anatomy chapter 1-5

Organization

Structure of living things from cells to organisms.

Metabolism

Sum of all chemical reactions including catabolism and anabolism.

Responsiveness

Ability to detect and respond to stimuli.

Movement

Includes internal movement (blood, organ contents) and external movement (locomotion).

Growth

Increase in size or number of cells.

Differentiation

Process where cells specialize for specific functions.

Reproduction

Ability of cells or organisms to produce new cells or organisms.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of stable internal conditions.

Dorsal cavity

Contains the brain and spinal cord.

Cranial cavity

Part of the dorsal cavity housing the brain.

Vertebral cavity

Part of the dorsal cavity housing the spinal cord.

Ventral cavity

Contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Thoracic cavity

Contains heart and lungs.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Contains digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs.

Serous membranes

Membranes that reduce friction between organs.

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into left and right.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Divides the body into anterior and posterior.

Transverse plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior.

Feedback mechanisms

Processes that regulate homeostasis.

Negative feedback

Opposes a deviation from a set point.

Positive feedback

Amplifies a change or response.

Ectoderm

Germ layer that forms the epidermis and nervous system.

Mesoderm

Germ layer that forms muscle, bone, and blood.

Endoderm

Germ layer that forms the lining of the gut and respiratory tract.

Cell

Basic unit of life.

Organelle

Specialized structure within a cell.

Nucleus

Organelle that houses DNA.

Ribosome

Organelle involved in protein synthesis.

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell, produces ATP.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

Involves rough (protein synthesis) and smooth (lipid synthesis) functions.

Golgi apparatus

Packages and modifies proteins for secretion.

Lysosome

Contains digestive enzymes to breakdown waste.

Peroxisome

Organelle involved in detoxification and lipid metabolism.

Plasma membrane

Outer cell membrane that controls entry and exit of substances.

Cytoplasm

Fluid that fills the cell and supports organelles.

Tight junctions

Cell junctions that prevent leakage.

Adherens junctions

Mechanical junctions that anchor cells together.

Desmosomes

Cell junctions that provide spot adhesion.

Gap junctions

Communicating junctions allowing transfer of ions and small molecules.

Simple squamous epithelium

Single layer of flat cells for diffusion.

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Single layer of cube-shaped cells for secretion and absorption.

Simple columnar epithelium

Single layer of tall cells for absorption and secretion.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Multiple layers of cells for protection.

Connective tissue

Supports, binds, and protects other tissues.

Loose connective tissue

Contains fewer fibers, more ground substance.

Dense connective tissue

Contains closely packed fibers for strength.

Cartilage

Flexible connective tissue that provides support.

Bone

Hard, dense connective tissue for structure and protection.

Blood

Fluid connective tissue that transports nutrients and waste.

Adipose tissue

Connective tissue that stores fat and provides insulation.

Muscle tissue

Tissue that enables movement.

Skeletal muscle

Striated, voluntary muscle attached to bones.

Cardiac muscle

Striated, involuntary muscle found in the heart.

Smooth muscle

Non-striated, involuntary muscle in hollow organs.

Nervous tissue

Tissue responsible for transmitting impulses.

Neuron

Basic unit of nervous tissue responsible for signal transmission.

Glial cells

Support cells for neurons in the nervous system.

Hemostasis

The process of blood clotting.

Inflammation

Body's response to injury or infection.

Proliferation

Stage of tissue repair where cells multiply.

Remodeling

Final stage of tissue healing where the scar matures.

Stratum corneum

Outer layer of skin, made up of dead cells.

Stratum lucidum

Characteristics of Life (Mnemonic)

Only Mighty Robots Move Great Distances Rapidly Home (Organization, Metabolism, Responsiveness, Movement, Growth, Differentiation, Reproduction, Homeostasis)

Organization (Characteristics of Life)

Living things show hierarchical structure: cells → tissues → organs → systems → organism; structure determines function.

Metabolism (Characteristics of Life)

Sum of chemical reactions: Catabolism (break molecules, release energy) & Anabolism (build molecules, use energy).

Responsiveness (Characteristics of Life)

Ability to detect and respond to stimuli (e.g., reflex, hormonal response, pupillary reflex).

Movement (Characteristics of Life)

Internal (blood, organ contents) & external (locomotion); includes intracellular movement like vesicle transport.

Growth (Characteristics of Life)

Increase in size (hypertrophy) or number of cells (hyperplasia).

Differentiation (Characteristics of Life)

Cells specialize from stem cells into specific cell types; germ layers specify tissues.

Reproduction (Characteristics of Life)

Cell division (mitosis for somatic, meiosis for gametes) or organismal reproduction.

Homeostasis

Maintenance of internal constancy (e.g., temperature, pH, osmolarity) through feedback mechanisms.

Dorsal Body Cavity: Location & Major Organs

Back; Brain (Cranial Cavity) and spinal cord (Vertebral Cavity).

Cranial Cavity: Location & Major Organ

Skull; Brain.

Vertebral Cavity: Location & Major Organ

Vertebral column; Spinal cord.

Ventral Body Cavity: Location & Major Organs

Front; Thoracic & Abdominopelvic cavities, containing heart, lungs, digestive, urinary, reproductive organs.

Thoracic Cavity: Location & Major Organs

Chest; Heart and Lungs.

Abdominopelvic Cavity: Location & Major Organs

Abdomen + Pelvis; Digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs.

Parietal Serous Membrane

Lines cavity walls.

Visceral Serous Membrane

Covers organs.

Function of Serous Membranes

Reduce friction between organs and cavity walls.

Sagittal Organ Section/Plane

Divides left/right (midsagittal = exactly midline; parasagittal = off-center); useful for medial/lateral relations.

Frontal (Coronal) Organ Section/Plane

Divides anterior/posterior (front/back).

Transverse (Horizontal) Organ Section/Plane

Divides superior/inferior (top/bottom).

Oblique Organ Section/Plane

Angled section.

Organ Sections Mnemonic

Some Friends Take Omelettes (Sagittal, Frontal, Transverse, Oblique).

Negative Feedback Mechanism: Function & Examples

Reverses a change to maintain homeostasis (stabilizer); e.g., body temperature regulation, blood glucose control.

Components of a Negative Feedback Loop

Receptor (senses variable) → Control Center (compares to set point) → Effector (responds to restore set point).

Positive Feedback Mechanism: Function & Examples

Amplifies a change until an event is completed (amplifier); e.g., labor contractions, blood clotting.

Ectoderm (Embryonic Layer) & Derivatives

Epidermis, nervous system (brain, spinal cord), neural crest derivatives (melanocytes, peripheral neurons).

Mesoderm (Embryonic Layer) & Derivatives

Muscle, bone, cartilage, blood/vascular system, dermis, kidneys, gonads.

Endoderm (Embryonic Layer) & Derivatives

Epithelial lining of GI tract (except mouth & anal canal ends), respiratory epithelium, liver, pancreas, thyroid/parathyroid.

Embryonic Layers Mnemonic

Eat My Eggs (Ectoderm, Mesoderm, Endoderm).

Synovial Membrane: Location & Composition

Lines joint cavities; composed of synoviocytes (Type A: macrophage-like, Type B: fibroblast-like).

Synovial Membrane: Function

Lubrication and nutrient supply to articular cartilage by producing hyaluronic acid for synovial fluid.

Nucleus (Cell Organelle) Function

DNA storage, transcription; 'Brain of cell'.

Nucleolus (Cell Organelle) Function

Ribosome assembly; 'Ribosome factory'.

Mitochondria (Cell Organelle) Function

ATP production; 'Powerhouse'.

Rough ER (Cell Organelle) Function

Protein synthesis for secretion/membrane insertion; ribosome-studded.

Smooth ER (Cell Organelle) Function

Lipid synthesis, detoxification (hepatocytes), Ca²⁺ storage (sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle).