Chapter 1: The Human Organism Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic anatomy and physiology terms, structural organization, homeostasis, directional terminology, body planes, and cavities.

Anatomy

The study that investigates body structure; the term literally means to dissect.

Physiology

The study that investigates body processes and functions.

Systemic Physiology

The branch of physiology that studies the organ-systems of the body.

Cellular Physiology

The branch of physiology that studies the cells of the body.

Systemic Anatomy

The branch of anatomy that studies the organ-systems of the body.

Regional Anatomy

The branch of anatomy that studies specific body regions, commonly used in medical schools.

Surface Anatomy

The branch of anatomy that studies external features, such as bone projections.

Anatomical imaging

The use of technologies such as x-rays, ultrasound, and MRI to study the body.

Chemical level

The smallest level of structural organization involving atoms, chemical bonds, and molecules.

Cellular level

The structural level involving cells, which are the basic units of life, including their compartments and organelles.

Tissues

A group of cells with similar structure and function plus the extracellular substances they release; types include Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, and Nervous.

Organs

A structure composed of two or more tissue types acting together to perform one or more functions, such as the stomach or heart.

Organ-System

A group of organs contributing to a specific function, such as the digestive or reproductive systems.

Organism

The highest level of organization consisting of all organ systems working together, including associated microorganisms like intestinal bacteria.

Organization

The characteristic of life involving the functional interrelationships between parts.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical and physical changes sustaining an organism, including the ability to acquire and use energy.

Responsiveness

The ability to sense and respond to environmental changes in both internal and external environments.

Growth

An increase in size, which may apply to cells, groups of cells, or extracellular materials.

Development

Changes in form and size, including the change in cell structure and function from generalized to specialized (differentiation).

Differentiation

Crucial part of development where cell structure and function change from generalized to specialized.

Reproduction

The formation of new cells or new organisms, the generation of new individuals, or tissue repair.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment despite fluctuations in the external or internal environment.

Variables

Measures of body properties that may change in value, such as body temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure.

Set point

The normal or average value of a variable.

Normal range

The normal extent of increase or decrease around a set point for a body variable.

Negative feedback

The main mechanism of homeostatic regulation where a deviation from a set point is detected and reversed toward the normal range.

Receptor

The component of a feedback mechanism that detects changes in a variable.

Control center

The component of a feedback mechanism that receives the receptor signal, establishes the set point, and sends a signal to the effector.

Effector

The component of a feedback mechanism that directly causes a change in a variable.

Positive feedback

A mechanism where the initial stimulus further stimulates the response, causing progressive deviation away from the set point; usually associated with injury or disease, but occurs normally in childbirth.

Anatomical position

The standard reference position where a person is standing erect with face and palms forward.

Superior

A directional term meaning above.

Inferior

A directional term meaning below.

Anterior (ventral)

A directional term meaning the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

A directional term meaning the back of the body.

Medial

A directional term meaning close to the midline.

Lateral

A directional term meaning away from the midline.

Proximal

A directional term meaning close to the point of attachment.

Distal

A directional term meaning far from the point of attachment.

Superficial

A directional term meaning a structure is close to the surface.

Deep

A directional term meaning a structure is toward the interior of the body.

Sagittal plane

A plane that separates the body into right and left parts.

Median plane

A sagittal plane located along the midline that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Transverse plane

A horizontal plane that separates the body into superior and inferior parts.

Frontal plane

A vertical plane that separates the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Cranial cavity

The portion of the dorsal body cavity that contains the brain.

Vertebral Canal

The portion of the dorsal body cavity that contains the spinal cord.

Ventral Body cavity

The cavity containing the majority of internal organs (viscera), divided into thoracic and abdominopelvic sections.

Thoracic cavity

The space within the chest wall and diaphragm containing the heart, lungs, thymus gland, esophagus, and trachea.

Mediastinum

The space between the lungs containing the heart, thymus gland, esophagus, and trachea.

Abdominal cavity

The space between the diaphragm and pelvis containing the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys.

Pelvic cavity

The space within the pelvis containing the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and part of the large intestine.

Visceral serous membrane

The membrane layer that directly covers the organs in the ventral body cavity.

Parietal serous membrane

The membrane layer that lines the walls of the ventral body cavities.

Pericardium

The serous membrane surrounding the heart and pericardial cavity.

Pleura

The serous membrane surrounding the lungs and pleural cavity.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane surrounding the abdominopelvic cavity and its organs.

Mesenteries

Double layers of visceral peritoneum that cover and anchor organs within the abdominopelvic cavity.