Introduction to Anatomy, Physiology, and Homeostasis

Vocabulary flashcards covering core topics from introductory anatomy, physiology, organ systems, directional terms, body cavities, serous membranes, and homeostatic control mechanisms.

Anatomy

The study of structure and form of the body.

Physiology

The study of body function, examining how structures function at the molecular and cellular level.

Cytology

The subdivision of microscopic anatomy that studies body cells and their internal structure.

Histology

The subdivision of microscopic anatomy that studies tissues.

Gross Anatomy

Also known as macroscopic anatomy; the study of body structures visible to the unaided eye.

Systemic Anatomy

The study of gross anatomy organized by each organ system.

Regional Anatomy

The study of gross anatomy based on structures in a specific body region.

Surface Anatomy

The study focusing on superficial anatomic markings and internal body structures.

Comparative Anatomy

The study examining anatomical similarities and differences in different species.

Embryology

The study of developmental changes from fertilization prior to birth.

Pathologic Anatomy

The study of disease-related anatomical changes.

Radiographic Anatomy

The study of internal anatomy using imaging technologies.

Pathophysiology

The study of how disease or injury affects the function of a body system.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within the body.

Anabolism

The metabolic process in which small molecules are joined to form larger ones.

Catabolism

The metabolic process in which large molecules are broken down into smaller ones.

Responsiveness

The ability of an organism to sense and react to changes in the external or internal environment, known as stimuli.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable, consistent internal environment despite changing conditions.

Organ Systems Count

The human body is organized into $11$ major organ systems.

Integumentary System

The organ system composed of skin, glands, hair, and nails that provides protection, regulates temperature, prevents water loss, and synthesizes Vitamin D.

Skeletal System

The organ system composed of bone, cartilage, and ligaments that provides support, protects organs, serves as the site of hemopoiesis, and stores calcium and phosphorus.

Muscular System

The organ system composed of muscles and tendons that produces body movement, locomotion, facial expression, posture, and generates body heat.

Nervous System

A regulatory organ system composed of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves that controls muscles and glands, responds to sensory stimuli, and is responsible for consciousness, intelligence, and memory.

Endocrine System

The organ system consisting of ductless glands and cell clusters that secrete hormones to regulate growth, reproduction, metabolism, and blood composition.

Cardiovascular System

The organ system composed of the heart, blood, and blood vessels that pumps blood to transport nutrients, gases, and wastes throughout the body.

Lymphatic System

The organ system composed of red bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels that transports and filters lymph and participates in immune responses.

Respiratory System

The organ system composed of the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and air.

Digestive System

The organ system composed of the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas that mechanically and chemically digests food, absorbs nutrients, and expels waste.

Urinary System

The organ system composed of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra that filters blood, removes wastes, concentrates waste into urine, and regulates water, electrolyte, and pH balance.

Male Reproductive System

The system composed of testes, penis, scrotum, ductus deferens, prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and epididymis that produces sperm and male sex hormones like testosterone.

Female Reproductive System

The system composed of ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands that produces female sex cells (oocytes) and hormones (estrogen and progesterone), receives sperm, supports fertilization and fetus development, and secretes breast milk.

Anatomic Position

A standard reference posture where an individual stands upright with feet parallel and flat on the floor, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing forward, head level, and eyes looking forward.

Section

An actual physical cut or slice that exposes internal anatomical structures.

Plane

An imaginary flat surface passing through the body.

Midsagittal Plane

Also called median plane; a vertical plane that divides the body or an organ into equal right and left halves.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane parallel to the midsagittal plane that divides the body or a structure into unequal left and right portions.

Coronal Plane

Also called frontal plane; a vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Transverse Plane

Also called horizontal or cross-sectional plane; a horizontal plane dividing the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.

Oblique Plane

A plane that passes through a body or structure at a diagonal angle.

Anterior

Directional term meaning closer to the front of the body (ventral).

Posterior

Directional term meaning closer to the back of the body (dorsal).

Superior

Directional term meaning above or closer to the head.

Inferior

Directional term meaning below or closer to the feet.

Proximal

Directional term applied to limbs meaning closer to the point of connection to the trunk.

Distal

Directional term applied to limbs meaning farther from the point of connection to the trunk.

Axial Region

The main vertical body region encompassing the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Region

The body region consisting of the upper and lower limbs.

Buccal Region

Anatomic term for the cheek.

Cervical Region

Anatomic term for the neck.

Axillary Region

Anatomic term for the armpit.

Brachial Region

Anatomic term for the arm (shoulder to elbow).

Antebrachial Region

Anatomic term for the forearm (elbow to wrist).

Antecubital Region

Anatomic term for the front of the elbow.

Olecranal Region

Anatomic term for the point of the elbow.

Carpal Region

Anatomic term for the wrist.

Femoral Region

Anatomic term for the thigh (hip to knee).

Patellar Region

Anatomic term for the kneecap or front of the knee.

Popliteal Region

Anatomic term for the posterior or back of the knee.

Crural Region

Anatomic term for the leg (knee to ankle).

Sural Region

Anatomic term for the calf (upper, posterior portion of the crural region).

Calcaneal Region

Anatomic term for the heel.

Plantar Region

Anatomic term for the sole of the foot.

Perineal Region

Anatomic term for the area between the genitalia and anus.

Posterior Aspect

The body cavity group completely encased in bone, consisting of the cranial cavity and vertebral canal.

Ventral Body Cavity

The large anterior body cavity partitioned by the thoracic diaphragm into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Thoracic Diaphragm

The parachute-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity.

Mediastinum

The median space within the thoracic cavity containing the heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, and major blood vessels.

Parietal Layer

The outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the internal surface of a body wall.

Visceral Layer

The inner layer of a serous membrane that covers the external surface of organs.

Serous Fluid

The lubricating liquid secreted by serous membrane cells into the serous cavity to reduce friction during organ movement.

Pleura

The two-layered serous membrane associated with the lungs.

Pericardium

The two-layered serous membrane associated with the heart.

Peritoneum

The two-layered serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity and covering its viscera.

Normal Body Temperature

The set point for human thermoregulation, equal to $37\,^\circ\text{C}$ ($98.6\,^\circ\text{F}$).

Stimulus

A detectable change in a regulated internal or external variable that initiates a homeostatic response.

Receptor

The homeostatic system component that detects a stimulus and sends input to the control center.

Control Center

The homeostatic system component (usually the brain or an endocrine gland) that integrates input from receptors and initiates changes through effectors.

Effector

The homeostatic system structure (such as a muscle or gland) that brings about a change to alter the stimulus.

Negative Feedback

A homeostatic control mechanism in which the resulting action opposes the stimulus, maintaining fluctuations around a set point.

Positive Feedback

A homeostatic control mechanism in which the response reinforces and amplifies the stimulus in the same direction until a climactic event occurs.