Anatomy and Physiology Exam 1 Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary review flashcards covering key terms across Chapters 1, 2, and 3 from the exam study guide.

Anatomy

The branch of science concerned with the structure of the human body and its parts.

Physiology

The branch of science concerned with the functions of the human body and its parts.

Metabolism

The sum of all physical and chemical processes occurring within living organisms to maintain life.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment within an organism.

Negative Feedback

A primary homeostatic mechanism in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce or oppose the original change.

Positive Feedback

A homeostatic mechanism in which a stimulus initiates reactions that amplify or intensify the original change.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure exerted by a fluid against a wall or membrane, such as blood pressure in blood vessels.

Atmospheric Pressure

The force exerted by the weight of the air surrounding the body, essential for human breathing.

Serous Membrane

A smooth, double-layered membrane lining closed internal body cavities and covering organs within those cavities.

Visceral Membrane

The inner layer of a serous membrane that directly covers the outer surface of internal organs.

Parietal Membrane

The outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the inner wall of a body cavity.

Anatomical Position

The standardized body posture used as a reference point, standing erect, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

Chemistry

The branch of science dealing with the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter.

Element

A fundamental chemical substance consisting of atoms that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Atom

The basic unit of a chemical element, consisting of subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have the same atomic number but different atomic weights due to varying numbers of neutrons.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, acquiring an electrical charge.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, identifying its specific element.

Atomic Weight

The total weight or mass of an atom, calculated approximately by adding the number of protons and neutrons.

Enzyme

A specialized protein that acts as a biological catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed.

Electrolyte

A substance that releases ions when dissolved in water, capable of conducting an electrical current.

Salt

An electrolyte formed by the reaction between an acid and a base, composed of oppositely charged ions.

Acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions in solution, resulting in a pH value less than 7.

Base

A substance that takes up hydrogen ions or releases hydroxide ions in solution, resulting in a pH value greater than 7.

Logarithmic Scale

A measuring scale, such as the pH scale, where each whole unit change represents a tenfold change in quantity.

Physiologic pH

The normal baseline pH level maintained within human blood and bodily tissues, typically between 7.35 and 7.45.

Alkalosis

A physiological condition in humans characterized by an abnormally high arterial blood pH (alkalotic).

Acidosis

A physiological condition in humans characterized by an abnormally low arterial blood pH (acidotic).

Organic Chemical

A chemical compound containing carbon and hydrogen atoms, typically found in living organisms.

Inorganic Chemical

A chemical compound that generally lacks carbon and hydrogen bonds, necessary for essential body functions.

Denaturation

The process by which a protein loses its three-dimensional shape and function due to extreme factors like heat or pH alterations.

Selectively Permeable

A property of cell membranes (semi-permeable or differentially permeable) that allows only specific substances to pass through while restricting others.

Cytoplasm

The fluid jelly-like environment and structural components inside the cell membrane surrounding the cellular organelles.

Organelle

A specialized cellular subunit that performs a specific physiological function within the cytoplasm.

Nucleus

The double-membrane bounded cellular organelle containing genetic material, nuclear envelope, nuclear pores, chromatin, and nucleoli.

Nuclear Envelope

The double membrane structure enclosing the cellular nucleus and separating its contents from the cytoplasm.

Nuclear Pores

Protein-lined channels in the nuclear envelope that regulate the passage of substances between the nucleus and cytoplasm.

Chromatin

The network of DNA and protein molecules contained within the nucleus of a non-dividing cell.

Nucleoli

Dense non-membranous structures located within the nucleus responsible for producing ribosome components.

Active Process

A movement of substances across cell membranes that requires cellular energy expenditure, typically ATP.

Passive Process

A movement of substances across cell membranes that occurs spontaneously along a concentration gradient without cellular energy expenditure.

Osmotic Pressure

The minimum pressure required to stop the inward movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Isotonic

A solution state having the same osmotic pressure as intracellular fluid, resulting in no net water gain or loss by cells.

Hypotonic

A solution state having a lower osmotic pressure than intracellular fluid, causing cells to gain water and expand.

Hypertonic

A solution state having a higher osmotic pressure than intracellular fluid, causing cells to lose water and shrink.

Cell Cycle

The ordered series of events that a cell undergoes from its formation through growth and division into two daughter cells.

Mitosis

The process of eukaryotic nuclear division consisting of precise phases that distribute duplicated chromosomes to daughter nuclei.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cell cytoplasm during mitosis to yield two distinct daughter cells.

Differentiation

The process by which stem cells or unspecialized cells mature into distinct specialized cell types with unique structures and functions.

Apoptosis

The orderly process of programmed cell death.