Flashcards Human Anatomy and Physiology: Key Concepts and Systems

What is anatomy?

The study of body structure.

What is physiology?

The study of how the body and its parts function.

What is the principle of complementarity?

Structure determines function.

What are the levels of structural organization from simplest to most complex?

Subatomic particles → atoms → molecules → organelles → cells → tissues → organs → organ systems → organism.

What are the 11 organ systems of the human body?

Integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic/immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive.

What is the major function of the integumentary system?

Protection, temperature regulation, sensation, and vitamin D production.

What is the major function of the skeletal system?

Support, protection, movement, mineral storage, and blood cell production.

What is the major function of the muscular system?

Movement, posture, and heat production.

What is the major function of the nervous system?

Rapid communication, control, coordination, and response.

What is the major function of the endocrine system?

Hormonal regulation of body functions.

What is the major function of the cardiovascular system?

Transportation of blood, oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and wastes.

What is the major function of the lymphatic/immune system?

Returns fluid to the blood and provides immune defense.

What is the major function of the respiratory system?

Gas exchange—brings in oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.

What is the major function of the digestive system?

Breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.

What is the major function of the urinary system?

Removes wastes and regulates water, electrolytes, and pH.

What is the major function of the reproductive system?

Produces sex cells and hormones and allows reproduction.

What is homeostasis?

Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment.

Why is homeostasis important?

Cells need stable conditions to function properly.

What is negative feedback?

A response that reverses or reduces the original stimulus.

What are the components of a negative feedback loop?

Stimulus → receptor → control center → effector → response.

What is positive feedback?

A response that amplifies the original stimulus.

What are two examples of positive feedback?

Childbirth contractions and blood clotting.

What is homeostatic imbalance?

Failure to maintain normal internal conditions.

How can homeostatic imbalance lead to disease?

Persistent imbalance can interfere with normal body function and cause disease.

What is the anatomical position?

Standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

What is located in the cranial cavity?

The brain.

What is located in the vertebral cavity?

The spinal cord.

What is located in the thoracic cavity?

Heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus, thymus, and major blood vessels.

What is located in the abdominal cavity?

Stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, intestines, and kidneys.

What is located in the pelvic cavity?

Urinary bladder, internal reproductive organs, and rectum.

What membrane surrounds the lungs?

Pleura.

What membrane surrounds the heart?

Pericardium.

What membrane is associated with the abdominal organs?

Peritoneum.

What is the difference between the parietal and visceral layers?

Parietal lines the cavity wall; visceral covers the organ.

What is potential energy?

Stored energy.

What is kinetic energy?

Energy of motion.

What is an atom?

The smallest unit of an element that retains its properties.

What are the three subatomic particles?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What is the charge of a proton?

Positive (+).

What is the charge of a neutron?

Neutral (0).

What is the charge of an electron?

Negative (−).

Where are protons and neutrons located?

In the nucleus.

Where are electrons located?

In the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus.

What is the atomic number?

The number of protons.

What is the mass number?

Protons + neutrons.

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

What is a radioisotope?

An unstable isotope that releases radiation.

What is an ionic bond?

A bond formed by transfer of electrons.

What is a covalent bond?

A bond formed by sharing electrons.

What is a hydrogen bond?

A weak attraction involving a partially positive hydrogen.

What is a polar molecule?

A molecule with an unequal distribution of electrical charge.

What is a nonpolar molecule?

A molecule with a relatively even distribution of charge.

What is a synthesis reaction?

A reaction in which smaller substances combine to form a larger substance.

What is a decomposition reaction?

A reaction in which a larger substance breaks into smaller substances.

What is an exchange reaction?

A reaction in which parts of molecules are exchanged.

What is an acid?

A substance that releases H⁺.

What is a base?

A substance that accepts H⁺ or releases OH⁻.

What does pH measure?

How acidic or basic a solution is.

What pH is neutral?

7.

What is a buffer?

A substance that resists sudden changes in pH.

What is the role of buffers in the body?

Buffers help maintain a stable pH.

What is dehydration synthesis?

A reaction that builds larger molecules by removing water.

What is hydrolysis?

A reaction that breaks molecules apart by adding water.

What are the four major groups of organic molecules?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

What are carbohydrates made of?

Monosaccharides.

What is a major function of carbohydrates?

Providing energy.

What are proteins made of?

Amino acids.

What are the major functions of proteins?

Enzymes, structure, transport, movement, and defense.

What are lipids commonly made of?

Glycerol and fatty acids.

What are the major functions of lipids?

Long-term energy storage, membranes, insulation, and hormones.

What are nucleic acids made of?

Nucleotides.

What are the two major nucleic acids?

DNA and RNA.

What is an enzyme?

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions.

What is the active site of an enzyme?

The region of an enzyme where the substrate binds.

What factors affect enzyme activity?

Temperature, pH, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and inhibitors/activators.

What is DNA's main function?

Stores genetic information.

What is RNA's main function?

Helps use genetic information, especially in protein synthesis.

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA is usually double-stranded and contains deoxyribose and thymine; RNA is usually single-stranded and contains ribose and uracil.

What nitrogenous base is found in DNA but not RNA?

Thymine.

What nitrogenous base is found in RNA instead of thymine?

Uracil.

What is ATP?

Adenosine triphosphate.

What is the role of ATP in cell metabolism?

Provides immediately usable energy for cellular work.

What are the building blocks of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides.

What are the building blocks of proteins?

Amino acids.

What are the building components of lipids?

Glycerol and fatty acids.

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?

Nucleotides.

What is the plasma membrane?

The membrane surrounding the cell.

What is the plasma membrane primarily made of?

A phospholipid bilayer with proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates.

What does selectively permeable mean?

It allows some substances to cross more easily than others.

What is the hydrophilic part of a phospholipid?

The phosphate head.

What is the hydrophobic part of a phospholipid?

The fatty acid tails.

What is the function of tight junctions?

Seal neighboring cells and prevent leakage between them.

What is the function of desmosomes?

Anchor cells together and provide mechanical strength.

What is the function of gap junctions?

Allow communication between neighboring cells.

What is passive transport?

Transport that does not require ATP.

What is active transport?

Transport that requires energy and can move substances against their concentration gradient.

What direction do substances move during diffusion?

High concentration → low concentration.

What is simple diffusion?

Movement directly through the lipid bilayer from high → low concentration.

What is facilitated diffusion?

Movement from high → low concentration using a membrane protein.

What is osmosis?

Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.