An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms, definitions, levels of organization, organ systems, anatomical terminology, body cavities, and homeostatic regulation from the lecture notes on An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology.

Anatomy

Describes the structures of the body, including what they are made of, where they are located, and associated structures.

Physiology

The study of the functions of anatomical structures, both individually and cooperatively.

Gross Anatomy (Macroscopic Anatomy)

Examines large, visible bodily structures.

Microscopic Anatomy

Examines cells and molecules.

Cytology

The microscopic study of cells.

Histology

The microscopic study of tissues.

Human Physiology

Includes cell physiology, organ physiology, systemic physiology, and pathological physiology.

Signs

Objective, observable indications of a disease or condition (e.g., a fever).

Symptoms

Subjective experiences felt by a patient (e.g., tiredness).

Chemical Level of Organization

Involves atoms (smallest stable units of matter) and molecules (groups of atoms).

Cellular Level of Organization

Involves cells, the smallest living units in the body.

Tissue Level of Organization

Comprised of a group of cells working together.

Organ Level of Organization

Comprised of two or more tissues working together.

Organ System Level of Organization

Comprised of a group of interacting organs; humans have 11 such systems.

Homeostasis

All body systems work together to maintain a stable internal environment, responding to changes to keep variables within normal ranges.

Integumentary System

Protects against environmental hazards, helps regulate body temperature, and provides sensory information. Major organs include skin, hair, sweat glands, and nails.

Skeletal System

Provides support and protection for other tissues, stores calcium and other minerals, and forms blood cells. Major organs include bones, cartilages, and associated ligaments.

Muscular System

Provides movement, protection and support for other tissues, and generates heat. Major organs include skeletal muscles and associated tendons.

Nervous System

Directs immediate responses to stimuli, coordinates or moderates other organ systems, and provides and interprets sensory information. Major organs include the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Endocrine System

Directs long-term changes in other organ systems, adjusts metabolic activity and energy use, and controls many structural and functional changes during development. Major organs include the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands.

Cardiovascular System

Distributes blood cells, water, nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and waste products; also distributes heat to control body temperature. Major organs include the heart, blood, and blood vessels.

Lymphatic System

Defends against infection and disease, and returns tissue fluids to the bloodstream. Major organs include the spleen, thymus, lymphatic vessels, and lymph nodes.

Respiratory System

Delivers air to alveoli for gas exchange, provides oxygen to the bloodstream, removes carbon dioxide, and produces sounds for communication. Major organs include the lungs, trachea, and bronchi.

Digestive System

Processes and digests food, absorbs and conserves water and nutrients, and stores energy reserves. Major organs include the stomach, small and large intestines, and liver.

Urinary System

Excretes waste products from the blood, controls water balance, stores urine, and regulates blood ion concentrations and pH. Major organs include the kidneys, ureters, and urinary bladder.

Male Reproductive System

Produces male sex cells (sperm), seminal fluids, and hormones, and is responsible for sexual intercourse. Major organs include the testes and penis.

Female Reproductive System

Produces female sex cells (oocytes) and hormones, supports the developing embryo from conception to delivery, provides milk to nourish newborn infants, and is responsible for sexual intercourse. Major organs include the ovaries, uterus, and mammary glands.

Eponyms

Commemorative names for anatomical structures, many of which have been replaced by more precise terms in medical terminology.

Anatomical Position

A standard reference position where the body stands upright with hands at the sides and palms facing forward.

Supine

Lying down, face up.

Prone

Lying down, face down.

Superior

Above; at a higher level; toward the head (also Cranial or Cephalic).

Inferior

Below; at a lower level; toward the feet (also Caudal).

Proximal

Toward the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Distal

Away from the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Anterior (Ventral)

The front surface or belly side of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

The back surface or back of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Superficial

At, near, or relatively close to the body surface.

Deep

Toward the interior of the body; farther from the surface.

Sectional Plane

A single view along a two-dimensional flat surface used to visualize internal organization.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

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

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions.

Midsagittal Plane

A sagittal plane that passes through the midline, dividing the body into equal left and right sides.

Transverse (Cross) Plane

A plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions; oriented perpendicular to the long axis.

Ventral Body Cavity (Coelom)

A major body cavity divided by the diaphragm into the superior thoracic cavity and the inferior abdominopelvic cavity.

Viscera

Internal organs contained within body cavities.

Serous Membrane (Serosa)

A membrane that lines body cavities and covers organs, consisting of parietal and visceral layers.

Parietal Serosa

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

Visceral Serosa

The layer of a serous membrane that covers the organ.

Thoracic Cavity

The superior subdivision of the ventral body cavity, containing the pleural cavities, mediastinum, and pericardial cavity.

Pericardial Cavity

Located within the mediastinum, it contains the heart.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

The inferior subdivision of the ventral body cavity, located below the diaphragm, containing the peritoneal cavity, abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity.

Peritoneal Cavity

A chamber within the abdominopelvic cavity lined by the parietal peritoneum and covering organs with the visceral peritoneum.

Retroperitoneal Space

The area posterior to the peritoneum and anterior to the muscular body wall, containing organs like the pancreas and kidneys.

Homeostatic Regulation

The process by which the body maintains a stable internal environment, involving autoregulation and extrinsic regulation.

Autoregulation

An automatic response in a cell, tissue, or organ to an environmental change, without external nervous or endocrine control.

Extrinsic Regulation

Homeostatic responses controlled by the nervous and endocrine systems.

Receptor

A component of a homeostatic regulatory mechanism that receives the stimulus.

Control Center

A component of a homeostatic regulatory mechanism that processes the signal from the receptor and sends instructions.

Effector

A component of a homeostatic regulatory mechanism that carries out the instructions from the control center.

Negative Feedback

A homeostatic mechanism where the response of the effector negates the original stimulus, bringing the body back into its normal range.

Positive Feedback

A homeostatic mechanism where the initial stimulus produces a response that amplifies the original change, moving the body away from homeostasis to complete a process quickly (e.g., blood clotting).

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state of continual adaptation where opposing forces are in balance within physiological systems to maintain homeostasis.