Chapter 01: A First Look at Anatomy

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering introductory biology, characteristics of life, biological organization, and anatomical terminology based on Chapter 1.

Biology

The study of life (living organisms).

Human Biology

The study of humans from a biological point of view, addressing how we are made up, acquire energy, change over time, and interact with the environment.

Homeostasis

The process that living organisms use to maintain a stable internal environment while adjusting to external conditions.

Metabolism and Photosynthesis

The two main ways for energy production that allow for everything to happen in living organisms.

Evolution

The change of living organisms over time where the genetic makeup of a population changes in response to the environment.

Adapt

The process by which a species becomes fitted to its environment.

Atom

A basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons.

Molecule

A chemical structure composed of many atoms, such as a phospholipid.

Organelles

Structures that perform functions within a cell, such as the Golgi apparatus and a nucleus.

Cell

The fundamental unit of life which is actively maintained and organized.

Tissue

A level of organization consisting of similar cells, such as human skin tissue.

Organism

An individual living thing; for example, each person in a park is an organism.

Population

A group consisting of all the individuals of a species living together, such as all the people in a park.

Community

The collection of all the different plant and animal species living together in a specific area.

Ecosystem

A system that includes living organisms and the environment in which they live, such as Central Park in New York.

Biosphere

The level of organization that encompasses all the ecosystems on Earth.

Human Anatomy

The study of human structure.

Physiology

The study of how things work.

Microscopic Anatomy

Looking at structures too small to see, including cells (cystoscopy) and tissue (histology).

Gross Anatomy

The study of structures without the use of a microscope.

Organ Systems

The 11 systems in the human body (Cardiovascular, Digestive, Endocrine, Integumentary, Lymphatic, Muscular, Nervous, Reproductive, Respiratory, Skeletal, and Urinary) that work together to perform certain functions.

Anatomic Position

A common reference where the individual stands upright, feet parallel and on the floor, head level and looking forward, arms at sides, and palms facing forward with thumbs pointing away from the body.

Anterior (ventral)

Anatomic direction referring to the front.

Posterior (dorsal)

Anatomic direction referring to the back.

Superior

Anatomic direction meaning toward the head.

Inferior

Anatomic direction meaning toward the feet.

Medial

Anatomic direction meaning toward the midline.

Lateral

Anatomic direction meaning away from the midline.

Proximal

Anatomic direction meaning close to the trunk.

Distal

Anatomic direction meaning far from the trunk.

Midsagittal Plane

A plane exactly in the middle that makes two equal right and left halves.

Frontal Plane

A plane that separates the front from the back of the body.

Transverse Plane

A plane that divides the organism into upper and lower portions.

Axial region

A main body region containing the head, neck, and trunk, forming the vertical axis of the body.

Appendicular region

A main body region consisting of the upper and lower limbs.

Body Cavities

Spaces in the body that hold organs, including the cranial cavity, vertebral canal, thoracic cavity, and abdominopelvic cavity.