Human Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Cells, Tissues, and Integument Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational concepts of human anatomy, physiology, chemical principles, plasma membrane dynamics, tissue classification, and skin structure.

Anatomy

The study of the various structures of the body and their relationship to one another.

Gross Anatomy

The study of body structures visible to the naked eye.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of body structures that are microscopic.

Physiology

The study of how individual body parts function on a normal level, most often considered at the cellular or molecular level.

Principle of Complementarity of Structure and Function

The anatomical principle stating that what a structure can do is directly dependent on its specific form.

Catabolism

Metabolic chemical reactions that involve breaking down substances into smaller parts.

Anabolism

Metabolic chemical reactions that involve building up complex structures from smaller parts.

Cellular Respiration

Chemical reactions that lead to the production of ATP, the main energy molecule of the cell.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

A homeostatic regulatory mechanism that causes a variable to change in a direction opposite to the initial change, regulating events requiring small adjustments.

Positive Feedback Mechanism

A regulatory mechanism that causes the original change of a variable to be enhanced, leading to large changes.

Dorsal Body Cavity

A fluid-filled cavity that protects organs of the central nervous system, composed of the cranial cavity and spinal cavity.

Ventral Body Cavity

A main body cavity housing visceral organs, composed of the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Serous Membrane (Serosa)

A double-layered membrane composed of an inner visceral layer and outer parietal layer separated by serous fluid to prevent friction.

Pericardium

The specific serous membrane surrounding the heart.

Pleura

The specific serous membrane surrounding the lungs.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane surrounding most organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture composed of very small solute particles dissolved in a solvent that do not settle out.

Colloid

A heterogeneous mixture composed of large solute particles that do not settle out and can undergo sol-gel transformation.

Suspension

A heterogeneous mixture composed of large solute particles that settle out over time.

Sol-Gel Transformation

The reversible process in which a colloid changes from a fluid state to a more solid state.

Molarity

A concentration unit representing the number of moles of a substance per liter of solution ($\text{mol/L}$).

Electrolytes

Ions formed when salts, acids, or bases dissociate in solution, such as $\text{Na}^+$, $\text{K}^+$, and $\text{Fe}^+$.

Monosaccharides

The monomer subunits of carbohydrates, including glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Triglycerides

Lipids composed of fatty acids and glycerol monomers that function in protection, insulation, and energy storage.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body by lowering activation energy.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy transfer molecule of body cells containing a high-energy triphosphate tail.

Fluid Mosaic Model

A model describing the general structure of the plasma membrane with a lipid bilayer containing randomly dispersed proteins.

Integral Proteins

Proteins that are firmly embedded directly within the plasma membrane.

Transmembrane Proteins

Integral proteins that span the entire width of the plasma membrane.

Peripheral Proteins

Proteins that are loosely attached to integral proteins and are not found in the lipid bilayer.

Glycocalyx

A carbohydrate-rich area on the cell surface formed by short-branching carbohydrates attached to lipids or proteins, used for cellular identification.

Tight Junction

An impermeable cell junction where proteins in neighboring cell membranes fuse directly together.

Desmosomes

Anchoring intercellular structures that act like spot welds or velcro to hold cells together and resist high physical stress.

Gap Junctions

Communicating intercellular junctions that form open channels between neighboring cells.

Osmosis

The passive diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from low solute concentration to high solute concentration.

Tonicity

The ability of a solution to change the shape or volume of a cell by altering its internal water volume.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a higher concentration of nonpenetrating solutes than inside the cell, causing water to leave the cell and the cell to crenate.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower concentration of nonpenetrating solutes than inside the cell, causing water to enter the cell and swell or burst.

Primary Active Transport

Membrane transport requiring direct ATP hydrolysis by transport proteins, such as the sodium-potassium ATPase pump.

Sodium-Potassium ATPase Pump

A primary active transport pump that uses energy from one ATP molecule to move $3\text{ Na}^+$ ions out of the cell and $2\text{ K}^+$ ions into the cell.

Secondary Active Transport

Membrane transport driven by energy stored in ionic concentration gradients created by primary active transport, without directly using ATP.

Phagocytosis

A type of endocytosis where a cell engulfs large or solid material bound to receptors on the cell surface.

Pinocytosis

A non-specific endocytosis process where a cell brings in a small volume of extracellular fluid containing small solute particles.

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

A highly specific type of endocytosis where target substances bind to specific membrane receptor proteins to form a vesicle.

Resting Membrane Potential

The electrical voltage difference across the plasma membrane when a cell is at rest, averaging $-70\text{ mV}$.

Mesothelium

The simple squamous epithelium lining serous membranes including the pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum.

Endothelium

The simple squamous epithelium that forms slick, slippery inner linings of blood vessels.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of column-shaped cells appearing stratified due to scattered nuclei at varying levels, often ciliated and mucus-secreting.

Keratinocytes

The primary cell type forming the epidermis that produces protective keratin proteins.

Melanocytes

Epidermal cells containing melanosomes that synthesize melanin pigment to shade keratinocyte nuclei from UV radiation.

Dendritic Cells

Antigen-presenting immune cells in the skin that help activate white blood cells against foreign invaders.

Merkel Cells

Sensory receptor cells located at the epidermal-dermal junction that detect light touch and vibrations.

Stratum Basale

The deepest epidermal layer consisting of a single row of rapidly dividing cells attached to the dermis.

Stratum Spinosum

The epidermal layer containing pre-keratin protein filaments that resist tension and abundant dendritic cells.

Stratum Granulosum

The epidermal layer characterized by keratohyaline granules (forming keratin) and lamellar granules (containing water-resistant glycolipids).

Stratum Lucidum

A thin layer of non-living cells found only in thick skin, such as the palms of hands and soles of feet.

Stratum Corneum

The most superficial epidermal layer composed of non-living, keratinized cells surrounded by intercellular glycolipids for waterproofing and abrasion protection.