Anatomy and Physiology for the EMT - Chapter 6

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering Chapter 6 Anatomy & Physiology for the EMT from UC Davis Fire Department lecture notes.

What is the definition of anatomy?

The structure of the body, describing what it is and where it is located.

What is the definition of physiology?

The function of the body, describing what it does.

What is the definition of pathophysiology?

Functional changes in the body resulting from disease or injury.

What is the standard anatomic position?

A reference position where the body is standing upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

When describing a patient's anatomical findings, whose left and right are used?

The patient's left and right, never the provider's.

What are the three primary body planes depicted in anatomical reference diagrams?

The frontal (coronal) plane, transverse (axial) plane, and sagittal (lateral) plane.

What is the difference between the coronal plane and the midsagittal plane?

The coronal (frontal) plane divides front from back, while the midsagittal (midline) plane divides the body into equal left and right halves.

What do the directional terms anterior and posterior describe?

Anterior (ventral) refers to the front of the body, while posterior (dorsal) refers to the back.

What is the difference between proximal and distal?

Proximal means closer to the trunk or point of attachment, whereas distal means farther from the trunk or point of attachment.

Which major organs are located in the four abdominal quadrants depicted in this grid?

RUQ contains the liver and gallbladder; LUQ contains the stomach and spleen; RLQ contains the appendix; LLQ contains the lower intestines and rectum.

What is the difference between adduction and abduction movement?

Adduction is movement toward the midline, while abduction is movement away from the midline.

What patient body positions are illustrated in this diagram?

Prone (face down), Supine (flat on back), Right Lateral Recumbent, Left Lateral Recumbent, Fowler's (sitting upright $45\text{--}90^\text{o}$), and Trendelenburg (flat with legs elevated).

What are the four levels of structural organization in the human body from smallest to largest?

Cells (basic living unit) $\rightarrow$ Tissues (cells with a shared job) $\rightarrow$ Organs (tissues teamed up) $\rightarrow$ Body systems (organs working together for one mission).

What is homeostasis, and how does the feedback loop maintain it?

Homeostasis is maintaining a stable internal environment; the feedback loop senses changes, sends signals, and triggers compensatory responses to restore the body to its set point.

How many bones are in the adult human skeleton, and what are its two major divisions?

There are $206$ bones divided into the axial skeleton ( skull, spine, thorax ) and the appendicular skeleton ( limbs and girdles ).

What key cranial bones and anatomical landmark are shown in this skull diagram?

The frontal bone, parietal bone, temporal bone, zygomatic bone, maxilla, mandible, occipital bone, and the foramen magnum.

What are the 5 regions of the spinal column and the number of vertebrae in each?

Cervical ($7$), Thoracic ($12$), Lumbar ($5$), Sacrum ($5$ fused), and Coccyx ($4$ fused), totaling $33$ vertebrae.

What bones and joints form the shoulder girdle as shown in this illustration?

The clavicle, scapula, and humerus, connected by the sternoclavicular joint, acromioclavicular (A/C) joint, and glenohumeral (shoulder) joint.

How are the radius and ulna positioned relative to the thumb and pinky sides?

The radius is lateral (thumb side) and the ulna is medial (pinky side).

What three bone groups compose the wrist, hand, and fingers?

Carpals ($8$ wrist bones), Metacarpals ($5$ hand bones), and Phalanges (finger bones).

What three bones fuse to form the pelvis, and what is the socket for the head of the femur?

The ilium, ischium, and pubis fuse to form the pelvis, and the acetabulum is the socket for the femur.

What are the major bones of the lower extremity?

The femur (longest, strongest bone), patella (kneecap), tibia (medial weight-bearing shinbone), fibula (lateral lower leg bone), tarsals ($7$), metatarsals ($5$), and phalanges.

What is the structural difference between ligaments and tendons?

Ligaments connect bone to bone, whereas tendons connect muscle to bone.

How does a ball-and-socket joint differ from a hinge joint in terms of motion?

A ball-and-socket joint allows the widest range of movement including rotation (e.g., shoulder, hip), while a hinge joint allows movement in only one plane for flexion and extension (e.g., elbow, knee).

What are the three types of muscle tissue in the human body?

Cardiac muscle (involuntary, striated, found only in the heart), Skeletal muscle (voluntary, striated, moves bones), and Smooth muscle (involuntary, non-striated, lines walls of organs and vessels).

How do muscles generate movement across a joint?

Muscles only pull by contracting (shortening), never push; they work in opposing pairs where one contracts while the partner relaxes.

What structure marks the dividing line between the upper and lower airway?

The larynx (voice box).

What structures make up the upper and lower respiratory tracts?

Upper airway includes the nose, mouth, pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx), epiglottis, and larynx; lower airway includes the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli.

What is the difference between the visceral pleura and parietal pleura?

The visceral pleura covers the lung itself, while the parietal pleura lines the inside of the chest wall.

What occurs during normal inhalation versus normal exhalation?

Inhalation is active (diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, enlarging the chest to draw air in), whereas exhalation is passive at rest (muscles relax and the chest recoils to push air out).

What are the definitions of ventilation, oxygenation, and respiration?

Ventilation is the physical movement of air into and out of the lungs; oxygenation is loading oxygen onto hemoglobin; respiration is the process of gas exchange by diffusion.

What gas exchange occurs at the alveoli during external respiration?

Oxygen diffuses from the alveolus into capillary blood, and carbon dioxide diffuses from capillary blood into the alveolus.

What is tidal volume, and what is its typical value in a normal adult?

Tidal volume is the amount of air moved in one normal breath, which is approximately $500\,mL$ in an adult.

What is the formula for calculating minute volume?

$$\text{Minute Volume} = \text{Respiratory Rate} \times \text{Tidal Volume}$$

What primary chemical stimulus controls normal breathing in the brainstem?

Rising carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, monitored by the medulla oblongata.

What three parameters make up the assessment triad for breathing and pulse?

Rate (how many per minute), Rhythm (regular or irregular spacing), and Quality (depth/effort for breathing, strength for pulse).

What are the normal resting respiratory rate ranges for adults, children, and infants?

Adults: $12\text{--}20$ breaths/min; Children: $15\text{--}30$ breaths/min; Infants: $25\text{--}50$ breaths/min.

How do the pulmonary loop and systemic loop differ in the circulatory system?

The pulmonary loop carries oxygen-poor blood from the right heart to the lungs and returns oxygen-rich blood to the left heart; the systemic loop carries oxygen-rich blood from the left heart to body tissues and returns oxygen-poor blood to the right heart.

What is cardiac output, and what is the formula to calculate it?

Cardiac output is the total volume of blood pumped per minute; calculated as $\text{Cardiac Output} = \text{Heart Rate} \times \text{Stroke Volume}$.

What is the pathway of electrical conduction through the heart?

SA node (pacemaker sets rhythm) $\rightarrow$ AV node (relay/delay) $\rightarrow$ Bundle branches $\rightarrow$ ventricles contract.

Which blood vessel is the exception to the rule that arteries carry oxygen-rich blood?

The pulmonary artery, which carries oxygen-poor blood away from the heart to the lungs.

What are the four components of blood and their primary functions?

Plasma (liquid carrying nutrients/waste, $\approx 55\%$), Red blood cells (hemoglobin carrying $O_2$ and $CO_2$), White blood cells (fighting infection), and Platelets (triggering blood clotting).

Where is the spleen located, and what is its clinical significance in trauma?

Located in the left upper quadrant (LUQ); it is highly vascular and fragile, leading to severe internal bleeding and shock when injured.

What do systolic and diastolic blood pressure measure?

Systolic pressure is the high point when the left ventricle contracts (squeeze); diastolic pressure is the low point when the ventricle relaxes and refills.

What three components form the perfusion triangle?

The Heart (pump function), Blood Vessels (container function), and Blood (content function).

What are the three main anatomical regions of the brain and their primary functions?

The cerebrum (thinking, senses, voluntary movement), cerebellum (coordination and balance), and brainstem (vital automatics like heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure).

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

The sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight, increases heart rate and blood pressure) and parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest, slows heart rate).

What are the three layers of the skin from superficial to deep?

Epidermis (outer waterproof barrier), Dermis (deeper layer containing nerves, vessels, sweat glands, hair roots), and Subcutaneous tissue (fat layer for insulation and energy storage).

Where are the kidneys located anatomically in relation to the abdominal cavity?

The kidneys sit retroperitoneal, which means behind the abdominal cavity.

What are the blood glucose thresholds and corresponding clinical states shown in this scale?

Normal blood glucose is $80\text{--}120\,mg/dL$; hypoglycemia occurs below $80\,mg/dL$ (crisis below $50\,mg/dL$); hyperglycemia occurs above $120\,mg/dL$ (symptomatic crisis/DKA/HHNS at $400\,mg/dL$).

What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism?

Aerobic metabolism uses oxygen to burn glucose efficiently into energy, $CO_2$, and water; anaerobic metabolism occurs without enough oxygen, producing minimal energy and lactic acid that causes acidosis.

What sequential steps occur during the shock cascade when tissue perfusion drops?

Perfusion drops $\rightarrow$ Cellular hypoxia $\rightarrow$ Switch to anaerobic metabolism (acid builds up) $\rightarrow$ Body compensates (fast HR, vasoconstriction) $\rightarrow$ Compensation fails (cell injury and cell death).

What are the three categories of shock causes shown in this diagram?

Pump failure (heart attack, trauma, obstructive causes), Low fluid volume (trauma to vessels, fluid loss from GI tract), and Poor vessel function (infection, drug overdose, spinal cord injury, anaphylaxis).