Ch. 1 (flashcards)

Anatomy

Describes the structures of the body, including what they are made of, where they are located, and their associated structures.

Physiology

Studies the functions of anatomical structures and how they work independently and cooperatively to maintain life.

Gross Anatomy

Examines large, visible structures of the body without a microscope.

Microscopic Anatomy

Deals with structures too small to be seen without magnification.

Cytology

The study of internal structure of individual cells.

Histology

The study of tissues, which are groups of specialized cells and their products.

Homeostasis

The principle that all body systems work together to maintain a stable internal environment.

Autoregulation

Occurs when a cell, tissue, organ, or organ system automatically adjusts its activities in response to environmental changes.

Extrinsic Regulation

Responses controlled by the nervous system and/or the endocrine system that can issue commands to many cells or organs simultaneously.

Negative Feedback

The primary mechanism for homeostatic regulation where the effector's response negates or opposes the original stimulus.

Positive Feedback

A less common regulatory mechanism where the initial stimulus produces a response that amplifies the original stimulus.

Chemical Level

The simplest level of organization where atoms are the smallest stable units of matter.

Cellular Level

Cells are the smallest living units in the body formed by molecules interacting to create organelles.

Tissue Level

Groups of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function.

Organ Level

Functional units composed of two or more different types of tissues working together.

Organ System Level

A group of interacting organs that coordinate to perform major functions of the body.

Organism Level

An individual life form, representing all body systems working together to maintain life and health.

Serous Membranes

Thin, double-layered membranes that line the walls of the ventral body cavities and cover the surfaces of the organs.

Thoracic Cavity

Divided into right and left pleural cavities and mediastinum; contains lungs and heart.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Extends from the diaphragm to the pelvis and contains reproductive organs, the rectum, and the urinary bladder.

Anatomical Position

A reference position for describing the body: standing erect, feet apart, face forward, arms at sides with palms forward.

Supine

Lying face up, on the back.

Prone

Lying face down, on the stomach.

Directional Terms

Used to describe relative positions of structures in the body, e.g., superior, inferior, anterior, posterior.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Divisions of the anterior abdominopelvic surface into four quadrants for clinical examination.

Frontal Plane

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into left and right portions.

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.