Anatomy and Physiology - Lesson 1 & 2: Structures and Tissues

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomy, physiology, body organization levels, anatomical terminology, planes, cavities, abdominopelvic divisions, and tissues based on lecture notes.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of an organism and the relationship to its parts.

Physiology

The study of functions of living organisms and their parts through scientific experimentation.

Dissection

The technique used by anatomists to learn about the body.

Levels of Organization

The six structural levels of organization in the human body: Chemical, Cellular, Tissue, Organ, Body Systems, and Organism.

Chemical Level

The organizational level consisting of atoms and molecules.

Cellular Level

The smallest living units of structure and function in the human body.

Tissue Level

Organizations of many cells that act together to perform a common function.

Organ Level

Group of several different kinds of tissues arranged in a way that allows them to act as a unit to perform a special function.

Body Systems Level

Organization of varying numbers and kinds of organs that can work together to perform complex functions for the body.

Organism Level

The whole body represented as a single living unit.

Homeostasis

The dynamic equilibrium and relatively stable state of the body's internal environment essential for cell survival.

Feedback Loop

The body's general control system for maintaining homeostatic conditions.

Negative Feedback

The most common feedback mechanism that opposes change in a controlled condition to maintain balance.

Positive Feedback

A less common feedback mechanism that enhances or amplifies occurring change so the controlled variable continues moving in the direction of initial change.

Pathophysiology

The study of abnormal functioning of the body associated with disease.

Anatomical Position

Standard reference posture where the body is erect, face forward, feet together, palms face forward, pinky aligned with thighs, and thumb facing away from the body.

Supine

Body posture lying on the back, with face and front of the body facing upwards.

Prone

Body posture lying on the stomach, with face and front of the body facing downwards.

Superior/Cephalic

Anatomical directional term meaning toward the head, used for axial structures.

Inferior/Caudal

Anatomical directional term meaning away from the head, used for axial structures.

Medial

Anatomical directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Anatomical directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Anatomical directional term meaning toward the point of origin or attachment, used for appendicular structures.

Distal

Anatomical directional term meaning away from the point of origin or attachment, used for appendicular structures.

Superficial

Anatomical directional term meaning nearer the body surface.

Deep

Anatomical directional term meaning farther away from the body surface.

Anterior/Ventral

Anatomical directional term meaning toward or front of the body.

Posterior/Dorsal

Anatomical directional term meaning toward or back of the body.

Sagittal Plane

Anatomical plane that divides the body into unequal right and left sections.

Midsagittal Plane

Anatomical plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves.

Frontal/Coronal Plane

Anatomical plane that divides the body or structure into anterior and posterior (front and back) positions.

Transverse Plane

Anatomical plane that divides the body or structure into upper and lower parts.

Oblique Plane

Anatomical plane that divides the body at any angle except for a right angle ($90^\times$ or $90^\text{ degrees}$).

Longitudinal Cut (Organ)

A section cut along the length of an organ, resulting in a rectangular shape.

Transverse/Cross Cut (Organ)

A section cut at a right angle to the length of an organ, resulting in a circular shape.

Oblique Cut (Organ)

A section cut at any angle except a right angle ($90^\text{ degrees}$) to the length of an organ, resulting in an oval shape.

Dorsal Body Cavities

Cavities located on the posterior side of the body containing the cranial and spinal cavities.

Cranial Cavity

Dorsal body space inside the skull that contains the brain.

Spinal Cavity

Dorsal body space inside the spinal column running down the back that contains the spinal cord.

Ventral Body Cavities

Cavities located on the anterior side of the body containing thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities.

Thoracic Cavity

Ventral body cavity located in the chest area above the diaphragm containing heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus, and thymus gland.

Pleural Cavities

Fluid-filled potential spaces between two layers of tissue surrounding each lung.

Mediastinum

The central compartment of the thoracic cavity located directly between the two pleural cavities.

Pericardiac Cavity

Fluid-filled potential space holding the heart located between the parietal and visceral layers of pericardium.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Ventral cavity located below the diaphragm extending down to the hips.

Abdominal Cavity

The largest hollow space of the body located below the diaphragm containing stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and intestines.

Pelvic Cavity

Bowl-shaped cavity enclosed by the bony pelvis located below the abdomen containing rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing liver, gallbladder, duodenum, head of pancreas, right kidney, adrenal gland, hepatic flexure, and parts of transverse and ascending colon.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing cecum, appendix, part of ascending colon, small intestine, right ureter, and right reproductive structures.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing stomach, spleen, body and tail of pancreas, left kidney, adrenal gland, splenic flexure, and parts of transverse and descending colon.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing sigmoid colon, part of descending colon, small intestine, left ureter, and left reproductive structures.

Right Hypochondriac Region

Upper right abdominopelvic region under the ribs containing liver, gallbladder, right kidney, and part of small intestine.

Epigastric Region

Upper middle abdominopelvic region containing stomach, liver, pancreas, duodenum, and adrenal glands.

Left Hypochondriac Region

Upper left abdominopelvic region under the ribs containing spleen, stomach, tail of pancreas, left kidney, and splenic flexure of colon.

Right Lumbar Region

Middle right abdominopelvic region near the waistline containing ascending colon, right kidney, and small intestine.

Umbilical Region

Center abdominopelvic region around the belly button containing small intestine (jejunum & ileum), transverse colon, and abdominal aorta.

Left Lumbar Region

Middle left abdominopelvic region near the waistline containing descending colon, left kidney, and small intestine.

Right Iliac Region

Lower right abdominopelvic region near the hip bone containing appendix, cecum, ascending colon, and small intestine.

Hypogastric Region

Lower middle abdominopelvic region towards the pubic bone containing bladder, sigmoid colon, reproductive organs, and rectum.

Left Iliac Region

Lower left abdominopelvic region near the hip bone containing descending colon, sigmoid colon, and small intestine.

Axial Region

Body region comprising the head, neck, and torso or trunk.

Appendicular Region

Body region comprising upper and lower extremities (arms & legs), including scapula, clavicle, and pelvis.

Epithelial Tissue

A primary type of body tissue with minimal matrix that covers outer body surfaces, lines internal cavities and organs, and forms glandular tissue.

Squamous Epithelial Cells

Flat and scalelike epithelial cells with centrally located nuclei.

Cuboidal Epithelial Cells

Cube-shaped epithelial cells with centrally located nuclei.

Columnar Epithelial Cells

Epithelial cells higher than they are wide, with nuclei placed near the basal side.

Transitional Epithelial Cells

Epithelial cells with varying shapes capable of stretching.

Simple Epithelium

An epithelial arrangement composed of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

An epithelial arrangement composed of many layers of cells.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

Epithelium that appears to have multiple layers but actually consists of a single layer of cells.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Single layer of flat cells lining lung alveoli, blood vessels, and body cavities, functioning in diffusion and filtration.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

Single layer of cube-shaped cells in kidney tubules and gland ducts, functioning in secretion and absorption.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Single layer of column-like cells lining the gastrointestinal tract, functioning in secretion and absorption.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Multiple layers of flat cells functioning in protection against abrasion (keratinized in skin epidermis; non-keratinized in mouth, esophagus, and vagina).

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Multiple layers of cube-shaped cells lining sweat and salivary gland ducts for protection.

Stratified Columnar Epithelium

Multiple layers of columnar cells lining male urethra and large excretory ducts for protection and secretion.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Single layer of column-like cells appearing stratified, lining airways of the upper respiratory tract to secrete and move mucus via ciliary action.

Transitional Epithelium

Stratified tissue lining the urinary bladder with cells of varying shapes that permit distention and act as a urine barrier.

Exocrine Glands

Duct-containing glands that discharge secretions directly onto an epithelial surface.

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands that release secretions directly into surrounding extracellular fluid.

Serous Glands

Exocrine glands that secrete enzyme-rich fluids (e.g., parotid salivary gland, pancreas).

Mucous Glands

Exocrine glands that secrete mucins that absorb water to form protective mucus.

Mixed Exocrine Glands

Exocrine glands containing both serous and mucous cells capable of both secretion types.

Secretory Sheet

The simplest multicellular exocrine gland consisting of mucus-secreting cells lining an organ surface, such as the stomach.

Merocrine Secretion

Glandular secretion mode where secretory vesicles discharge products at the surface via exocytosis without cell damage.

Apocrine Secretion

Glandular secretion mode involving pinching off and loss of apical cytoplasm along with secretory vesicles, while retaining the nucleus.

Holocrine Secretion

Glandular secretion mode where mature superficial cells burst completely and die to release secretory product, replaced by mitosis.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

Extracellular gel or fluid substance made of ground substance and interlocking protein fibers surrounding tissue cells.

Fibroblasts

Fixed connective tissue cells that produce protein fibers and maintain the extracellular matrix.

Fixed Macrophages

Stationary phagocytic cells in connective tissue that phagocytize pathogens and cell debris.

Adipocytes

Fixed connective tissue cells specialized for storing lipid reserves (fat).

Mesenchymal Cells

Stem cells in connective tissue capable of differentiating into other cell types.

Melanocytes

Fixed connective tissue cells that synthesize melanin to absorb UV light and pigment the skin.

Areolar Tissue

Most common loose connective tissue found under epithelia, containing loose fibers in a semifluid ground substance for strength, elasticity, and support.

Adipose Tissue

Loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes with peripherally located nuclei, specialized for lipid storage, metabolic regulation, and heat production.

Reticular Tissue

Loose connective tissue featuring network of interlacing reticular fibers forming the stroma of organs such as liver, spleen, and bone marrow.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Connective tissue composed predominantly of parallel collagen fiber bundles with fibroblasts, forming tendons and ligaments for strong attachment.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Connective tissue composed of randomly arranged collagen fiber bundles providing multi-directional strength in the dermis and heart valves.

Elastic Connective Tissue

Connective tissue consisting of freely branching elastic fibers allowing stretching of organs like lungs and trachea.

Hyaline Cartilage

Most common cartilage type featuring shiny bluish-white matrix and chondrocytes, providing smooth joint surfaces, flexibility, and support.