Anatomy & Physiology Unit 1 - Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated for Anatomy & Physiology Unit 1 covering directional terms, regional terms, planes, cavities, and homeostatic terminology.

Anatomy

The branch of science concerned with the structure and physical organization of body parts.

Physiology

The branch of biology that deals with the normal functions and processes of living organisms and their parts.

Anatomical position

The standard position of reference for the body, standing upright, facing forward, with feet parallel and palms turned outward.

Anterior

Pertaining to or located at the front of the body or a body structure.

Posterior

Pertaining to or located at the back of the body or a body structure.

Dorsal

Pertaining to the back side or posterior surface of an organism.

Ventral

Pertaining to the belly side or anterior surface of an organism.

Superior

Situated above or higher than another structure, toward the head end of the body.

Inferior

Situated below or lower than another structure, toward the feet or lower part of the body.

Medial

Situated toward or near the midline of the body.

Lateral

Situated away from the midline of the body, toward the outer side.

Ipsilateral

Located on or affecting the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Located on or affecting the opposite side of the body.

Superficial

Located close to or on the surface of the body.

Deep

Located further internal from the surface of the body.

Peripheral

Pertaining to the outer boundary, surface, or external region away from the central core.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment of a limb or origin of a body structure.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment of a limb or origin of a body structure.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment within the body despite external changes.

Homeostatic mechanism

A self-regulating system comprised of three parts that monitors and adjusts internal body conditions.

Negative feedback

A regulatory mechanism where the output diminishes or counteracts the stimulus to restore balance.

Positive feedback

A regulatory process where the stimulus increases or amplifies the initial change further in the same direction.

Extracellular fluid

The fluid located outside of cells that bathes tissue cells and circulates in blood and lymphatic vessels.

Visceral

Pertaining to the internal organs contained within the main body cavities.

Shunt

A pattern or structure that diverts fluid or blood from one channel or pathway to another.

Integumentary

Relating to the organ system that forms the protective outer covering of the body, including skin, hair, and nails.

Vascular

Relating to or containing blood vessels that transport fluids through the body.

Lymphatic

Relating to the tissue network and organ system that drains excess fluid and supports immune function.

Sagittal

A vertical plane passing through the body that divides it into left and right sections.

Mid-sagittal

A specific sagittal plane passing directly down the center, dividing the body into equal left and right halves.

Coronal

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

Brachial

Pertaining to the arm, specifically the upper arm region between the shoulder and elbow.

Carpal

Pertaining to the wrist area.

Tarsal

Pertaining to the ankle or instep of the foot.

Digital

Pertaining to the fingers or toes.

Femoral

Pertaining to the thigh region.

Occipital

Pertaining to the lower back area of the head or skull.

Plantar

Pertaining to the sole of the foot.

Orbital

Pertaining to the eye socket area.

Oral

Pertaining to the mouth.

Popliteal

Pertaining to the posterior area behind the knee.

Mental

Pertaining to the chin area.

Dorsal body cavity

The posterior cavity of the body that houses the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.

Ventral body cavity

The anterior body cavity that houses the internal abdominal, pelvic, and thoracic organs.