Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms and concepts from the anatomy and physiology lecture notes, providing definitions and explanations to aid in understanding the subject matter.

Metabolism

All biochemical reactions in living organisms, involving anabolic and catabolic reactions.

Anabolic Reactions

Building reactions that consume energy.

Catabolic Reactions

Reactions that break materials down and release energy.

Anatomy

The study of the form and structure of the body.

Physiology

The examination of how the body functions.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a consistent internal environment amidst changing conditions.

Axial Region

The region of the body that includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Region

The upper and lower limbs of the body.

Coronal Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Sagittal Plane

A plane dividing the body into unequal left and right portions.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane dividing the body into top and bottom.

Abdominal Quadrants

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) for locating organs.

Positive Feedback Loop

Enhances a change in the internal environment until a climactic event occurs.

Negative Feedback Loop

The variable fluctuates within a normal range around a set point, negating changes.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Organelle that serves as a point of attachment for ribosomes.

Golgi Apparatus

Modifies, packages, and sorts proteins; known as the cell's 'shipping' center.

Mitochondria

Known as the powerhouse of the cell, responsible for aerobic cellular respiration and ATP production.

Isotonic Solution

Solution with the same concentration of solutes as the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Hypotonic Solution

Solution with a lower concentration of solutes than the cell, causing the cell to swell.

Hypertonic Solution

Solution with a higher concentration of solutes than the cell, causing the cell to shrink.

Phospholipids

Molecules with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails that form the cell membrane.

Osmosis

Passive movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

Active Transport

Movement of substances against a concentration gradient, requiring energy.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated muscle that is under voluntary control and responsible for locomotion.

Smooth Muscle

Non-striated, involuntary muscle found in walls of hollow organs.

Cardiac Muscle

Striated muscle found exclusively in the heart, under involuntary control.

Hemopoiesis

Formation of blood cells in the bone marrow.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse.

Action Potential

A rapid rise and fall in voltage or membrane potential across a cellular membrane.

Graded Potential

Changes in membrane potential that vary in size and do not always lead to action potentials.

Synapse

The junction between two nerve cells where neurotransmitters are released.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell that contains the genetic material in the form of DNA.

Ribosomes

Organelles responsible for protein synthesis, which can be found floating freely in the cytosol or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound sacs containing digestive enzymes used to break down macromolecules and cell debris.

Epithelial Tissue

A primary tissue type that covers body surfaces, lines internal cavities, and forms the secretory part of glands.

Connective Tissue

The most abundant and widely distributed tissue type, providing support, protection, and binding of organs.

Superior

A directional term meaning toward the head or the upper part of a structure.

Inferior

A directional term meaning away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure.

Proximal

A directional term indicating a position closer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.

Distal

A directional term indicating a position farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.

Medial

A directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

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

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The portion of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The division of the nervous system representing all nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord.