Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering homeostasis, study practices, and related concepts.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a consistent internal environment in response to changing internal or external conditions.

Receptor

Component of a homeostatic system that detects changes in a variable (stimulus).

Control Center

Component of a homeostatic system that interprets input from the receptor and initiates changes through the effector.

Effector

Structure that brings about changes to alter the stimulus in a homeostatic system.

Negative Feedback

A control mechanism in the body where the resulting action is in the opposite direction of the stimulus, maintaining a variable within a normal range.

Positive Feedback

A control mechanism where the stimulus is reinforced to continue moving the variable in the same direction until a climactic event occurs, after which the body returns to homeostasis.

Homeostatic Imbalance

Occurs when the systems regulating internal conditions fail, potentially leading to disease.

Normal Range

The acceptable range of values for a homeostatic variable, typically representing the values for 95% of a healthy population.

Diagnosis

The specific cause of a homeostatic imbalance identified through the scientific method, involving data collection, hypothesis formulation, and testing.

SSRIs

Drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin into nerve cells in the brain, prolonging its effects and helping to elevate the mood of patients with depression.