Introduction to the Human Organism

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts of human anatomy, physiology, organ systems, homeostasis, and medical imaging as presented in Chapter 01.

Anatomy

The scientific discipline that investigates the body’s structure.

Physiology

The scientific investigation of the processes or functions of living things.

Gross (Macroscopic) Anatomy

The study of structures that can be examined without the use of a microscope.

Regional Anatomy

An approach to anatomy where the body is studied area by area.

Systemic Anatomy

An approach to anatomy where the body is studied system by system.

Surface Anatomy

The study of the external form of the body and its relation to deeper structures, often used in anatomic imaging like x-rays.

Cytology

A branch of microscopic anatomy that examines cellular anatomy.

Histology

The study of tissues using a microscope.

Cell Physiology

The examination of the processes occurring within cells.

Pathology

The study of structural and functional changes caused by disease.

Chemical Level

The structural level involving the interaction of atoms to form molecules like DNA.

Cell Level

The structural and functional unit of living organisms, where molecules form organelles such as the nucleus and mitochondria.

Tissue Level

A group of similar cells and the materials surrounding them.

Organ Level

One or more tissues functioning together to perform specific tasks, such as the urinary bladder.

Organ System Level

A group of organs, such as the kidneys and urinary bladder, functioning together.

Organism Level

Any living thing considered as a whole, made up of interacting organ systems.

Integumentary System

Provides protection, regulates temperature, and prevents water loss; consists of skin, hair, nails, and sweat glands.

Skeletal System

Provides protection and support, allows movement, produces blood cells, and stores minerals; consists of bones, cartilages, and joints.

Muscular System

Produces body movements, maintains posture, and produces body heat; consists of muscles attached to the skeleton by tendons.

Lymphatic System

Removes foreign substances from blood, combats disease, maintains fluid balance, and absorbs fats; consists of lymph nodes and vessels.

Respiratory System

Exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and air and regulates blood pH; consists of lungs and respiratory passages.

Digestive System

Performs mechanical and chemical digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination; consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

Nervous System

A major regulatory system that detects sensations and controls movements and physiological processes; consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Endocrine System

A regulatory system influencing metabolism, growth, and reproduction through hormones secreted by glands like the pituitary.

Cardiovascular System

Transports nutrients, wastes, and gases, and plays a role in immune response and temperature regulation; consists of the heart and blood vessels.

Urinary System

Removes waste products from blood and regulates pH, ion balance, and water balance; consists of kidneys and urinary bladder.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions occurring in the body.

Responsiveness

The ability of an organism to sense changes in its environment and adjust to them.

Differentiation

A part of development involving change from a general cell type to a specific cell type.

Morphogenesis

A part of development involving changes in the shape of tissues and organs.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a steady state in the internal body environment despite changes in the external environment.

Set Point

The ideal normal value of a variable, such as body temperature at approximately $98.6\,^{\circ}F$.

Negative Feedback

A mechanism that counteracts or reduces an incoming stimulus to bring a variable back toward the set point.

Positive Feedback

A mechanism that makes a deviation from the set point greater, exacerbating the stimulus; examples include childbirth and blood clotting.

Anatomical Position

The standard position where the body is erect, face is forward, feet are together, and palms face forward.

Supine

The body position of lying face upward.

Prone

The body position of lying face downward.

Superior (Cephalic)

A directional term meaning toward the head or a structure above another.

Inferior (Caudal)

A directional term meaning away from the head or a structure below another.

Medial

A directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

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

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Superficial

Toward or on the surface of the body.

Deep

Away from the surface, toward the interior of the body.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that runs through the body, dividing it into right and left portions.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

A plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

Transverse (Cross) Plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) sections.

Mediastinum

A partition that divides the thoracic cavity and contains all its structures except the lungs.

Visceral Serous Membrane

The inner layer of a serous membrane that covers the organs within a trunk cavity.

Parietal Serous Membrane

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

Pericardium

The serous membrane associated specifically with the heart.

Pleura

The serous membrane associated with the lungs and thoracic cavity.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane associated with the abdominopelvic cavity.

Radiography (X-ray)

An imaging technique that uses extremely shortwave electromagnetic radiation to form a 2-D shadowy negative of internal structures.

Ultrasound (US)

An imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves analyzed by a computer to create a sonogram.

Computed Tomography (CT)

A computer-analyzed composite of x-ray images showing "slices" through the body.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Uses magnetism and radio waves to align hydrogen protons and analyze their realignment time to produce clear body sections.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Uses radioactively labeled glucose to pinpoint and calculate the metabolic activity of cells.

Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)

Comparison of radiographs with and without radiopaque dye to enhance the visualization of blood vessels.