Anatomy & Physiology: Introduction to Human Structure and Function

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental terminology, characteristics of life, human organ systems, anatomical directions, regional terms, body planes, and internal cavities from Lecture 1.0.

Science

A way of learning about the natural world through observation, testing, and discovery, as well as the collection of knowledge (facts, hypotheses, theories) gathered about it.

Anatomy

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

Physiology

The study of the function of body parts and how they work to carry out life-sustaining activities.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes that occur in the body, including the making and breaking of chemical bonds.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to detect and respond to environmental changes to maintain a stable internal environment.

Principle of Complementarity

The concept that structure determines function, and that function always reflects underlying anatomical form.

Atmospheric Pressure

The force exerted on the surface of the body due to the weight of air, which is essential for human ventilation.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure exerted by a liquid due to the weight of water above it, necessary for moving substances in and out of blood vessels.

Integumentary System

Organ system composed of skin, hair, nails, and sweat/oil glands that protects the body, regulates body temperature, and detects sensory stimuli.

Skeletal System

Organ system composed of bones, joints, cartilage, and ligaments that supports and protects the body, assists with movement, and stores minerals.

Muscular System

Organ system composed of skeletal muscle tissue and tendons that produces gross body movements and helps regulate body temperature.

Nervous System

Organ system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory organs that functions as the body's primary communication network.

Endocrine System

Organ system consisting of glands and tissues that produce hormones, acting as the secondary communication system of the body.

Lymphatic System

Organ system consisting of lymphatic vessels, fluid, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes that regulates fluid balance and protects against disease-causing microorganisms.

Cardiovascular System

Organ system composed of blood, heart, and blood vessels that transports oxygen, nutrients, gases, and waste throughout the body.

Respiratory System

Organ system consisting of the nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between external and internal environments.

Digestive System

Organ system consisting of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum that breaks down and absorbs nutrients.

Urinary System

Organ system composed of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra that eliminates waste products generated during cellular processes.

Reproductive System

Organ system consisting of gonads (testes and ovaries) and associated structures that produces sex cells (gametes) and produces offspring.

Standard Anatomical Position

A standardized posture where the patient stands faced forward, feet shoulder-width apart, with arms at the sides and palms directed forward toward the viewer.

Supine

A reclining body position in which the body lies horizontally facing upward.

Prone

A reclining body position in which the body lies horizontally facing downward.

Superior

Directional term meaning toward the head, or upper part of a structure.

Inferior

Directional term meaning away from the head, or lower part of a structure.

Anterior

Directional term meaning nearer to or at the front of the body.

Posterior

Directional term meaning nearer to or at the back of the body.

Medial

Directional term meaning nearer to the midline, an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Lateral

Directional term meaning farther from the midline or midsagittal plane.

Intermediate

Directional term meaning positioned between two structures.

Ipsilateral

Directional term meaning located on the same side of the body as another structure.

Contralateral

Directional term meaning located on the opposite side of the body from another structure.

Proximal

Directional term meaning nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk, or nearer to the origin of a structure.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk, or farther from the origin of a structure.

Superficial

Directional term meaning toward or located on the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning located away from the surface of the body.

Axial Division

Main body division that forms the central axis, including the head (cranial/cephalic), neck (cervical), chest (thoracic), abdomen, and pelvis.

Appendicular Division

Main body division consisting of the upper and lower limbs attached to the axial body.

Antebrachial Region

Regional anatomical term for the forearm, situated between the elbow and the wrist.

Antecubital Region

Regional anatomical term for the space anterior to the elbow.

Axillary Region

Regional anatomical term for the armpit.

Brachial Region

Regional anatomical term for the arm, between the shoulder and the elbow.

Cervical Region

Regional anatomical term referring to the neck.

Coxal Region

Regional anatomical term referring to the hip.

Crural Region

Regional anatomical term referring to the leg, specifically between the knee and the ankle.

Femoral Region

Regional anatomical term referring to the thigh.

Inguinal Region

Regional anatomical term referring to the groin area or crease at the junction of the thigh with the trunk.

Lumbar Region

Regional anatomical term referring to the inferior part of the back between the ribs and the pelvis (small of the back).

Olecranal Region

Regional anatomical term for the posterior aspect of the elbow.

Popliteal Region

Regional anatomical term for the hollow area posterior to the knee.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane passing through the body or an organ that divides it into right and left sides.

Frontal Plane

A vertical plane passing from right to left that divides the body or an organ into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane passing through the body or an organ that divides it into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Oblique Plane

An angular plane passing through the body or an organ at an angle between transverse and sagittal/frontal planes.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Posterior fluid-filled space containing the cranial cavity (housing the brain) and the vertebral cavity (housing the spinal cord).

Ventral Body Cavity

Anterior internal body space divided into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity containing internal organs (viscera).

Diaphragm

A muscular wall separating the superior thoracic cavity from the inferior abdominopelvic cavity.

Thoracic Cavity

Superior division of the ventral cavity enclosed by the ribcage, containing the pleural cavities, pericardial cavity, and mediastinum.

Mediastinum

Central region of the thoracic cavity located between the two pleural cavities, housing heart structures and blood vessels.