A+P Chapter 1 - General Terminology

palpation

to examine by touch

ausculation

listening to sounds within the body

percussion

tapping on a surface to determine abnormalities

gross anatomy

study of structures that can be seen with the naked eye

histology

microscopic study of tissues

ultrastructure

fine detail, down to the molecular level, revealed by the electron microscope

comparitive physiology

study of different species to learn about body function

cladius galen

prominent greek physician, surgeon and philosopher in the roman empire

andreas vesalius

scientist who pioneered the study of anatomy; de humani corporis fabrica

william harvey

described the circulation of blood to and from the heart

antony van leeuwenhoek

invented the simple microscope

robert hooke

coined the term cell

carl zeiss and ernst abbe

greatly improved compact microscope, ability to see other specimen

francis bacon and rene descartes

invented scientific method and inductive method

falsifiability

if we claim something is scientifically true, we must be able to specify what evidence it would take to prove it wrong

statistical testing

provides statement of probability that treatment was effective

law of nature

a generalization about the predictable ways in which matter and energy behave

theory

an explanatory statement, summary of conclusions

evolution

the gradual change in a species genetic population

selection pressures

natural forces that promote the reproductive success of certain genetics

vestigial organs

organ that serves no useful function in an organism

prehensile

adapted for grasping or holding

stereoscopic vision

the ability to determine an object's depth

reductionism

the reduction of complex systems to simpler components

holism

a concept that considers the whole person; parts are woven together and cannot be separated

situs inversus

left-right reversal of organ placement

metabolism

the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials

anabolism

simple to complex (synthesis)

catabolism

complex to simple

claude bernard

observed that the internal conditions of the body remain constant

negative feedback

a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the stimulus

vasodilation

widening of blood vessels

vasocontriction

narrowing of blood vessels

integrating center

relays impulses from sensory to motor neurons

effector

organ or cell that acts in response to a stimulus

receptor

protein that detects a signal molecule and performs an action in response

positive feedback

feedback that increases output

william roentgen

discovered x-rays in 1895

angiography

radiographic imaging of blood vessels

computed tomography

an imaging procedure using a computer to layer images

positron emission tomography (PET)

a method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream

magnetic resonance imaging

brain-imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the brain