Chapter 01: Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, concepts, structural levels, body cavities, feedback mechanisms, and anatomical terminology from Chapter 01.

Anatomy

The study of the structure/morphology of the human body and its parts; derived from Greek for 'a cutting up'.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the human body and its parts; derived from Greek for 'relationship to nature'.

Subatomic Particles

Protons, neutrons, and electrons that make up cells.

Atom

Tiny particles that make up chemicals (such as hydrogen and carbon).

Molecule

Particles consisting of atoms joined together (such as water and glucose).

Macromolecule

Large particles consisting of molecules (such as DNA and protein).

Organelle

Functional part of a cell (such as a mitochondrion or lysosome).

Cell

The basic unit of structure and functions in living organisms.

Tissue

A layer or mass of cells with a specific function.

Organ

Group of different tissues with a specific function.

Organ System

Group of organs with a common function.

Organism

An individual living entity composed of interacting organ systems.

Ultrasound

Noninvasive procedure using high-frequency sound waves that provide images of soft internal structures, such as a sonogram of a fetus in the uterus.

Magnetic Resonance Scan (MR)

Noninvasive procedure where a magnetic field changes alignment and spin of certain types of atoms to provide high-resolution images of internal structures.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions in a living system, involving energy production and nutrient cycling.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of a stable internal environment.

Receptor

Component of a homeostatic mechanism that detects and provides information about stimuli.

Control Center

Decision-maker component of a homeostatic mechanism that maintains the set point.

Effector

Muscle or gland that responds to the control center and causes the necessary change in the internal environment.

Negative Feedback

The most common type of homeostatic mechanism where effectors return conditions toward the normal range, lessening the deviation from the set point.

Positive Feedback

An uncommon feedback mechanism in the body where the deviation from the set point is intensified instead of reversed.

Axial Portion

Main portion of the human body consisting of the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Portion

Main portion of the human body consisting of the upper and lower limbs.

Diaphragm

Muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Mediastinum

Region between the lungs in the thoracic cavity containing the heart, esophagus, trachea, and thymus gland.

Visceral Layer

Inner layer of a serous membrane that covers an organ.

Parietal Layer

Outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the wall of a cavity.

Superior / Inferior

Relative position terms where superior means above and inferior means below.

Anterior (Ventral) / Posterior (Dorsal)

Relative position terms where anterior/ventral means toward the front and posterior/dorsal means toward the back.

Medial / Lateral

Relative position terms where medial means toward the midline and lateral means away from the midline.

Ipsilateral / Contralateral

Relative position terms where ipsilateral refers to the same side and contralateral refers to opposite sides.

Proximal / Distal

Relative position terms where proximal means closer to the point of attachment to the trunk and distal means farther from the point of attachment to the trunk.

Superficial / Deep

Relative position terms where superficial means close to the body surface and deep means more internal.

Sagittal Section

A longitudinal cut that divides the body into left and right portions.

Transverse Section

A section that divides the body into superior and inferior portions; also called a horizontal section.

Coronal Section

A longitudinal cut that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions; also called a frontal section.