Anatomy & Physiology Vocabulary: Chapter 1

Anatomy

the structure of things or how things are built

specifically:

• where things are

• what things are made of

• physical relationships between parts

(of greek origin, meaning “a cutting open”)

Physiology

the function of anatomical structures

specifically:

• how structures, organs, and systems work separately or together

Anatomical position

hands at sides, palms forward, feet together

laying facing up - supine

laying facing down - prone

Frontal plane

• separates antierior and postierier portions of the body

Transverse plane

• perpindicular to long axis

• speartetes superior and inferior parts of the body

Sagittal plane

• parallel to long axis

• separates left and right portions of the body

Negative feedback

opposes variations from normal

specifically

• corrects deviations from normal

• most common form of feedback loop

• variations from the norm that are increases are brought back down

• variations from the norm that are decreases are brought back up

• ex: thermoregulation

Homeostasis

the tendency toward inward balance

specifically:

• the maintence of a relatively stable internal envionment

• the result of interdepependance of organ systems functioning together

Positive feedback

exaggerates variations from normal

specifically:

• reinforces or exaggerated deviations from normal

• variations from the norm that are increases are further increased

• fairly rare occurance and must have an “off switch”

• ex: blood clotting

Diaphragm

• a flat muscular sheet

• separates the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

Peritoneum

• a chamber lined by a serous membrane

• inside the peritoneal cavity, which is inside the abdominopelvic cavity

Viscera

• the internal organs that are partially or completely enclosed by the ventral body cavity and its subdivisions