Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Human Body - Question and Answer Flashcards

Q&A flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 1: Introduction to the Human Body, including anatomy vs physiology, levels of organization, homeostasis, body fluids, membranes, planes, directional terms, body cavities, and basic body systems.

What is the difference between anatomy and physiology?

Anatomy is the science of body structures and their relationships; physiology is the science of how body parts function.

What are the four basic tissue types?

Epithelial tissue, Connective tissue, Muscular tissue, and Nervous tissue.

What is the organ level in the levels of structural organization?

The organ level consists of groups of tissues that work together to perform specific functions (e.g., stomach, liver).

What is the system level in the levels of structural organization?

The system level consists of related organs that have a common function (e.g., digestive system).

What is the organismal level in the levels of structural organization?

The entire living human being—the whole organism.

Which level of organization is the smallest, containing atoms and molecules?

Chemical level (atoms and molecules).

Which level combines two or more types of cells?

Tissue level.

Which level consists of related organs?

System level.

Name the major body systems listed in the notes.

Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Lymphoid/Immunity, Digestive, Urinary, Genital/Reproductive.

What is homeostasis?

A state of equilibrium in the body's internal environment, maintained by regulatory processes; normal limits are dynamic.

What are intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid?

Intracellular fluid is inside cells; extracellular fluid is outside cells and includes interstitial fluid, blood plasma, lymph, and other fluids.

What are serous membranes and their function?

Thin, double-layered membranes that cover viscera and line body walls; they reduce friction.

Which serous membranes surround the heart and lungs in the thoracic cavity?

Pericardium surrounds the heart; pleura surround the lungs.

What does the peritoneum cover, and what does retroperitoneal mean?

The peritoneum covers many abdominal organs; retroperitoneal means an organ is posterior to the peritoneum and not enveloped by it.

What are the abdominal regions and quadrants used for?

To describe the locations of organs within the abdominal cavity.

Define the anatomical position.

A standardized position: standing erect, facing the observer, upper limbs at the sides, palms forward, feet flat on the floor.

What is prone and what is supine?

Prone = body lying face down; Supine = body lying face up.

Name some directional terms and what they mean (e.g., Superior, Inferior, Anterior, Posterior).

Superior (toward the head); Inferior (away from the head, toward the feet); Anterior (forward, ventral); Posterior (toward the back, dorsal).

What do medial, lateral, proximal, and distal mean?

Medial = closer to the midline; Lateral = farther from the midline; Proximal = nearer to the limb’s attachment to the trunk; Distal = farther from the limb’s attachment.

What is superficial vs deep?

Superficial = toward the surface of the body; Deep = away from the surface.

What are the three planes commonly used to divide the body?

Median (sagittal) plane, Coronal (frontal) plane, and Transverse (horizontal) plane.

What is the difference between signs and symptoms?

Signs are objective observations; symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient.

What are negative and positive feedback loops?

Negative feedback reverses a change to return to homeostasis; positive feedback amplifies a change until interrupted by another stimulus.

Give an example of a body system and one of its components.

Digestive system; components include mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, etc.

What are serous membranes in the thoracic and abdominal cavities?

Visceral and parietal serous membranes that line and cover thoracic/abdominal viscera and walls; they reduce friction.

What cavity contains the pericardium and pleura?

The thoracic cavity (pericardium around the heart; pleura around the lungs).

What is the role of the peritoneum?

The serous membrane that covers many abdominal organs; retroperitoneal organs lie behind it.

What is the brain’s position relative to the heart?

Superior (cephalad) to the heart.

Where is the finger relative to the shoulder?

Distal to the shoulder.

Where is the stomach relative to the lungs?

Inferior to the lungs.

What is the function of the anatomical terms prone and supine in describing body position?

Prone describes lying face down; Supine describes lying face up.

What is the difference between visceral and parietal serous membranes?

Visceral covers the organs; Parietal lines the walls of the cavities.

What does the urinary system include and what is its function?

Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra; functions to produce, store, and eliminate urine and regulate blood chemistry and balance.

What are the reproductive (genital) system components and their basic function?

Gonads (testes/ovaries) and associated organs; function to produce gametes and hormones, transport/store gametes, and in females, produce milk via mammary glands.

What is a Planes and Sections overview?

Planes are imaginary flat surfaces (median, coronal, transverse) used to divide the body for study.