Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lectures on Anatomy and Physiology as well as Chemistry.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body and its parts.

Physiology

The study of the function of the body and its systems.

Anatomical position

The standard position of the body used as a reference in anatomy, standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides, with palms facing forward.

Anterior/Ventral

Refers to the front or direction toward the front of the body.

Posterior/Dorsal

Refers to the back or direction toward the back of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or to the trunk of the body.

Superior

Above or higher in position.

Sagittal plane

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

Coronal/Frontal plane

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

Transverse plane

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

Levels of organization

The hierarchical structure of biological organization, including atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and systems.

Dorsal cavity

Houses the cranial and spinal cavities.

Ventral cavity

Contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Diaphragm

A muscular wall separating the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions within the body.

Negative feedback

A mechanism that reverses a deviation from the set point.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.

Chemical oxidation of glucose

The process by which glucose and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide and ATP.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances that retain their individual properties.

Solvent

The substance in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution.

Acid/Alkaline

Acids are substances that release hydrogen ions in solution; alkaline solutions are those with a higher pH than 7.

pH scale

A scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.

Buffer

A substance that helps maintain a stable pH in a solution.