Lecture 1: The Human Organism Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the introductory concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology as presented in the lecture notes.

Anatomy

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

Physiology

The study that investigates the processes and functions of the body.

Human Physiology

The study of the human organism.

Systemic Physiology

The study of body organ-systems.

Cellular Physiology

The study of body cells.

Systemic Anatomy

The study of body organ-systems.

Regional Anatomy

The study of body regions, typically practiced in medical schools.

Surface Anatomy

The study of external features, such as bone projections.

Anatomical imaging

The use of technologies such as x-rays, ultrasound, and MRI to visualize the body.

Chemical level

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

Cellular level

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

Tissues

A group of cells with similar structure and function, plus the extracellular substances they release.

Organs

Two or more tissue types acting together to perform one or more functions; examples include the stomach, heart, and liver.

Organ-System

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

Organism

The level of organization where all organ systems work together, including associated microorganisms such as intestinal bacteria.

Integumentary System

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

Skeletal System

System that provides protection and support, allows movements, produces blood cells, and stores minerals and adipose tissue; consists of bones, cartilages, ligaments, and joints.

Muscular System

System that 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; consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Endocrine System

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

Cardiovascular System

Transports nutrients, waste products, gases, and hormones; plays a role in immune response and temperature regulation; consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Lymphatic System

Removes foreign substances from blood and lymph, combats disease, maintains tissue fluid balance, and absorbs dietary fats; consists of vessels and nodes.

Respiratory System

Exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and air and regulates blood $pH$; consists of the lungs and respiratory passages.

Digestive System

Performs 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; consists of kidneys, bladder, and ureters.

Organization

The characteristic of life referring to the functional interrelationships between parts.

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 environmental changes in both internal and external environments.

Growth

An increase in size of cells, groups of cells, or extracellular materials.

Development

Changes in form and size, including the differentiation of generalized cell structures and functions into specialized ones.

Differentiation

The process of changes in cell structure and function from generalized to specialized.

Reproduction

The formation of new cells or organisms, generation of new individuals, or tissue repair.

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.

Normal range

The normal extent of increase or decrease of a variable around its set point.

Set point

The normal or average value of a physiological variable.

Negative feedback

The main homeostatic regulation mechanism involving the detection of a deviation from the set point and its reversal toward the normal range.

Receptor

A homeostatic component that detects changes in a variable.

Control center

A homeostatic component that receives signals from receptors, establishes the set point, and sends signals to effectors.

Effector

A homeostatic component that directly causes a change in a variable.

Positive feedback

A mechanism where the initial stimulus further stimulates the response, causing progressive deviation away from the set point; associated with childbirth or disease.

Anatomical position

The position of a person standing erect with face and palms forward.

Superior

Directional term meaning above.

Inferior

Directional term meaning below.

Anterior

Directional term meaning front; also known as ventral.

Posterior

Directional term meaning back; also known as dorsal.

Medial

Directional term meaning close to the midline.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline.

Proximal

Directional term meaning close to the point of attachment.

Distal

Directional term meaning far from the point of attachment.

Superficial

Directional term for a structure close to the surface.

Deep

Directional term for a structure toward the interior of the body.

Sagittal plane

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

Median plane

A midsagittal plane 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; also called the coronal plane.

Dorsal Body cavity

The cavity enclosing the organs of the nervous system, consisting of the cranial cavity and vertebral canal.

Ventral Body cavity

The cavity containing the majority of internal organs (viscera), divided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Thoracic cavity

The space within the chest wall and diaphragm containing the heart, lungs, and mediastinum.

Mediastinum

The space between the lungs containing the heart, thymus gland, esophagus, and trachea.

Abdominal cavity

The space between the diaphragm and pelvis containing organs such as the stomach, liver, and kidneys.

Pelvic cavity

The space within the pelvis containing the urinary bladder and reproductive organs.

Visceral serous membrane

The inner layer of the serous membrane that covers the organs.

Parietal serous membrane

The outer layer of the serous membrane that lines the trunk cavities.

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.

Retroperitoneal

Term describing organs located behind the peritoneum.