Anatomy and Physiology Basics

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of human anatomy, physiology, organ systems, directional terms, body cavities, and homeostasis mechanisms.

Anatomy

The study of the structures of the body.

Physiology

The study of how the body functions.

Integumentary system

An organ system that protects the body from injury and infection, and helps regulate body temperature; composed of skin, hair, nails, and sweat glands.

Skeletal system

An organ system that supports the body, protects internal organs, and works with muscles to produce movement; composed of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and joints.

Muscular system

An organ system that allows movement, maintains posture, and produces heat; its main organs are skeletal muscles and tendons.

Nervous system

An organ system that controls and coordinates body activities and responds to changes in the body and its environment; main organs include the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Endocrine system

An organ system that regulates body functions by releasing hormones into the bloodstream; includes the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, and other hormone-producing glands.

Cardiovascular system

An organ system that pumps blood, delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells, and removes waste products; main organs are the heart, blood, and blood vessels.

Lymphatic system

An organ system that returns fluid to the blood, fights infection, and helps maintain fluid balance; includes lymph nodes, lymph vessels, spleen, and thymus.

Respiratory system

An organ system that brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide; main organs include the nose, trachea, lungs, and bronchi.

Digestive system

An organ system that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste; main organs include the mouth, stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, and large intestine.

Urinary system

An organ system that removes waste from the blood and regulates fluid and electrolyte balance; main organs include kidneys, ureters, urethra, and bladder.

Reproductive system

An organ system responsible for reproduction and production of sex hormones; main organs include testes, penis, prostate gland, scrotum, epididymis, and vas deferens in males, and ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina in females.

Anatomical position

The standard body reference position referring to a person standing upright with the face directed forward, the upper limbs hanging to the sides, palms facing forward, and feet flat pointing forward.

Epigastric region

The upper central abdominopelvic region containing the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, transverse colon, and spleen.

Hypogastric region

The lower central abdominopelvic region containing the small intestine, sigmoid colon, rectum, urinary bladder, right and left ureters, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and prostate.

Superior (cranial)

A directional term meaning toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior (caudal)

A directional term meaning toward the feet or lower part of a structure.

Anterior (ventral)

A directional term meaning toward the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

A directional term meaning toward the back of the body.

Proximal

A directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

A directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Dorsal cavity

The posterior body cavity that subdivides into the cranial cavity (housing the brain) and the vertebral cavity (housing the spinal cord).

Ventral cavity

The anterior body cavity composed of the thoracic cavity (pleural and pericardial cavities) and the abdominopelvic cavity (abdominal and pelvic cavities).

Parietal layer

The serous membrane layer that lines the cavity wall to help protect organs within the ventral body cavity.

Visceral layer

The serous membrane layer that directly covers the organ within the ventral body cavity.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment, derived from the Greek words homoios (similar) and stasis (standing still).

Negative feedback

The most common homeostatic feedback mechanism that opposes the initial change and brings the condition back to normal, regulating variables such as body temperature, blood glucose level, blood pressure, and breathing rate.

Positive feedback

A less common homeostatic feedback mechanism that enhances the initial change and pushes the body towards a particular response, such as during uterine contractions in delivery.

Renal system

One of the three main homeostatic control systems that maintains fluid and electrolyte balance by regulating water, sodium, potassium, and hydrogen.

Medial

referring to a position towards the midline of the body, indicating a location relative to other structures.

lateral

referring to a position away from the midline of the body, indicating a location relative to other structures.

superficial

referring to a position closer to the surface of the body, indicating a location relative to deeper structures.

deep

referring to a position farther from the surface of the body, indicating a location relative to more superficial structures.

right hypochondriac

referring to the right upper region of the abdomen, located beneath the rib cage and above the right lumbar region. It contains organs such as the liver and gallbladder.

left hypochondriac

referring to the left upper region of the abdomen, located beneath the rib cage and above the left lumbar region. It contains organs such as the stomach and spleen.

right lumbar

referring to the right middle region of the abdomen, located between the right hypochondriac and right iliac regions. It contains parts of the intestine and the right kidney.

umbilicus

the central area of the abdomen, commonly referred to as the belly button, where the umbilical cord was attached during fetal development.

left lumbar

referring to the left middle region of the abdomen, located between the left hypochondriac and left iliac regions. It contains parts of the intestine and the left kidney.

right iliac

referring to the lower right region of the abdomen, located between the right lumbar and right inguinal regions. It contains parts of the intestine and the appendix.

hypogastric

referring to the lower middle region of the abdomen, located below the umbilical region. It includes parts of the bladder and reproductive organs.

left iliac

referring to the lower left region of the abdomen, located between the left lumbar and hypogastric regions. It contains parts of the intestine and the sigmoid colon.

homeostatic mechanisms

are the processes and systems that maintain the internal stability of an organism despite changes in external conditions.

stimulus homeostatis