Chapter 1: The Human Organism - Anatomy & Physiology Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the introductory concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology, including levels of organization, organ systems, homeostasis, and anatomical terminology.

Anatomy

The study that investigates body structure; the term literally means "to dissect".

Physiology

The study that investigates body processes and functions.

Systemic Physiology

A sub-discipline of physiology that studies the functions of body organ-systems.

Cellular Physiology

A sub-discipline of physiology that studies the functions of body cells.

Systemic Anatomy

A type of anatomy that studies the body's organ-systems.

Regional Anatomy

A type of anatomy that studies specific body regions, typically used in medical schools.

Surface Anatomy

A type of anatomy that studies external features, such as bone projections.

Anatomical imaging

The use of technologies such as x-rays, ultrasound, and MRI to study the body's internal structures.

Chemical Level

The smallest level of structural organization, consisting of atoms, chemical bonds, and molecules.

Cellular Level

The level of organization involving cells, which are the basic units of life, including their compartments and organelles like mitochondria and the nucleus.

Tissues

Groups of cells with similar structure and function, plus the extracellular substances they release; the four broad types are Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, and Nervous.

Organs

Structures composed of two or more tissue types acting together to perform one or more specific functions, such as the stomach or heart.

Organ-System

A group of organs contributing to a common function, such as the digestive or reproductive system.

Organism

The highest level of structural organization, including all organ systems working together and associated microorganisms like intestinal bacteria.

Integumentary System

Provides protection, regulates temperature, prevents water loss, and helps produce vitamin D; consists of skin, hair, nails, and glands.

Skeletal System

Provides protection and support, allows body movements, produces blood cells, and stores minerals and adipose tissue.

Muscular System

Produces body movements, maintains posture, and produces body heat; consists of muscles attached to the skeleton by tendons.

Nervous System

A major regulatory system that detects sensations and controls movements, physiological processes, and intellectual functions.

Endocrine System

A major regulatory system that influences metabolism, growth, and reproduction by secreting hormones from glands like the pituitary.

Cardiovascular System

Transports nutrients, waste products, gases, and hormones throughout the body; also plays a role in immune response and temperature regulation.

Lymphatic System

Removes foreign substances from the blood and lymph, combats disease, maintains tissue fluid balance, and absorbs dietary fats.

Respiratory System

Exchanges oxygen ($O_2$) and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) between the blood and air and regulates blood pH.

Digestive System

Performs the mechanical and chemical processes of digestion, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of wastes.

Urinary System

Removes waste products from the blood and regulates blood pH, ion balance, and water balance.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical and physical changes sustaining an organism, including the ability to acquire and use energy.

Responsiveness

The ability to sense and respond to changes in both internal and external environments.

Differentiation

A part of development involving changes in cell structure and function from generalized to specialized states.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment despite fluctuations in the external or internal environment.

Variables

Measures of body properties that may change in value, such as body temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure.

Set point

The normal or average value of a variable in the body.

Negative feedback

The main mechanism for homeostatic regulation, involving the detection of a deviation from the set point and a correction to reverse that deviation.

Receptor

The component of a feedback mechanism that detects changes in a variable.

Control center

The component of a feedback mechanism that receives receptor signals, establishes the set point, and sends signals to an effector.

Effector

The component of a feedback mechanism that directly causes a change in a variable.

Positive feedback

A mechanism that occurs when an initial stimulus further stimulates the response, causing a progressive deviation away from the set point; generally associated with injury or disease.

Anatomical position

A standard reference position where a person is standing erect with face and palms forward.

Superior

A directional term meaning above.

Inferior

A directional term meaning below.

Anterior (Ventral)

A directional term meaning toward the front.

Posterior (Dorsal)

A directional term meaning toward the back.

Medial

A directional term meaning closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

A directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

A directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment.

Distal

A directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment.

Superficial

A directional term describing a structure close to the surface of the body.

Deep

A directional term describing a structure toward the interior of the body.

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane that separates the body into right and left parts.

Median plane

A sagittal plane located along the midline that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Transverse plane

A horizontal plane that separates the body into superior and inferior parts.

Frontal plane

A vertical plane that separates the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Mediastinum

The space between the lungs within the thoracic cavity that contains the heart, thymus gland, esophagus, and trachea.

Visceral serous membrane

The layer of a serous membrane that directly covers the internal organs.

Parietal serous membrane

The outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the cavity wall.

Pericardium

The serous membrane and cavity surrounding the heart.

Pleura

The serous membrane and cavity surrounding the lungs.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane and cavity surrounding the abdominopelvic cavity and its organs.

Mesenteries

Double layers of visceral peritoneum that cover and anchor organs within the abdominopelvic cavity.