Major Themes of Anatomy and Physiology

A vocabulary-style set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on anatomy and physiology.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the body.

Unity of form and function

Anatomy and physiology complement each other and cannot be divorced from one another.

Gross anatomy

Study of structures that can be seen with the naked eye.

Histology

Microscopic anatomy; examination of tissues with a microscope.

Histopathology

Microscopic examination of tissues for signs of disease.

Cytology

Study of the structure and function of cells; ultrastructure may be resolved with an electron microscope.

Dissection

Cutting and separating tissues to reveal relationships; often uses a cadaver.

Comparative anatomy

Study of form, function, and evolution across species.

Exploratory surgery

Opening the living body to see what is wrong; now largely replaced by medical imaging.

Radiology

Branch of medicine specializing in imaging of the inside of the body.

Organ system

A group of organs that perform a common function.

Organ

Structure composed of two or more tissue types with defined boundaries that work together.

Tissue

Similar cells and cell products forming a region of an organ to perform a function.

Cell

Smallest unit of life capable of carrying out basic functions.

Organelle

Structured component within a cell that carries out a specific function.

Molecule

Particle composed of two or more atoms.

Macromolecule

Very large molecules (e.g., proteins, fats, DNA).

Atom

Smallest unit of matter with a unique chemical identity.

Reductionism

Idea that large, complex systems can be understood by studying their parts; essential but not all properties are predictable from parts.

Holism

Emergent properties appear at higher levels of organization and cannot be predicted from parts alone.

Anatomical variation

No two humans are exactly alike; variations include unusual muscles, vertebrae, or organ numbers.

Situs inversus

Left–right reversal of organ placement.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite changes outside.

Negative feedback

A corrective mechanism that counteracts a change to keep a variable near a set point.

Positive feedback

A self‑amplifying cycle that augments a change; can be beneficial (e.g., labor) or harmful (e.g., runaway fever).

Gradient

Difference in concentration, charge, temperature, or pressure that drives flow.

Flow down gradients

Matter and energy move from higher to lower gradients; moving up gradients requires energy.

Receptor

Sensor that detects changes in a controlled variable.

Integrating (control) center

Processes sensory information and directs a response.

Effector

Organ or cell that carries out the corrective action.

Baroreflex

Negative feedback mechanism that maintains blood pressure via baroreceptors and heart processing.

Thermoregulation

Maintenance of body temperature through negative feedback mechanisms (e.g., vasodilation, sweating, vasoconstriction, shivering).

Terminologia Anatomica (TA)

Standard international anatomical terms with Latin names and English equivalents.

Eponyms

Terms named after people; historically common but often discouraged in standardized terminology.

Word elements in medical terms

Roots, prefixes, and suffixes that form scientific terms; combining vowels join roots.

Acronyms

Pronounceable words formed from initial letters of terms (e.g., PET scan).

Plural, adjectives, and possessive forms

Varied plural forms (e.g., cortex/cortices); adjectives often follow the noun; adjectival form may differ from the noun.

Pronunciation guides

Guidance provided for pronouncing terms when first introduced.

Spelling and precision

Accurate spelling is essential in anatomy and physiology to avoid confusion.

Cell theory

All structure and function arise from the activity of cells.

Evolution

The human body is a product of evolution over generations.

Hierarchy of complexity

Levels from atoms and molecules up to organisms, showing increasing complexity.

The language of medicine

Use of Greek/Latin roots to form medical terms; importance of standardization and understanding word elements.