Anatomy and Physiology I - Orientation to the Human Body

Vocabulary flashcards covering introductory concepts of human anatomy, physiology, levels of structural organization, body organ systems, and mechanisms of homeostasis.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of body parts and their relations to one another.

Physiology

The study of the function of the body or how the body parts work.

Gross Anatomy

Also known as macroscopic anatomy, the study of large body structures visible to the naked eye, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of structures too small to be seen by the naked eye, which are examined under a microscope.

Cytology

A subdivision of microscopic anatomy that involves the study of cells.

Histology

A subdivision of microscopic anatomy that involves the study of tissues.

Developmental Anatomy

The study of structural changes that occur in the body throughout life.

Embryology

The study of developmental changes that occur during intra-uterine life before birth.

Cardiovascular Physiology

A subdivision of physiology that explains the functions of the heart and blood vessels.

Neurophysiology

A subdivision of physiology that explains the work of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Renal Physiology

A subdivision of physiology concerned with kidney functions and the formation of urine.

Chemical Level

The level of structural organization where atoms combine to form molecules such as water and proteins.

Cellular Level

The level of structural organization where cells are formed from molecules.

Tissue Level

The level of structural organization consisting of groups of similar types of cells working together.

Organ Level

The level of structural organization where organs are composed of different types of tissues, such as the stomach being composed of smooth muscle, loose connective tissue, nervous tissue, blood, and columnar epithelium.

Organ System Level

The level of structural organization consisting of different organs that work together closely.

Organismal Level

The highest level of structural organization, representing the human organism made up of many organ systems.

Integumentary System

The organ system that forms the external body covering, protects deeper tissues from injury, synthesizes vitamin D, and houses cutaneous receptors as well as sweat and oil glands.

Skeletal System

The organ system that protects and supports body organs, provides a framework for muscle movement, forms blood cells within bones, and stores minerals.

Muscular System

The organ system that allows manipulation of the environment, locomotion, and facial expression, maintains posture, and produces heat.

Nervous System

The fast-acting control system of the body that responds to internal and external changes by activating appropriate muscles and glands.

Endocrine System

The organ system whose glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells.

Cardiovascular System

The organ system in which blood vessels transport blood carrying oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes, driven by the pumping action of the heart.

Lymphatic System / Immunity

The organ system that picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to blood, disposes of debris in the lymphatic stream, and houses white blood cells involved in immunity.

Respiratory System

The organ system that keeps blood constantly supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide through gaseous exchanges across the walls of the lung air sacs.

Digestive System

The organ system that breaks down food into absorbable units that enter the blood for distribution to body cells and eliminates indigestible foodstuffs as feces.

Urinary System

The organ system that eliminates nitrogenous wastes from the body and regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood.

Male Reproductive System

An organ system whose main function is the production of offspring, where testes produce sperm and male sex hormones, and ducts/glands aid in delivery of sperm.

Female Reproductive System

An organ system whose main function is the production of offspring; ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones, while remaining structures serve as sites for fertilization and fetal development.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain relatively stable internal conditions despite continuous changes occurring in the external environment.

Homeostatic Control System

A control system comprising a receptor (sensor), control center, and effector, which communicate with each other to maintain internal body stability.

Receptor (Sensor)

The component of a homeostatic control system that detects a change in a variable and sends input information along the afferent pathway to the control center.

Control Center

The component of a homeostatic control system that analyzes input received from the receptor, determines the set point, and sends output along the efferent pathway to the effector.

Effector

The component of a homeostatic control system that receives output from the control center and provides the means for the response to feed back and influence the magnitude of the stimulus.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A hormone that regulates the amount of oxygen carried in the blood by adjusting the number of red blood cells and promoting red blood cell formation.

Calcitriol

A hormone that promotes the absorption of dietary calcium in the digestive system.

Leptin

A hormone produced in the digestive system that suppresses appetite.