BIO 2170 Chapter 1: Anatomy & Physiology Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core anatomical and physiological terms, levels of organization, life processes, feedback mechanisms, directional terminology, body planes, and imaging modalities.

Anatomy

The study of the body's structures and the spatial relationships among them.

Physiology

The study of how body structures function—the mechanisms and processes by which they operate.

Complementarity of Structure and Function

The principle that form dictates function; morphology enables and limits what a structure can accomplish.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions in the body, comprising catabolism and anabolism.

Catabolism

Degradative chemical reactions in the body that release energy.

Anabolism

Synthetic chemical reactions in the body that consume energy.

Palpation

A noninvasive assessment technique involving examining by touch.

Auscultation

A noninvasive assessment technique involving listening to internal sounds, typically with a stethoscope.

Percussion

A noninvasive assessment technique involving tapping a surface and interpreting the resonance of the echo.

Responsiveness

The capacity to detect and react to changes in the internal or external environment.

Movement

Motion at any scale, including the whole organism, an individual organ, a single cell, or organelles within a cell.

Growth

An increase in size and complexity through greater cell number, cell size, or both.

Differentiation

The progression of an unspecialized cell toward a specialized phenotype.

Reproduction

The formation of new cells for growth and repair, or the generation of a new individual.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite continuous external change.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

Fluid contained within cells; also termed cytosol.

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Fluid outside cells, including interstitial fluid and plasma; termed the body's internal environment.

Interstitial Fluid

Extracellular fluid occupying the spaces between cells.

Plasma

The fluid matrix of blood.

Stimulus

Any disruption that shifts a controlled condition away from its set point and initiates a feedback response.

Receptor

A feedback system component that detects change and transmits input to the control center.

Control Center

A feedback system component that establishes the set point, evaluates input, and issues output.

Effector

A feedback system component that receives output from the control center and produces the corrective response.

Negative Feedback System

A feedback mechanism that reverses the original deviation, returning the controlled condition toward its set point.

Positive Feedback System

A feedback mechanism that reinforces the original deviation, intensifying it until an external event terminates the cycle.

Disorder

Any abnormality of structure or function.

Disease

A specific illness with a defined, recognizable set of signs and symptoms.

Sign

An objective, measurable manifestation of disease observable by the clinician.

Symptom

A subjective change perceived only by the patient and not directly observable.

Anatomical Position

The standardized reference posture with the body erect, facing forward, upper limbs at the sides with palms directed anteriorly, and feet flat and directed forward.

Prone

Lying in a face-down position.

Supine

Lying in a face-up position.

Superior

Directional term meaning toward the head.

Inferior

Directional term meaning toward the feet.

Anterior

Directional term meaning toward the front.

Posterior

Directional term meaning toward the back.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline.

Proximal

Directional term meaning nearer to a limb's point of attachment.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from a limb's point of attachment.

Superficial

Directional term meaning toward the body surface.

Deep

Directional term meaning away from the body surface.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body into right and left portions.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior portions.

Parietal Layer

The serous membrane layer lining the wall of a body cavity.

Visceral Layer

The serous membrane layer adhering directly to the surface of an organ.

Radiography

A medical imaging modality using X-rays that is optimal for dense tissue such as bone.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A medical imaging modality that maps metabolic activity to reveal functional rather than purely structural details.