osteocytes

Long-lived mature bone cells located within lacunae that maintain the bone matrix and comprise $90\text{--}95\%$ of all bone cells.

Osteoclasts

Bone-resorbing cells responsible for breaking down old bone matrix to allow for ossification, repair, and remodeling.

Osteon

The functional structural unit of compact bone, composed of concentric rings of matrix called lamellae surrounding a central canal.

Intramembranous Ossification

The process of bone development occurring directly within connective tissue membranes, primarily forming the flat bones of the skull.

Endochondral Ossification

The process of bone formation in which a hyaline cartilage model is produced first and then gradually replaced by bone tissue.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

An essential hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands that increases blood calcium levels by stimulating osteoclasts and renal calcium reabsorption.

Synovial Joints

Freely movable joints characterized by a joint cavity, articular cartilage, a joint capsule, and lubricating synovial fluid.