Principles of Anatomy and Physiology - Chapter 1 Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the major concepts from Chapter 1, including levels of organization, body systems, homeostasis, anatomical terminology, and medical imaging.

Anatomy

The study of body structures and the relationships among them.

Physiology

The study of how body structures function.

Chemical Level

The lowest level of structural organization, including atoms like $C$, $H$, $O$, $N$, and $P$, and molecules such as $DNA$.

Cellular Level

The level of organization composed of the basic structural and functional units of an organism, such as a smooth muscle cell.

Tissue Level

The level of organization consisting of groups of cells and surrounding materials that work together to perform a particular function.

Organ Level

Structures composed of two or more different types of tissues that have specific functions and usually recognizable shapes.

System Level

The level of organization consisting of related organs that have a common function.

Organismal Level

The highest level of structural organization, representing any living individual where all body parts function together.

Integumentary System

Body system consisting of skin, hair, nails, and glands that protects the body, regulates temperature, and eliminates some wastes.

Skeletal System

Body system containing bones, joints, and cartilages that supports the body, facilitates movement, and stores minerals.

Muscular System

System composed specifically of skeletal muscle tissue used to participate in body movements, maintain posture, and produce heat.

Nervous System

System including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that generates action potentials to regulate body activities.

Endocrine System

Glands and cells that regulate body activities by releasing hormones into the blood.

Cardiovascular System

System of blood, the heart, and blood vessels that carries oxygen and nutrients to cells and removes wastes.

Lymphatic System and Immunity

System that returns proteins and fluid to blood and contains sites for the maturation and proliferation of $B$ cells and $T$ cells.

Respiratory System

System of lungs and air passageways that transfers oxygen from inhaled air to blood and carbon dioxide from blood to exhaled air.

Digestive System

Gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs that achieve the physical and chemical breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients.

Urinary System

System including kidneys, ureters, and bladder that eliminates wastes and regulates the volume and chemical composition of blood.

Reproductive Systems

Systems involving gonads (testes or ovaries) and associated organs that produce gametes and release hormones.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes that occur in the body.

Responsiveness

The ability of the body to detect and respond to changes in its internal or external environment.

Differentiation

The development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state.

Homeostasis

A condition of equilibrium, or balance, in the body's internal environment maintained by regulatory processes.

Extracellular Fluid

The fluid surrounding body cells, the regulation of which is essential for cell survival.

Negative Feedback System

A regulatory process that reverses a change in a controlled condition to return the body to homeostasis.

Positive Feedback System

A regulatory process that strengthens or reinforces a change in a body condition, such as during labor contractions.

Anatomical Position

A standard body position where the person stands erect facing the observer with upper extremities at the sides, palms turned forward, and feet flat.

Sagittal Plane

An imaginary flat surface that divides the body or an organ into right and left sides.

Frontal Plane

A plane that divides the body or an organ into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse Plane

A plane that divides the body or an organ into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Serous Membrane

A double-layered membrane, including the visceral and parietal layers, that covers organs and lines body cavities.

Radiography

A medical imaging procedure using x-rays to produce two-dimensional images where dense structures like bone appear white.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Imaging using a high-energy magnetic field and radio waves to read ion patterns and assemble an image of soft tissue details.

Computed Tomography (CT)

Computer-assisted radiography where x-ray beams trace an arc around the body to produce transverse sections.

Ultrasound Scanning

A noninvasive procedure using high-frequency sound waves reflecting off body tissues to produce a sonogram.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Imaging involving the injection of positron-emitting substances to study physiology and metabolism in color-coded images.

Endoscopy

A visual examination of the interior of body organs or cavities using a lighted instrument with lenses.