Chapter 1: Anatomy & Physiology Integrated: Introduction & Scopes

Flashcards covering core concepts of Chapter 1: Anatomy & Physiology Integrated, including scope, methods, subdisciplines, organization, planes, cavities, membranes, homeostasis, and clinical contexts.

What is the relationship between anatomy and physiology?

Anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) are interrelated; understanding form helps explain function, and integrating both disciplines enhances learning.

What are the two main scopes of anatomy and physiology?

Anatomy studies structure; physiology studies how those structures function.

What are the basic steps of the scientific method as described in the notes?

Observation of natural events, formulation of a hypothesis, performing experiments and collecting data, statistical analysis (P < 0.05), drawing conclusions, writing a manuscript, peer review, and publication.

In an observational study, what are scientists typically doing?

Observing natural events and developing a hypothesis to explain phenomena (without initial manipulation of variables).

In an experimental study, what are the key groups and variables?

Control group (no treatment) and treatment group (receives the therapeutic agent); dependent variable (what is measured) and independent variable (what is deliberately changed or administered).

What does cytology study?

Cytology is the study of cells and their anatomy and functions.

What does histology study?

Histology is the study of tissues and their anatomy and functions.

What is macroscopic (gross) anatomy?

Structures visible to the naked eye. Divisions include systemic anatomy, regional anatomy, surface anatomy, comparative anatomy, and embryology.

Name a few physiology subdisciplines mentioned in the notes.

Cardiovascular physiology; Neurophysiology; Respiratory physiology; Reproductive physiology; Pathophysiology.

What does embryology study?

Developmental changes from conception to birth.

What is pathologic anatomy?

Examines macroscopic and microscopic anatomic changes resulting from disease.

What is radiographic anatomy?

Investigates internal structures visualized by imaging procedures.

What is the difference between systemic and regional anatomy?

Systemic anatomy studies the anatomy of each organ system; regional anatomy studies the structures of a body region.

What does surface anatomy focus on?

Superficial anatomic markings and internal body structures.

What is comparative anatomy?

Anatomical similarities and differences across different species.

What does embryology focus on in development?

Developmental changes from conception to birth.

What are the divisions focusing on diagnosis or research?

Pathologic anatomy and Radiographic anatomy.

What is the general goal of physiology as described in the notes?

To understand the functioning of body organs, often at molecular and cellular levels.

Name the 11 organ systems listed in the notes.

Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Urinary, Digestive, Reproductive (male and female).

What is the anatomical position?

Standing upright with feet parallel, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing forward (anterior), head directed forward, eyes forward.

What is the purpose of anatomical directional terms?

To describe the relative positions of structures (opposing pairs such as anterior/posterior, ventral/dorsal, proximal/distal, superior/inferior).

What are the main directional term pairs listed?

Anterior vs Posterior; Ventral vs Dorsal; Proximal vs Distal; Superior vs Inferior.

What are the organ regions and planes used in regional anatomy?

Regions include anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) planes; sections/planes include coronal, transverse, midsagittal, sagittal, and oblique.

What is the coronal (frontal) plane?

A vertical plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

What is the transverse (horizontal) plane?

A horizontal plane dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.

What is the midsagittal (median) plane?

A vertical plane dividing the body into equal left and right halves.

What is the sagittal plane?

A vertical plane parallel to the midsagittal plane that divides the structure into left and right portions (not necessarily equal).

What is an oblique plane?

A plane that passes through a structure at an angle (diagonal).

What are the two main body regions in regional anatomy?

Axial region (skull, trunk) and Appendicular region (limbs and girdles).

What are the nine abdominopelvic regions?

Epigastric, Umbilical, Hypogastric; Right and Left Hypochondriac; Right and Left Lumbar; Right and Left Iliac.

What are the four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity?

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ).

What are body cavities grouped into?

Posterior (dorsal) cavities and Anterior (ventral) cavities.

What cavities are included in the posterior (dorsal) aspect?

Cranial cavity and Vertebral (spinal) canal; completely encased in bone.

What cavities are included in the anterior (ventral) aspect?

Thoracic cavity and Abdominopelvic cavity, partitioned by the diaphragm.

What are serous membranes and their layers?

Two layers: Parietal serous membrane lines the cavity; Visceral serous membrane covers the viscera; serous fluid between them (serous cavity).

What is the peritoneum?

A two-layered serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity; parietal peritoneum lines the cavity; visceral peritoneum covers abdominal organs; peritoneal cavity contains serous fluid.

What is the role of pleura and pleural membranes?

Two-layered serous membranes around the lungs: parietal pleura lines the chest wall; visceral pleura covers the lungs; separated by the pleural cavity with serous fluid.

What is the mediastinum?

The median space in the thoracic cavity that contains the heart and other structures.

Which organs are in the cardiovascular system?

Heart, blood vessels, and blood.

What does the lymphatic system do?

Houses lymphocytes (immune cells) and helps defend the body; returns interstitial fluid to the bloodstream.

What organs are in the urinary system?

Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.

What are the main functions of the respiratory system?

Explores functions of respiratory organs; adds oxygen to blood and removes carbon dioxide.

What are the main functions of the digestive system?

Breaks down food into building blocks, absorbs nutrients, and excretes wastes.

What is the reproductive system’s primary role?

Produces hormones and gametes (sperm in males, ova in females) and enables procreation.

What is homeostasis?

The body's ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions in response to changing internal or external conditions.

What are the three components of a homeostatic system?

Receptor (detects changes), Control center (interprets signals and initiates changes), Effector (carries out the change).

What is negative feedback?

A regulatory mechanism that reverses the stimulus to maintain homeostasis (e.g., temperature regulation).

What is positive feedback?

A regulatory mechanism that reinforces the stimulus until a climactic event occurs, after which homeostasis is restored (e.g., labor, blood clotting, lactation).

What is an example of homeostatic imbalance?

Diabetes, due to lack of insulin, leading to high blood glucose.

What are normal clinical ranges mentioned for practice?

Body temperature about 98.6°F; blood glucose 80–110 mg/dL; blood pressure 90/60 to 120/80 mm Hg.

What are the serous membranes in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities collectively?

Parietal and visceral layers with serous fluid in the serous cavities (pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal membranes).

How are anatomy and physiology related?

Anatomy is about body structure, and physiology is about how those structures function. They are closely linked and help explain each other.

What do anatomy and physiology study?

Anatomy studies body structures. Physiology studies how these structures work.

What are the basic steps of the scientific method?

1. Observe something.
2. Form a hypothesis (an educated guess).
3. Experiment and collect data.
4. Analyze data (often with statistics: P < 0.05).
5. Draw conclusions.
6. Write it up, get peer-reviewed, and publish.

What happens in an observational study?

Scientists watch natural events and form a hypothesis, without changing anything themselves.

What are the key parts of an experimental study?

1. Groups: Control group (no treatment) and Treatment group (gets treatment).
2. Variables: Independent (what you change) and Dependent (what you measure).

What is cytology?

The study of cells, including their structure and function.

What is histology?

The study of tissues, including their structure and function.

What is macroscopic (gross) anatomy?

The study of structures you can see with your naked eye. This includes systemic, regional, surface, and comparative anatomy, plus embryology.

Name some physiology subdisciplines.

Cardiovascular, Neurophysiology, Respiratory, Reproductive, and Pathophysiology.

What does embryology study?

Body development from conception until birth.

What is pathologic anatomy?

Studies how diseases change body structures (both visible and microscopic).

What is radiographic anatomy?

Studies internal structures using medical imaging (like X-rays or MRI).

Systemic vs. Regional Anatomy: What's the difference?

Systemic: Studies each organ system (e.g., bones, muscles).
Regional: Studies all structures in a body region (e.g., arm, head).

What is surface anatomy?

The study of visible body landmarks and how they relate to internal structures.

What is comparative anatomy?

Compares body structures among different species (e.g., human vs. cat skeleton).

What does embryology study?

Body development from conception until birth.

Which anatomy divisions focus on diagnosis or research?

Pathologic anatomy (disease changes) and Radiographic anatomy (imaging).

What is the main goal of physiology?

To understand how body organs work, often at the tiny (molecular and cellular) levels.

Name the 11 major organ systems.

Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Urinary, Digestive, Reproductive (male & female).

Describe the anatomical position.

Standing upright, feet parallel, arms at sides, palms facing forward, head and eyes looking straight ahead.

Why do we use anatomical directional terms?

To clearly describe where body structures are located in relation to each other (e.g., above/below, front/back).

Name the main directional term pairs.

Anterior/Posterior (front/back); Ventral/Dorsal (front/back, like belly/spine); Proximal/Distal (closer/further from trunk); Superior/Inferior (above/below).

What are the body regions and planes used in regional anatomy?

Regions: Anterior (front) and Posterior (back).
Planes (cuts): Coronal, Transverse, Midsagittal, Sagittal, and Oblique.

What is the coronal (frontal) plane?

A vertical cut that divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) parts.

What is the transverse (horizontal) plane?

A horizontal cut that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts.

What is the midsagittal (median) plane?

A vertical cut that divides the body exactly into equal left and right halves.

What is the sagittal plane?

A vertical cut that divides the body into left and right parts, but not necessarily equal (unlike midsagittal).

What is an oblique plane?

A cut made at an angle or diagonally through a body structure.

What are the two main body regions?

1. Axial: Head, neck, and trunk.
2. Appendicular: Limbs (arms, legs) and their attachments (girdles).

Name the nine abdominopelvic regions.

Epigastric, Umbilical, Hypogastric (middle row); Right/Left Hypochondriac (top sides); Right/Left Lumbar (middle sides); Right/Left Iliac (bottom sides).

Name the four abdominopelvic quadrants.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ).

How are body cavities grouped?

Into posterior (back/dorsal) and anterior (front/ventral) cavities.

What are the posterior (dorsal) body cavities?

The Cranial cavity (brain) and the Vertebral canal (spinal cord). Both are completely protected by bone.

What are the anterior (ventral) body cavities?

The Thoracic cavity (chest) and the Abdominopelvic cavity (abdomen & pelvis). These are separated by the diaphragm.

What are serous membranes?

They have two layers: Parietal (lines the body cavity wall) and Visceral (covers the organ). A slippery serous fluid is between them, reducing friction.

What is the peritoneum?

A two-layered serous membrane in the abdominopelvic cavity. Parietal peritoneum lines the cavity wall, and Visceral peritoneum covers the abdominal organs. Serous fluid fills the space between them.

What are pleura and pleural membranes?

The two-layered serous membranes that surround the lungs. Parietal pleura lines the chest wall, and Visceral pleura covers the lungs. Serous fluid is found in the pleural cavity between them.

What is the mediastinum?

The central space in the chest (thoracic cavity) that contains the heart, major blood vessels, trachea, and esophagus.

What are the parts of the cardiovascular system?

The heart, blood vessels, and blood.

What does the lymphatic system do?

It helps the body fight infection (contains immune cells called lymphocytes) and returns fluid from tissues back to the blood.

What are the organs of the urinary system?

Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.

What are the main functions of the respiratory system?

It brings oxygen into the blood and removes carbon dioxide from the body.

What are the main functions of the digestive system?

It breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and gets rid of waste.

What is the main role of the reproductive system?

To produce hormones and gametes (sperm/egg cells) for creating offspring.

What is homeostasis?

It's the body's ability to keep its internal environment stable, even when external conditions change.

What are the three parts of a homeostatic system?

1. Receptor: Detects a change (stimulus).
2. Control Center: Processes the signal and decides what to do.
3. Effector: Carries out the response to fix the change.

What is negative feedback?

A process that reverses a change to bring the body back to its normal state (e.g., sweating when hot to cool down).

What is positive feedback?

A process that enhances or amplifies a change until a specific event happens, then it stops (e.g., childbirth, blood clotting).

Give an example of homeostatic imbalance.

Diabetes, where the body can't control blood sugar properly (often due to insulin issues).