BIO211 CH1 Vocab

science

way of observing and measuring a natural phenomenon in order to explain them

human anatomy

the study of the structure of the human body

human physiology

the study of the functions of the human body

cellular composition

cells are the smallest units that carry out the functions of life

metabolism

how much energy we use; living organisms carry out this chemical process

anabolism

"building" processes in metabolism

catabolism

"breaking down" processes in metabolism

growth

increase in size and/or number of cells

excertion

elimination of potentially harmful waste products created by metabolic processes

responsiveness/ irritability

organisms sense and react to changes of stimuli in their environment

movement

organisms or individual cells of organisms move

reproduction

production of new cells during growth or repair; production of new organism/offspring

chemical level

smallest level; chemicals range from tiny atoms to complex molecules

cellular level

groups of many different types of molecules combine in specific ways to form cellular structures

tissue level

two or more cell types and material outside them; called extracellular matrix; combine to perform common function

organ level

two or more tissue types combine to form an organ with recognizable shape that performs specialized tasks

organ system level

two or more organs that work together to carry out broad functions in the body

organism level

organ systems function together to make up working human body - an organism

cardiovascular system

pumps blood, delivers oxygen to tissue

reproductive system

system of organs involved in producing offspring, secretes hormones

respiratory system

allows oxygen to enter the body and gaseous wastes like carbon dioxide to leave the body

endocrine system

controls hormone regulation; responsible for care of many bodily functions such as metabolism

digestive system

ingests, breaks down, and absorbs nutrients

skeletal system

supports and protects structure and movement of body; stability

integumentary system

protects organs and bones; maintains temperature and provides sensory info

urinary system

waste removal; filters blood and produces urine

nervous system

transmits signals; works with endocrine system; maintains homeostasis and initiates voluntary movements

lymphatic system

defense against infection and disease (immune system); maintains homeostasis in presence of pathogens

systemic anatomy

examines individuals organ systems ex: respiratory system

regional anatomy

examines body in regions such as the head and the neck

suface anatomy

examines surface markings

gross anatomy

examines structures that can be seen with unaided eye (without microscope)

microscopic anatomy

examines cells and tissues with the use of a microscope

cytology

the study of cells

histology

the study of tissues

anatomical position

common frame of reference; body standing upright, feet shoulder width apart, upper limbs at sides of trunk, heads and palms facing forward

directional terms

describes relative locations of body parts and markings to ensure accurate communication among scientists and healthcare professionals

anterior

front of the body

posterior

back of the body

superior

cranial, towards the head

inferior

caudal, towards the tail

proximal

closer to the point of origin

distal

further from the point of origin

medial

closer to the midline

lateral

further away from midline

superficial

structure closer to surface of body

deep

structures farther below surface

regional terms

body can be divided into two broad regions: axial (head, neck, & trunk), and appendicular (upper & lower limbs or appendages)

sagittal plane

divides the body into right and left sections

midsagittal plane

median plane; divides body into equal parts

parasagittal plane

divides the body into unequal right and left sides, also called the coronal plane; divides body into anterior & posterior sections

transverse plane

divides the body into superior and inferior sections, also called the horizontal plane

oblique plane

used less frequently; taken at an angle.

cavity

any space within the body; protects internal organs and allows them to move

cranial cavity

within skull; includes brain, filled with cerebrospinal fluid

spinal cavity

within the vertebral column; includes the spinal cord, filled with cerebrospinal fluid

posterior body cavity

consists of the cranial and spinal cavity

anterior body cavity

two main divisions separated by diaphragm; includes thoracic and abdominopelvic cavity

thoracic cavity

superior to diaphragm

abdominopelvic cavity

inferior to diaphragm

sereous membranes

thin sheets of tissue that fold over to form continuous double-layered structures filled with sereous fluid to lubricate organs in cavity

pleural cavity

surround left and right lungs

mediastinum cavities

between pleural cavities; houses heart, great vessels, trachea (wind pipe), and esophagus; not within serous membrane

pericardial cavity

within mediastinum; within serous membrane that surrounds heart

abdominopelvic cavity

subdivided into superior

abdominal cavity

contains organs from digestive, lymphatic, urinary, and reproductive systems

peritoneal cavity

abdominal subcavity found within serous membranes

visceral layer

contacts the organ

parietal layer

attaches to surrounding structures

four quadrants of abdominopelivic cavity

right and left upper quadrants (RUQ & LUQ); right and left lower quadrants (RLQ & LLQ)

nine regions of abdominopelvic cavity

right and left hypochondriac regions, epigastric region, right and left lumbar regions, umbilical region, right and left iliac (inguinal) regions, and hypogastric region

pleural membrane

surrounds the lungs; includes parietal and visceral pleura

pericardial membrane

surround the hearts; includes parietal and visceral pericardium

peritoneal membranes

surround some abdominal organs (intraperitoneal); includes parietal and visceral peritoneum

retroperitoneal

organs behind the parietal peritoneum

core principles

set of basic concepts of anatomy and physiology that are revisited repeatedly in the text; they are related to maintaining the body's internal environment; feedback loops, relationship of structure and function, gradients, and cell-cell communication

homeostasis

condition in which body develops and maintains relatively stable environment

hemeostatic imbalances

disturbances in hemostasis can lead to disease or death if uncorrected

regulated variables

variable in internal environment, such as temp, blood sugar, are controlled stay close to particular normal value

feedback loops

change in a regulated variable causes effects that feed back and in turn affect that same variable; made up of series of events that lead to output

negative feedback loops

oppose the initial change and reduce the output; promotes stability

positive feedback loops

reinforce initial change and increase output ex: child birth

pitocin

synthetic version of oxytocin used to induce labor

electrical signals

transmitted between neighboring cells

chemical messengers

released from cells; may work on neighboring cells or move to other cells through body fluids