Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology - Chapter 1: An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards providing vocabulary terms and their definitions from Chapter 1: An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology.

Anatomy

The study of internal and external body structures and their physical relationships among other body parts.

Physiology

The study of how living organisms perform their vital functions.

Complementarity of structure and function

A principle stating that all specific functions are performed by specific structures, and the form of a structure relates to its function.

Human anatomy

The study of the structure of the human body.

Gross anatomy (macroscopic anatomy)

Examines large structures visible with the naked eye.

Surface anatomy

The study of the anatomy of the body surface.

Regional anatomy

The study of the anatomy of specific body areas.

Sectional anatomy

The understanding of the relationship of body structures by examining cross-sections.

Systemic anatomy

The study of the anatomy of organ systems.

Clinical anatomy

Anatomy as used in clinical practice.

Pathological anatomy

The study of anatomical changes during illness.

Radiologic anatomy

The study of anatomical structures seen using imaging techniques.

Surgical anatomy

The study of anatomical landmarks important in surgery.

Developmental anatomy

The study of anatomical changes from fertilization to adulthood.

Embryology

The study of early developmental processes.

Microscopic anatomy

Examines structures that can only be seen using magnification, such as cells and molecules.

Cytology

The study of the structure of cells.

Histology

The study of the structure of tissues.

Human physiology

The study of the function of the human body.

Cell physiology

The study of the function of cells and their chemical processes.

Organ physiology

The study of the function of specific organs.

Systemic physiology

The study of the function of organ systems.

Pathological physiology

The study of the effects of diseases on organs or systems.

Signs

Objective disease indications, such as a fever.

Symptoms

Subjective disease indications, such as tiredness.

Scientific method

A system that includes careful observation, proposing a hypothesis, and then testing the hypothesis through experimentation to reach a diagnosis.

Chemical level

The level of organization involving atoms (smallest stable units of matter) and molecules (two or more atoms).

Atoms

The smallest stable units of matter.

Molecules

Consist of two or more atoms.

Cellular level

The level of organization where cells are the smallest living units in the body.

Cells

The smallest living units in the body.

Tissue level

The level of organization where a tissue is a group of cells working together to perform specific functions.

Tissue

A group of cells working together to perform specific functions.

Organ level

The level of organization where organs are made of two or more tissues working together to perform specific functions.

Organs

Made of two or more tissues working together to perform specific functions.

Organ system level

The level of organization where an organ system is a group of organs interacting for a particular function.

Organ system

A group of organs interacting for a particular function (e.g., humans have 11 organ systems).

Organism level

The level of organization where an organism is an individual life form.

Organism

An individual life form.

Integumentary System

Protects against environmental hazards, helps regulate body temperature, and provides sensory information.

Skeletal System

Provides support and protection for other tissues, stores calcium and other minerals, and forms blood cells.

Muscular System

Provides movement, protection and support for other tissues, and generates heat that maintains body temperature.

Nervous System

Directs immediate responses to stimuli, coordinates or moderates activities of other organ systems, and provides and interprets sensory information.

Endocrine System

Directs long-term changes in activities of other organ systems, adjusts metabolic activity, and controls structural and functional changes during development.

Cardiovascular System

Distributes blood cells, water, and dissolved materials (nutrients, wastes, gases) and distributes heat.

Lymphatic System

Defends against infection and disease and returns tissue fluids to the bloodstream.

Respiratory System

Delivers air to alveoli for gas exchange, provides oxygen to the bloodstream, removes carbon dioxide, and produces sounds for communication.

Digestive System

Processes and digests food, absorbs and conserves water, absorbs nutrients, and stores energy reserves.

Urinary System

Excretes waste products from the blood, controls water balance, stores urine, and regulates blood ion concentrations and pH.

Male Reproductive System

Produces sex cells (sperm), seminal fluids, and hormones, and is involved in sexual intercourse.

Female Reproductive System

Produces sex cells (oocytes) and hormones, supports developing embryo from fertilization to delivery, provides milk, and is involved in sexual intercourse.

Medical terminology

Involves using word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms to build terms related to the body in health and disease.

Eponyms

Commemorative names for structures or diseases, often replaced by precise terms but sometimes still used.

Anatomical landmarks

Terms that correspond to specific surface landmarks of the body.

Anatomical position

A standard anatomical reference position with hands at the sides, palms facing forward, and feet together.

Anterior view

The body in anatomical position viewed from the front.

Posterior view

The body in anatomical position viewed from the back.

Supine

The body lying face up.

Prone

The body lying face down.

Abdominopelvic quadrants

Divisions that divide the abdominopelvic region into four quadrants for anatomical reference.

Abdominopelvic regions

Divisions that divide the abdominopelvic region into nine specific regions for anatomical reference.

Superior (Cranial or Cephalic)

Above; at a higher level (in the human body, toward the head).

Inferior (Caudal)

Below; at a lower level; toward the feet (in humans, toward the coccyx).

Anterior (Ventral)

The front surface or belly side of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

The back surface or back of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline.

Medial

Toward the midline.

Proximal

Toward the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Distal

Away from the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Superficial

At, near, or relatively close to the body surface.

Deep

Toward the interior of the body; farther from the surface.

Section

A slice through a three-dimensional object, used to visualize internal organization.

Sectional plane

A single view or slice along a two-dimensional flat surface.

Frontal (coronal) plane

A vertical plane that divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior portions.

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane that divides the body or organ into left and right portions.

Midsagittal plane

A sagittal plane that lies in the middle, dividing the body into equal right and left sides.

Parasagittal plane

A sagittal plane that is offset from the middle, dividing the body into unequal right and left sides.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body or organ into superior and inferior portions.

Body cavities

Closed, fluid-filled cavities lined by a thin serous membrane that contain the vital organs (viscera) of the trunk.

Serous membrane (serosa)

A thin membrane that lines body cavities, covers organs, and consists of parietal and visceral layers.

Parietal serosa

The layer of the serous membrane that lines the cavity wall.

Visceral serosa

The layer of the serous membrane that covers the organ.

Serous fluid

Moistens serous membranes and reduces friction between them.

Thoracic cavity

The body cavity deep to the chest wall, divided from the abdominopelvic cavity by the diaphragm, containing the pleural and pericardial cavities.

Pleural cavities

Right and left cavities within the thoracic cavity that surround the lungs.

Pericardial cavity

The cavity within the thoracic cavity that surrounds the heart.

Mediastinum

A mass of connective tissue in the thoracic cavity that stabilizes the trachea, esophagus, thymus, and largest vessels of the heart; also contains the pericardial cavity.

Abdominopelvic cavity

The body cavity deep to the abdominal and pelvic walls, extending from the diaphragm to the pelvis, containing the superior abdominal cavity and inferior pelvic cavity.

Peritoneal cavity

The space within the abdominopelvic cavity lined with peritoneum.

Parietal peritoneum

The layer of the peritoneum that lines the internal body wall within the abdominopelvic cavity.

Visceral peritoneum

The layer of the peritoneum that covers the organs within the abdominopelvic cavity.

Abdominal cavity

The superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity, extending from the diaphragm to the top of the pelvic bones, containing digestive organs.

Retroperitoneal space

The area between the parietal peritoneum and the back of the muscular body wall, containing organs such as the pancreas and kidneys.

Pelvic cavity

The inferior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity, medial to the pelvic bones, containing the reproductive organs, rectum, and urinary bladder.

Infraperitoneal

Organs that extend inferior to the peritoneal cavity, such as the urinary bladder, distal portion of ureters, and large intestine.

Homeostasis

The continuous physiological processes that establish a relatively stable internal environment by responding to external and internal changes.

Homeostatic regulation

The adjustment of physiological systems to preserve homeostasis.

Autoregulation

Automatic, local response to an environmental change in a cell, tissue, or organ.

Extrinsic regulation

Responses of organ systems controlled by the nervous system (electrical signals) or the endocrine system (chemical messengers).

Receptor

A sensor that detects the stimulus or change in a homeostatic regulatory mechanism.