Introduction to the Human Body

This set of vocabulary flashcards provides the definitions of anatomy, physiology, and their various specialized branches as outlined in the lecture notes.

Anatomy

The science of body structures and the relationships among them; derived from ana- (up) and -tomy (process of cutting).

Physiology

The science of body functions—how the body parts work; derived from physio- (nature) and -logy (study of).

Dissection

The careful cutting apart of body structures to study their relationship; derived from dis- (apart) and -section (act of cutting).

Embryology

The study of the $8^{th}$ weeks of development after fertilization of a human egg.

Developmental Biology

The complete development of an individual from fertilization to death.

Cell Biology

The study of cellular structures and functions.

Histology

The study of the microscopic structure of tissues.

Gross Anatomy

The study of structures that can be examined without a microscope.

Systemic Anatomy

The study of the structure of a specific system of the body.

Regional Anatomy

The study of a specific region of the body such as the head or chest.

Surface Anatomy

The study of surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation.

Radiographic Anatomy

The study of body structures that can be visualized with X-rays.

Pathologic Anatomy

The study of structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease.

Molecular Physiology

The study of functions of individual molecules such as proteins and DNA.

Neurophysiology

The study of the functional properties of nerve cells.

Endocrinology

The study of hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how they control body functions.

Cardiovascular Physiology

The study of the functions of the heart and blood vessels.

Immunology

The study of the body's defenses against disease-causing agents.

Respiratory Physiology

The study of the functions of the air passageways and lungs.

Renal Physiology

The study of the functions of the kidney.

Exercise Physiology

The study of changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activities.

Pathophysiology

The study of functional changes associated with disease and aging.