Learning Outcomes Unit 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental concepts in Human Body Introduction and Cell Biology from Unit 1.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the human body and the physical relationships among its parts.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the human body and its underlying structural components.

Structural Hierarchy

The structural organization of the human body, arranged in levels of increasing complexity.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment within the human body.

Plasma Membrane

A selectively permeable boundary composed of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates that surrounds the cell.

Selectively Permeable Membrane

A membrane structure that allows only certain substances to pass across it while restricting others.

Microvilli

Microscopic membrane projections on the surface of certain cells that increase surface area for absorption.

Cilia

Hair-like cellular structures that move materials across the cell surface.

Organelles

Specialized internal structures within a cell that carry out specific functions.

Passive Transport

The movement of substances across the plasma membrane along gradients without requiring cellular energy.

Active Transport

The movement of substances across the plasma membrane against gradients, requiring cellular energy.

Bulk Transport

The movement of large particles or large quantities of substances across the cell membrane using vesicles.

Osmolarity

A measure of the total concentration of solute particles in a solution.

Toxicity

The measure of the ability of an extracellular solution to change the volume of a cell by altering its water content.

RBCs

Red Blood Cells, which experience specific tonic effects such as swelling or shrinking depending on the osmolarity of covalent and ionic solutions.