Introduction to General Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic anatomy and physiology terms, levels of organization, organ systems, directional terminology, and homeostatic mechanisms as presented in the Module I lecture.

Anatomy

The scientific discipline that investigates the structure of the body, including its parts, chambers, and the relationship between structure and function; derived from the word meaning to dissect or cut apart.

Systemic anatomy

The study of the body by systems, such as the cardiovascular, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems.

Regional anatomy

The study of the organization of the body by areas, where all systems in a specific region like the head or arm are studied simultaneously.

Surface anatomy

The study of external features, such as bony projections, which serve as landmarks for locating deeper structures like the sternum for heart sounds.

Anatomical imaging

The use of technologies such as x-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create pictures of internal structures.

Physiology

The scientific discipline that deals with the processes or functions of living things, recognizing structures as dynamic.

Human physiology

The specific study of the processes and functions of human beings.

Cellular Physiology

The study of processes inside cells, such as the manufacturing of substances like proteins.

Systemic Physiology

The study of the functions of organ systems.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively constant environment within the body despite internal and external changes.

Organelles

Smaller structures inside cells, such as the nucleus or mitochondria, that carry out particular functions like digestion and movement.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

A molecule manufactured by mitochondria that cells use as a source of energy.

Tissue

A group of similar cells and the materials surrounding them that determine a specific function.

Epithelial Tissue

A primary tissue type that covers all external body surfaces, lines internal cavities and hollow organs, and forms glands.

Connective Tissue

A diverse group of tissues that supports, binds together, and protects other tissues and organs in the body.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue consisting of specialized cells called muscle fibers capable of contracting and shortening to generate force.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue composed of neurons and neuroglia that form the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Organ

A structure composed of two or more tissue types that together perform one or more common functions, such as the heart or stomach.

Organ system

A group of organs, such as the urinary system, that together perform a common function or set of functions.

Organism

Any living thing considered as a whole, whether a single-celled bacterium or a human with trillions of cells.

Integumentary System

The system consisting of skin, hair, nails, and glands that provides protection, regulates temperature, and prevents water loss.

Endocrine System

A major regulatory system consisting of glands like the pituitary and thyroid that secrete hormones to influence metabolism and growth.

Lymphatic System

The system that removes foreign substances from blood, maintains fluid balance, and absorbs dietary fats.

Organization

The specific interrelationships among individual parts of an organism and how they interact to perform functions.

Metabolism

The ability to use energy to perform vital functions such as growth, movement, and reproduction.

Responsiveness

An organism’s ability to sense changes in the external or internal environment and adjust to them.

Differentiation

Process in development where a cell changes from an immature, generalized state to a mature, specialized state.

Negative feedback

A homeostatic mechanism where any deviation from the set point is resisted or made smaller, maintaining variation within a normal range.

Receptor

A component of a feedback mechanism that monitors the value of a variable by detecting stimuli.

Control center

A component, such as the brain, that determines the set point for a variable and receives input from the receptor.

Effector

A component like sweat glands that adjusts the value of a variable when directed by the control center.

Positive feedback

A mechanism where the response to a stimulus results in the deviation from the set point becoming even greater, such as during blood clotting or childbirth.

Anatomical position

A reference position where a person stands upright, face directed forward, upper limbs at the sides, and palms facing forward.

Supine

The position of lying face upward.

Prone

The position of lying face downward.

Superior

A directional term meaning above.

Inferior

A directional term meaning below.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional terms referring to the front of the body or an organ.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional terms referring to the back of the body or an organ.

Proximal

A term meaning close to the point of attachment or another reference structure.

Distal

A term meaning far from the point of attachment or another reference structure.

Medial

A directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

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

Superficial

A term referring to a structure close to the surface of the body.

Deep

A term referring to a structure toward the interior of the body.

Sagittal plane

An imaginary surface that separates the body or a structure into right and left halves.

Median plane

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

Transverse (horizontal) plane

A plane running parallel to the ground that divides the body into superior and inferior portions.

Frontal (coronal) plane

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

Oblique section

A cut made diagonally across the long axis of an organ.

Viscera

A term collectively referring to the internal organs housed within the ventral body cavity.

Mediastinum

The medial section of the thoracic cavity housing the heart, thymus, trachea, and esophagus.

Serous membranes

Double-layered membranes lining body cavity walls and covering internal organ surfaces.

Parietal serous membrane

The layer of the serous membrane that lines the walls of the body cavities.

Visceral serous membrane

The layer of the serous membrane that covers the internal organs.

Mesenteries

Double-folded sheets of visceral peritoneum that attach digestive organs to the posterior abdominopelvic cavity wall.

Retroperitoneal organs

Organs that lie behind the peritoneum and are covered by it only on their anterior surface, such as the kidneys and pancreas.