Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology – Core Vocabulary

18 vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms from lecture notes on anatomy and physiology.

Systemic Anatomy

Branch of anatomy that studies the body by individual organ systems (e.g., cardiovascular, digestive).

Regional Anatomy

Study of the body by specific areas such as the head, chest, or arm, examining all structures within that region.

Surface Anatomy

Examination of external body landmarks to understand deeper structures they overlie.

Anatomical Imaging

Use of technologies like X-ray, MRI, CT, and ultrasound to visualize internal body structures non-invasively.

Physiology

Science that investigates the functions of living organisms and their parts.

Human Physiology

Sub-discipline of physiology focused specifically on functional processes in the human body.

Structural & Functional Organization

Hierarchical levels of the body: chemical → cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism.

Characteristics of Life

Key features of living organisms: organization, metabolism, responsiveness, growth, development, and reproduction.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Homeostatic Mechanism

Regulatory system involving receptor, control center, and effector that preserves homeostasis.

Negative-Feedback Mechanism

Control process that counteracts deviations from a set point, restoring normal conditions (e.g., body-temperature regulation).

Positive-Feedback Mechanism

Control process that reinforces initial change, driving the system further from the set point (e.g., blood clotting, childbirth).

Body Positions

Standardized postures such as anatomical position, supine (lying face up), and prone (lying face down) used for description.

Directional Terms

Vocabulary describing locations: superior/inferior, anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep.

Body Parts & Regions

Named areas like cephalic (head), cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), abdominal, pelvic, upper limb, lower limb.

Planes of the Body

Imaginary cuts: sagittal (left-right), frontal/coronal (front-back), transverse/horizontal (top-bottom), oblique (angled).

Body Cavities

Internal spaces: dorsal (cranial & vertebral) and ventral (thoracic, abdominal, pelvic) that house organs.

Serous Membranes

Thin double-layered membranes (parietal and visceral) lining body cavities and covering organs, secreting lubricating serous fluid.