Anatomy and Physiology Practice Exam Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering human anatomy and physiology based on quiz questions regarding homeostasis, tissues, skin, bones, muscles, the nervous system, and special senses.

Homeostasis

A state of relative constancy.

Levels of Organization

The structural levels from smallest to largest: chemical, organelle, cellular, tissue, organ, system, and organism.

Tissue

An organization of many similar cells that are specialized to perform a certain function.

Feedback Control Loop Components

The basic components including the sensor, integrating center, and effector mechanism.

Positive Feedback Example

The contraction of the uterus during the birth of a baby.

Thoracic Cavity

The body cavity where the lungs are located.

Mediastinum

The region of the thoracic cavity containing the trachea, venae cavae, and esophagus, but excluding the lungs.

Abdominal Cavity

The body cavity where the gallbladder is located.

Popliteal

The anatomical term referring to the area behind the knee.

Hypogastric Region

The abdominal region in which the urinary bladder is found.

Sagittal Plane

A plane through the body that divides the body into right and left sides.

Connective Tissue

The basic tissue type that includes blood and cartilage.

Epithelial Tissue

The tissue that lines body cavities and protects body surfaces.

Endocrine Glands

Glands that are not ducted and release their products directly into tissue fluid and blood.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

A type of epithelium that consists of only one layer of cells despite its appearance.

Adipose Tissue Functions

Functions include insulating to conserve body heat, supporting and protecting the kidneys, and storing excess food.

Osteocytes

The mature cells of bone.

Merocrine Glands

Glandular tissues whose function does not injure the cell or cause a loss of cytoplasm.

Skin Functions

Includes defense against disease organisms, regulation of body temperature, and excretion of water and salts.

Stratum Corneum

The superficial outer layer of the epidermis.

Stratum Basale

The only one of the five epidermal cell layers that can undergo mitosis.

Dermis

The area of the skin referred to as true skin.

Hypodermis

The layer that connects the dermis to underlying tissues.

Hair Follicle

A structure found within the dermis layer of the skin.

Eccrine Glands

The most numerous, important, and widespread sweat glands in the body.

Endosteum

A membrane that can be found lining the medullary cavity of bones.

Osteoblasts

The cells that produce the organic matrix during bone formation.

Epiphyseal Plate

A structure whose major purpose is the lengthening of long bones.

Bone Matrix

Consists mostly of inorganic salts with a lesser amount of organic material.

Synovial Joints

The most movable joints in the body.

Synarthrosis

The functional classification for an immovable joint.

Hinge Joint

The type of joint exemplified by the knee.

Circumduction

The type of movement that occurs when the head is dropped to the shoulder, then to the chest, to the other shoulder, and toward the back.

Synchondroses

Joints that have hyaline cartilage between articulating bones.

Symphysis

The type of joint that joins the two pubis bones together.

Sarcomere

The smallest contractile unit of muscle.

A-band

The region of a sarcomere where thick myofilaments extend for the entire length.

Acetylcholine

The neurotransmitter secreted at the motor end plates of skeletal muscles.

Troponin

The protein to which calcium binds during muscle contraction stimulation.

Isotonic Contraction

A contraction in which the tension within the muscle remains the same but the length changes.

Sarcomere Striations

Visible patterns in skeletal muscle cells formed by Z-lines, A-bands, and I-bands.

Somatic Motor Neurons

The specific type of neurons that innervate skeletal muscles.

Fixators

Muscles that stabilize joints that a prime mover traverses.

Orbicularis Oris

The muscle used for kissing.

Insertion

The part of a muscle that attaches to the movable bone.

Muscle Contraction Strength

A property influenced by the amount of load, initial length of muscle fibers, and recruitment of motor units.

Sensory Neuron

A neuron that transmits a nerve impulse toward the central nervous system.

Oligodendrocytes

Cells responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord.

Resting Potential

A state where the inner surface of the neuronal plasma membrane has a negative charge and the membrane is more permeable to $K^+$ than to $Na^+$.

Impulse Conduction Pathway

The sequence of passage along a neuron: dendrite, cell body, and then axon.

Spatial Summation

The process where neurotransmitters released simultaneously from several presynaptic knobs converge on one postsynaptic neuron.

Synaptic Knob

A structure typically located on the end of an axon.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that are most likely to initiate an action potential in a postsynaptic neuron.

Interneurons

Neurons that reside strictly within the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division belonging to the efferent pathway of the autonomic nervous system.

Reflex Arc Neurons

Afferent neurons move signals to the CNS; efferent neurons move signals away from the CNS.

Blood Brain Barrier

A protective barrier consisting of astrocytes and tight junctions between endothelial cells forming capillary walls.

Lateral Corticospinal Tract

The tract responsible for voluntary movement, especially of the hands, fingers, feet, and toes of the opposite side.

Thalamus

A structure that arouses or alerts the cerebrum and sends somatosensory information.

Smell

The only sensory information that bypasses the thalamus.

Pia Mater

The layer of the meninges that adheres directly to the outer surface of the brain.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Functions

Functions include rinsing metabolic wastes, regulating the chemical environment, acting as a shock absorber, and keeping the brain buoyant.

Epithalamus

A region of the brain that includes the pineal gland.

Cauda Equina

A bundle of nerves beginning below the end of the spinal cord at vertebra $L3$.

Medulla Oblongata

The brain structure where several 'vital centers' are located.

Spinal Nerve Plexuses

The networks of spinal nerves including the Cervical, Brachial, and Lumbar plexuses.

Beta Receptors

Receptors that bind with the neurotransmitter norepinephrine.

Cerebellum Functions

Includes coordinating muscle action, controlling posture, and maintaining balance.

Parietal Lobe

The region of the cerebrum where third order sensory neurons terminate after synapsing in the thalamus.

Somatic Reflexes

Reflexes that result in the contraction of skeletal muscles.

Parasympathetic Stimulation

Includes physiological effects such as increased peristalsis in the digestive tract.

Sympathetic Stimulation

Includes physiological effects such as decreased pancreatic secretion, constriction of urinary sphincters, and dilation of skeletal muscle blood vessels.

Dorsal Nerve Root

The posterior root of a spinal nerve which includes sensory fibers and the spinal ganglion.

Vagus Nerve

The nerve responsible for impulses that cause increased peristalsis and decreased heart rate.

Somatic Senses

The senses that enable the detection of touch, temperature, and pain.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors most likely to be activated by noxious odors.

Proprioceptors

Receptors that function specifically in relation to body movement and position.

Olfactory Tract

The neural pathway that carries impulses associated with the sense of smell.

Vestibular and Cochlear Nerves

The nerves by which impulses are transmitted from the inner ear to the brainstem.

Utricle and Saccule

Vestibular structures whose major function is detecting the position of the head relative to gravity.

Sclera

The structure referred to as the white of the eye.

Accommodation

The process required to produce a clear image when viewing an object up close.

Filiform Papillae

The specific type of tongue papillae that do not possess taste buds.

Circumvallate Papillae

Huge dome-shaped bumps forming a transverse row near the back of the tongue.

Retina

The innermost part of the eye containing nervous tissue.