HSC 230: Vocabulary Flashcards

A vocabulary-focused set of flashcards drawn from the lecture notes, covering core concepts, terms, and mnemonics.

Homeostasis

Internal stability maintained by dynamic regulation of the body's variables to keep a steady-state condition.

Negative feedback

Regulatory loop in which a stimulus triggers a response that counteracts the initial change, returning variables toward normal.

Positive feedback

Regulatory loop that amplifies change, moving away from the normal set point (often temporary and potentially harmful).

Receptor

Sensor that detects changes in the internal or external environment.

Integrator (Control Center)

Center that interprets input from receptors and determines the appropriate response.

Effector

Organ or tissue that carries out the response to restore homeostasis.

Stimulus

Change in a body variable that disrupts homeostasis.

Set point

Desired value a regulated variable aims to maintain.

Afferent pathway

Pathway carrying information from a receptor to the control center.

Efferent pathway

Pathway carrying information from the control center to an effector.

Thermoregulation

Maintenance of a stable body temperature via mechanisms like sweating or shivering.

Osmoregulation

Regulation of water balance and solute concentrations in the body.

Excretion

Removal of wastes produced by metabolism and digestion.

Superior

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure.

Inferior

Away from the head; toward the lower part.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front surface of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back surface of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline; toward the outer side.

Proximal

Closer to the origin of a body part or the point of attachment.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment.

Frontal plane

Plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.

Median plane (midsagittal)

Plane that divides the body into left and right halves.

Transverse plane

Plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

Cranial cavity

Space inside the skull that houses the brain.

Vertebral cavity

Space inside the vertebral column that houses the spinal cord.

Dorsal body cavity

Posterior body cavity consisting of the cranial and vertebral cavities.

Ventral body cavity

Anterior body cavity consisting of the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.”

Thoracic cavity

Cavity housing the heart and lungs (with pleural and pericardial subdivisions).

Abdominopelvic cavity

Cavity containing digestive organs and pelvic organs.

Integumentary system

Skin, hair, nails; protects body, synthesizes vitamin D, houses receptors.

Skeletal system

Bones; protects and supports body, aids movement, forms blood cells, stores minerals.

Muscular system

Muscles enabling movement, posture, heat production.

Nervous system

Fast-acting control system; responds to changes via nerves and neurons.

Endocrine system

Glands secrete hormones regulating processes like growth and metabolism.

Cardiovascular (Circulatory) system

Transports blood; heart pumps blood through vessels.

Lymphatic system

Returns leaked fluid to blood; houses immune cells; involved in immunity.

Digestive system

Breaks down food into absorbable units for distribution; eliminates indigestible matter.

Urinary system

Eliminates nitrogenous wastes; regulates water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance.

Reproductive system (Male)

Produces sperm and male hormones; delivers sperm to the female tract.

Reproductive system (Female)

Produces eggs and female hormones; supports fertilization, development, and lactation.

MURDER LINCS

Mnemonic to remember the 11 body systems: Muscular, Urinary, Reproductive, Digestive, Endocrine, Respiratory, Lymphatic, Integumentary, Nervous, Cardiovascular, Skeletal.

Dumb King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup

Mnemonic for the taxonomic ranks: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Inductive method

Reasoning from specific observations to a general conclusion.

Deductive method

Applying general principles to predict specific outcomes; hypothesis testing.

Scientific fact

A verifiable piece of information supported by observation or experiment.

Law of nature

A description of how matter and energy behave in nature.

Theory

Well-substantiated explanation or model that explains and predicts phenomena.

Anatomy

Study of the structure of body parts.

Physiology

Study of the function of body parts.

Hierarchy of Life

Organization from simple to complex: molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere.

Catabolic

Breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Anabolic

Synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

Metabolism

All chemical reactions in the body that sustain life.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that accelerate specific chemical reactions.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; the energy currency of the cell.