College Level Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary from the comprehensive college-level Anatomy and Physiology curriculum, spanning from cellular biology and genetics to the major organ systems of the human body.

Fluid Mosaic Model

The structural model of the plasma membrane where phospholipids form a bilayer with cholesterol and proteins embedded within and floating throughout the structure.

Mitochondrion

A double-membrane cellular organelle often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, primarily involved in the production of $ATP$.

Transcription

The process occurring in the nucleus where a segment of DNA is used as a template to create a matching single-stranded $mRNA$ molecule.

Translation

The process occurring in the ribosome where the code on an $mRNA$ molecule is read in codons to assemble a specific sequence of amino acids into a protein.

Pluripotent Stem Cell

A type of undifferentiated cell that has the potential to differentiate into many, but not all, different cell types.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A multi-layered epithelial tissue composed of flat, scale-like cells on the apical surface, designed to protect underlying tissues from abrasion.

Myocytes

Contractile cells that make up muscle tissue; these can be skeletal, smooth, or cardiac.

Synapse

The narrow space or junction between two neurons, or between a neuron and its target cell, where chemical or electrical signals are transmitted.

Stratum Basale

The deepest layer of the epidermis, consisting of highly mitotic basal cells, Merkel cells, and melanocytes.

Osteoblast

A non-dividing bone cell responsible for producing new bone matrix by secreting collagen and calcium salts.

Sarcomere

The functional unit of skeletal muscle fibers, composed of highly organized thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments.

Action Potential

A rapid change in membrane potential occurring in excitable cells, involving depolarization from $-70\,mV$ to $+30\,mV$ followed by repolarization.

Choroid Plexus

A specialized membrane within the brain's ventricles where ependymal cells filter blood to produce cerebrospinal fluid ($CSF$).

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

The part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the reception of conscious stimuli and voluntary motor responses.

Negative Feedback Loop

The most common regulation mechanism in the endocrine system where the release of a hormone eventually inhibits its own further secretion to maintain homeostasis.

Stroke Volume

The amount of blood ejected from the heart with each ventricular contraction, typically averaging about $70\,cm^{3}$.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A hormone produced by kidney fibroblasts that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells in response to hypoxemia.

Adaptive Immune System

The branch of the immune system that specifically identifies and eliminates pathogens using $B$ and $T$ lymphocytes, providing immunological memory.

Alveoli

Tiny, thin-walled sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place via simple diffusion.

Chyme

The soupy liquid mixture of partially digested food and gastric juices produced in the stomach.

Glycolysis

The first stage of glucose metabolism occurring in the cytoplasm, resulting in a net gain of $2$ $ATP$ and $2$ $NADH$ per glucose molecule.

Nephron

The microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.

Bicarbonate Buffer System

The primary chemical buffering system in the blood that regulates $pH$ through the balance of bicarbonate ions ($HCO_{3}^{-}$) and carbonic acid ($H_{2}CO_{3}$).

Spermatogenesis

The process beginning at puberty in the seminiferous tubules through which spermatogonia develop into mature spermatozoa.

Corpus Luteum

The structure formed from a ruptured follicle after ovulation that secretes large amounts of progesterone to support a potential pregnancy.

Blastocyst

The developmental stage of a conceptus, roughly five days after fertilization, consisting of an inner cell mass and an outer layer of trophoblasts surrounding a fluid-filled cavity.

Phospholipid Bilayer\n\n

A fundamental structure of cell membranes composed of phospholipids, where hydrophilic heads face outward and hydrophobic tails face inward, creating a semi-permeable barrier.\n\n

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)\n\n

The primary energy carrier in cells, composed of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups; used in various cellular processes.\n\n

Ribosomes\n\n

Cellular structures composed of RNA and proteins, responsible for protein synthesis through translation of mRNA.\n\n

Differentiation\n\n

The process by which unspecialized cells develop into specialized cells with distinct functions and characteristics.\n\n

Tissues\n\n

Groups of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function; the four primary types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.\n\n

Neurons\n\n

Specialized cells of the nervous system that transmit signals through electrical impulses and chemical synapses.\n\n

Homeostasis\n\n

The process by which biological systems maintain stability while adjusting to changing external conditions.\n\n

Cardiac Output\n\n

The total amount of blood the heart pumps per minute, calculated as the product of stroke volume and heart rate.\n\n

Erythropoiesis\n\n

The process of producing red blood cells in the bone marrow, stimulated by erythropoietin in response to low oxygen levels.\n\n

Adaptive Immunity\n\n

Immunity that develops over time through exposure to pathogens, involving the response of B and T lymphocytes and characterized by memory.\n\n