An Introduction to the Human Body - Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering structural organization, branches of anatomy and physiology, body systems, homeostasis, directional terminology, planes, body cavities, and medical imaging techniques from Chapter 1.

Anatomy

The study of body structures and the relationships among them.

Physiology

The study of how body parts and the whole body function.

Developmental biology

The study of the growth and development of an individual from fertilization to death.

Embryology

The study of the first eight weeks of growth and development after fertilization of a human egg.

Cell biology

The study of cellular structure and functions.

Histology

The microscopic study of the structure of tissues.

Gross anatomy

The study of structures that can be examined without a microscope.

Systemic anatomy

The study of the structure of specific body systems, such as the nervous or respiratory systems.

Regional anatomy

The study of specific regions of the body, such as the head or chest.

Surface (topographical) anatomy

The study of surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation.

Imaging anatomy

The study of internal body structures visualized with techniques such as x-rays, MRI, and CT scans for clinical analysis.

Clinical anatomy

Applying anatomy to the practice of medicine ex dentristy

Pathological anatomy

The study of structural changes, from gross to microscopic, associated with disease.

Molecular physiology

The study of the functions of individual molecules such as proteins and DNA.

Neurophysiology

The study of the functional properties of nerve cells.

Endocrinology

The study of hormones and how they control body functions.

Cardiovascular physiology

The study of the functions of the heart and blood vessels.

Immunology

The study of the body's defenses against disease-causing agents.

Respiratory physiology

The study of the functions of the air passageways and lungs.

Renal physiology

The study of the functions of the kidneys.

Exercise physiology

The study of changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity.

Pathophysiology

The study of functional changes associated with disease and aging.

Integumentary System

Body system comprising skin, hair, nails, and glands that protects the body, regulates temperature, eliminates waste, and detects sensations.

Skeletal System

Body system consisting of bones, joints, and cartilages that supports and protects the body, aids movement, stores minerals, and produces blood cells.

Muscular System

Body system composed of skeletal muscle tissue that participates in body movements, maintains posture, and produces heat.

Nervous System

Body system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sense organs that regulates activities through nerve impulses and detects environmental changes.

Endocrine System

Body system composed of hormone-producing glands and cells that regulates body activities by releasing chemical messengers into the blood.

Cardiovascular System

Body system composed of blood, heart, and blood vessels that transports oxygen, nutrients, and wastes, and helps regulate temperature and acid-base balance.

Lymphoid (Lymphatic) System and Immunity

Body system consisting of lymph fluid, vessels, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and tonsils that protects against disease and returns fluid to blood.

Respiratory System

Body system consisting of lungs and air passageways that transfers oxygen to blood, removes carbon dioxide, and produces sounds.

Digestive System

Body system consisting of the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates solid wastes.

Urinary System

Body system consisting of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra that produces, stores, and eliminates urine while regulating blood volume and composition.

Genital (Reproductive) Systems

Body system consisting of gonads and associated organs that produce gametes, release sex hormones, and support reproduction.

Homeostasis

A condition of equilibrium, or balance, in the body's internal environment maintained by regulatory processes.

Extracellular fluid

The fluid outside body cells, including interstitial fluid and blood plasma, whose chemical composition must be precisely regulated for cell survival.

Receptors

Body structures that monitor changes in a controlled condition and send input (nerve impulses or chemical signals) to a control center.

Control Center

Body structure (such as the brain) that evaluates input received from receptors and determines the appropriate output or response.

Effectors

Body structures that receive output from the control center and produce a response that alters the controlled condition.

Negative feedback system

A homeostatic control mechanism that reverses a change in a controlled condition to restore equilibrium.

Positive feedback system

A homeostatic control mechanism that strengthens or reinforces a change in a controlled condition until an external event interrupts it.

Anatomical position

A standardized position where a subject stands erect facing forward, with upper extremities at sides, palms facing forward, and feet flat on the floor.

Prone

Description of a body lying face down.

Supine

Description of a body lying face up.

Superior

Directional term meaning toward the head or the upper part of a structure.

Inferior

Directional term meaning away from the head or the lower part of a structure.

Anterior

Directional term meaning nearer to or at the front of the body; also referred to as ventral.

Posterior

Directional term meaning nearer to or at the back of the body; also referred to as dorsal.

Medial

Directional term meaning nearer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning farther from the midline of the body.

Intermediate

Directional term meaning between two structures.

Ipsilateral

Directional term meaning on the same side of the body as another structure.

Contralateral

Directional term meaning on the opposite side of the body from another structure.

Proximal

Directional term meaning nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk or nearer to the origination of a structure.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk or farther from the origination of a structure. closer to the digits

Superficial

Directional term meaning toward or on the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning away from the surface of the body.

Median plane

A vertical plane that passes through the midline of the body and divides it into equal right and left sides.

Paramedian plane

A vertical plane that does not pass through the midline and divides the body into unequal right and left sides.

Coronal plane

A plane that divides the body or an organ into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse plane

A plane that divides the body or an organ into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Oblique plane

A plane that passes through the body or an organ at an angle between transverse and sagittal or coronal planes.

Cranial cavity

Cavity formed by cranial bones that contains the brain.

Vertebral canal

Cavity formed by the vertebral column that contains the spinal cord and beginnings of spinal nerves.

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity containing pleural and pericardial cavities and the mediastinum. contains the heart

Pleural cavity

A potential space between the layers of the pleura that surrounds a lung.

Pericardial cavity

A potential space between the layers of the pericardium that surrounds the heart.

Mediastinum

Central portion of the thoracic cavity between the lungs extending from sternum to vertebral column and first rib to diaphragm.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Body cavity subdivided into the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.

Abdominal cavity

Cavity containing the stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, and most of the large intestine.

Pelvic cavity

Cavity containing the urinary bladder, portions of the large intestine, and internal organs of reproduction.

Visceral layer

Layer of a serous membrane that covers and adheres to the viscera within thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Parietal layer

Layer of a serous membrane that lines the walls of the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane of the abdominal cavity.

Retroperitoneal

Classification for organs positioned posterior to the peritoneum rather than surrounded by it.

Radiography

Imaging procedure where a single barrage of x-rays passes through the body to create a two-dimensional image on x-ray-sensitive film.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Imaging technique using a high-energy magnetic field and radio waves to assemble a two- or three-dimensional blueprint of cellular chemistry. Normal and abnormal tissues.

Computed Tomography (CT)

Computer-assisted radiography where an x-ray beam traces an arc around the body to produce transverse sectional views.

Ultrasound Scanning

Imaging technique using high-frequency sound waves reflected off body tissues to produce a sonogram. (breast and testicles)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Imaging procedure using injected positron-emitting substances to measure body metabolic activity and produce a color image.

Endoscopy

Visual examination of the inside of body organs or cavities using a lighted instrument with lenses called an endoscope.

Radionuclide Scanning

Imaging technique where an intravenously introduced radioactive substance emits gamma rays to display tissue activity in color.

CCTA Scan

Prevents you having a stroke or heart attack, can be rotated in large and can be used to getting these images of blood vessels.