Chapter 01 Major Themes of Anatomy and Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms and concepts from the notes.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body and the relationships between its parts.

Physiology

The study of how living organisms function.

Form and Function

The concept that structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) are interrelated.

Gross Anatomy

Study of structures that can be seen with the naked eye.

Histology

Examination of tissues and cells under a microscope.

Cadaver Dissection

Cutting and separating tissues to reveal their relationships.

Comparative Anatomy

Study of anatomy across different species to examine similarities, differences, and evolution.

Histology

Microscopic anatomy focusing on tissues.

Cytology

Study of the internal structure and function of individual cells.

Ultrastructure

Molecular detail of cells observed with electron microscopy.

Histopathology

Microscopic examination of tissues for signs of disease.

Neurophysiology

Physiology of the nervous system.

Endocrinology

Physiology of hormones and hormonal systems.

Pathophysiology

Mechanisms of disease and how disease affects function.

Evolution

Change in the genetic composition of a population over time, driven by natural selection.

Natural Selection

Process by which individuals with advantageous traits reproduce more successfully.

Cell Theory

All organisms are composed of cells; cells are the basic units of life.

Inductive Method

Gaining knowledge by making many observations and forming generalizations.

Hypothetico–Deductive Method

Formulating hypotheses and testing them through experiments.

Hypothesis

An educated, testable explanation for an observed phenomenon.

Theory

A well-supported explanation derived from facts, laws, and tested hypotheses.

Law of Nature

A generalization describing predictable behavior of matter and energy.

Fact

An independently verifiable observation.

Experimental Design

Plan for testing hypotheses, including controls, sample size, and methods to reduce bias.

Sample Size

The number of subjects or observations in a study.

Control Group

A group not receiving the experimental treatment, used for comparison.

Placebo

An inert treatment used to control for psychosomatic effects.

Double-Blind

Neither participants nor researchers know group assignments to prevent bias.

Peer Review

Evaluation by experts before funding or publication to ensure quality.

Effect Size

A measure of the magnitude of a treatment effect (e.g., Cohen’s d).

Gradient

A difference in concentration, temperature, or pressure that drives flow; matter and energy tend to move down gradients.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions within the body.

Negative Feedback

Regulatory loop that opposes a change to maintain a set point.

Set Point

The target value that a physiologic variable is maintained around.

Positive Feedback

Feedback that amplifies a change; can be beneficial (birth) or harmful (high fever).

Fever

Elevated body temperature resulting from a positive feedback loop; can be dangerous at very high temperatures.

Baroreceptors

Stretch receptors that detect changes in blood pressure.

Organ System

A group of organs coordinated to perform a broad physiological function.

Hierarchy of Complexity

Organism > organ system > organ > tissue > cell > organelle > macromolecule > molecule > atom.

Reductionism

Approach that explains complex systems by studying their parts.

Holism

Idea that emergent properties of the whole cannot be predicted from parts alone.

Cell

The basic unit of life; the smallest unit capable of performing all life processes.

Tissue

A group of similar cells performing a common function; four main types: epithelial, connective, muscular, neural.

Organ

A structure composed of two or more tissues working together to perform a specific function.

Organ System

Two or more organs functioning together to achieve a biological purpose.

Molecule

Two or more atoms bonded together.

Macromolecule

Large biological molecule such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, or lipids.

Organelle

A specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that retains its properties.

Directional Terms

Vocabulary describing location relative to body axes (e.g., superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, proximal, distal, superficial, deep).

Body Cavities

Cranial, vertebral (dorsal); thoracic (pleural, pericardial, mediastinum); abdominal, pelvic (ventral).

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Right upper, left upper, right lower, left lower quadrants..

Abdominopelvic Regions

Nine-region division of the abdomen (e.g., right hypochondriac, epigastric, etc.).

Anatomical Position

Standing upright with feet together, arms at sides, palms facing forward; baseline for directional terms.

Terminologia Anatomica (TA)

Worldwide standard of Latin anatomical names with English equivalents established in 1895 and updated in 1998.

Eponyms

Terms named after people; many are replaced by precise Latin terms in TA.

Word Elements in Medical Terms

Root (stem) with core meaning, combining vowels, prefixes, and suffixes to form terms.

Terminology Origins

Most medical terms come from Greek and Latin roots used historically by anatomists.

Medical Imaging Modalities

X-ray/radiography, CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET (positron emission tomography), ultrasound, and DSA (digital subtraction angiography).

X-ray Radiography

Imaging by high-energy radiation; dense tissues appear white (radiopaque).

Computed tomography; CT Scan

cross-sectional images produced by computer reconstruction.

Magnetic resonance imaging; MRI

best for soft tissues; uses magnetic fields and radio waves.

Positron emission tomography; PET Scan

assesses metabolic activity using radiolabeled glucose.

Ultrasound

Imaging using high-frequency sound waves; real-time images without ionizing radiation.

DSA; Digital subtraction angiography

subtracts pre-contrast from post-contrast images to visualize vessels.

Body Regions and Imaging Relevance

Knowledge of regional anatomy aids interpretation of imaging and clinical reasoning.

Inspection

To look

Palpation

To examine by touch

Auscultation

To listen to internal sounds of the body, typically using a stethoscope.

Percussion

To tap on the surface of the body to assess underlying structures.

Who was the physician to the Roman gladiators that wrote one of the most influential medical textbooks of his era?

Galen of Pergamon, known for his advancements in anatomy and physiology.

Andreas Vesalius taught anatomy in___

Italy

Who was the famous Jewish physician who served in the court of the sultan, Saladin?

Maimonides

In which of the following does a surgeon learn a procedure on animals before practicing on humans?

Comparative anatomy

Which book did Harvey write?

On the Motion of the Heart and Blood

Who wrote the textbook called The Canon of Medicine?

Ibn Sina (Avicenna)

The Englishman who invented the modern compound microscope in the 1600s and observed plant cells was___

Robert Hooke

first anatomist to publish an atlas of anatomy

Andreas Vesalius

first to observe and describe microorganisms using a microscope

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Jewish physician that wrote 10 medical books and numerous books on diseases

Moses Maimonides, also known as Rambam.

created cell theory

Schleiden and Schwann

created experimental physiology

William Harvey

Who improved the microscope and was the first to observe and describe cells?

Robert Hooke

The scientific method is:

highly variable

Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe ____

Microorganisms

process by which an educated guess is capable of being tested and may be proven false by experimentation

scientific method

Placebos are often given to avoid _____ effects

Psychosomatic

group that usually receives no treatment

Control group

Effects of a subject's state of mind on their physiology

psychosomatic effects

conscious or subconscious influence an experimenter may have on the interpretation of their data

experimenter bias

Law of Nature

a verbal or mathematical description of a predictable natural phenomenon called

theory

Explanatory statement that concisely summarizes the state of knowledge on a phenomenon and provides direction for further study

Author of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

Charles Darwin

adaptations

features that have evolved in response to environmental pressures

father of the theory of natural selection

Charles Darwin

Bipedalism

standing and walking on two legs

complete individual capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homeostasis

organism

ventral

torward the front or belly

dorsal

torward the back or spine

anterior

torward the ventral side