BIO 105 - Anatomy & Physiology I Final Exam Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from BIO 105 Page 1 study guide.

Sensory receptors

Specialized cells or nerve endings that detect stimuli (e.g., light, sound, touch) and convert them into neural signals.

Autonomic receptors

Receptors responsive to autonomic neurotransmitters; include nicotinic and muscarinic receptors for acetylcholine and alpha/beta adrenergic receptors for norepinephrine.

Brachial plexus

Network of nerves (C5–T1) that gives rise to the axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median, and ulnar nerves supplying the upper limb.

Medulla oblongata

Caudal brainstem region controlling vital autonomic functions such as respiration and heart rate.

Pons

Brainstem region relaying signals between cerebrum and cerebellum; aids in respiration regulation.

Midbrain (mesencephalon)

Upper brainstem part containing structures involved in vision, hearing, and motor function.

Diencephalon

Brain region including the thalamus and hypothalamus; relays sensory information and regulates autonomic and endocrine functions.

Cerebellum

Brain region that coordinates voluntary movement, balance, and posture.

Cerebrum

Largest brain region with cerebral hemispheres responsible for higher-order functions like thinking, sensation, and movement.

Hyperpolarization

Membrane potential becoming more negative than resting potential, reducing cellular excitability.

Reflex arc

Neural circuit: receptor → sensory neuron → integration center → motor neuron → effector (elicits a reflex).

Synarthrosis

Immovable joint type (e.g., skull sutures).

Amphiarthrosis

Slightly movable joint type (e.g., pubic symphysis, intervertebral joints).

Diarthrosis

Freely movable joint type (synovial joints; e.g., knee, elbow, shoulder).

Sliding filament theory

Contraction mechanism where actin and myosin cross-bridges cycle with ATP hydrolysis, shortening sarcomeres.

Golgi tendon organ (GTO)

Tendon-associated sensory receptor that detects muscle tension to protect tendons from overload.

Muscle spindle

Stretch receptor in muscle that detects changes in muscle length and rate of length change, triggering stretch reflex.

Cranial nerves (I–XII)

12 paired nerves with sensory, motor, or parasympathetic functions; e.g., CN II (optic) for vision and CN VII (facial) for facial expression.

Ear anatomy

Outer, middle, and inner ear structures including the tympanic membrane, ossicles, cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibule.

Vision components

Key structures: cornea, lens, retina (rods and cones), fovea, optic nerve; processes include accommodation and light transduction.

Sympathetic nervous system

Fight-or-flight division; increases heart rate, dilates pupils, redirects blood to muscles, and releases adrenaline.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Rest-and-digest division; decreases heart rate, constricts pupils, stimulates digestion.

Hypothalamus

Regulates autonomic function and endocrine output via the pituitary; involved in temperature, hunger, thirst, and sleep-wake cycles.

Neuron

Nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses; composed of soma, dendrites, and an axon.

Glial cells

Supportive CNS/PNS cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, Schwann cells) that protect and nourish neurons.

Nerve conduction

Propagation of action potentials along a nerve; myelination and Nodes of Ranvier enable saltatory conduction.

Membrane potential

Electrical potential difference across a cell membrane; typically around -70 mV at rest in neurons.

Isometric contraction

Muscle length remains constant while tension changes (no joint movement).

Isotonic contraction

Muscle changes length with a constant tension; includes concentric and eccentric subtypes.

Concentric contraction

Muscle shortens as it produces force (lifting a load).

Eccentric contraction

Muscle lengthens while producing force (lowering a load).

Hyaline cartilage

Most common cartilage; glassy matrix found in articular surfaces, trachea, and larynx.

Fibrocartilage

Dense cartilage with thick collagen fibers; located in intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, and menisci.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage with many elastic fibers; found in the ear and epiglottis.

Muscle fiber anatomy

Muscle fiber (cell) contains a sarcolemma, sarcoplasm, myofibrils organized into sarcomeres, plus T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Sarcolemma

Muscle cell membrane enclosing the muscle fiber.

T-tubules

Transverse invaginations of the sarcolemma that propagate action potentials into the muscle cell.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

Calcium storage and release network in muscle cells, triggering contraction.

Myofibril

Contractile organelle within a muscle fiber composed of repeating sarcomeres.

Sarcomere

Fundamental contractile unit of a muscle; bordered by Z-discs and containing actin and myosin.

Actin

Thin filament protein that slides past myosin during contraction.

Myosin

Thick filament motor protein that forms cross-bridges with actin to generate force.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junctions; triggers muscle contraction and operates in autonomic synapses.

Norepinephrine

Sympathetic neurotransmitter that increases alertness and heart rate; acts via alpha and beta receptors.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter involved in reward, movement, and attention; imbalances linked to Parkinson’s and schizophrenia.

GABA

Gamma-aminobutyric acid; primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS.

Glutamate

Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS; critical for synaptic plasticity and learning.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, appetite, and arousal.

Multiple sclerosis

Autoimmune demyelinating disease of the CNS with varied neurologic symptoms.

Parkinson’s disease

Neurodegenerative disease with loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra; tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.

Alzheimer’s disease

Neurodegenerative disease with progressive memory loss and cognitive decline; amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Motor neuron disease causing progressive weakness and muscle atrophy.

Glaucoma

Intraocular pressure–related optic neuropathy causing peripheral to central vision loss.

Macular degeneration

Degeneration of the macula leading to central vision loss; common in older adults.

Retinitis pigmentosa

Inherited retinal dystrophy with rod degeneration causing progressive tunnel vision.

Sensorineural deafness

Hearing loss due to inner ear or auditory nerve pathology.

Accommodation

Process by which the eye increases optical power for near vision via ciliary muscle contraction and lens thickening.