Honors Anatomy Ch. 1

physiology

the branch of biological sciences that studies how body parts work and function

anatomy

the study of the shape and structure of the body in parts

homeostasis

the tendency of the body’s systems to maintain a dynamically stable environment

metabolism

a term encompassing all chemical reactions occurring in the body

What are the six levels of structural organization (smallest to largest)?

atoms → cells → tissues → organs → organ systems → organisms

What is the structure and function of the integumentary system?

• formed by the skin

• absorbs pressure and keeps deep tissue from getting injured

• helps regulate body temperature

• has cutaneous nerve receptors (where the sense of touch comes from)

What is the structure and function of the skeletal system?

• is made of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and joints

• supports the body

• where blood cells are formed

• stores minerals

What is the structure and function of the muscular system?

• muscles contract or shorten in order to move skeletal system around

What is the structure and function of the nervous system?

• a fast-acting control system

• made up of brain, nerves, sensory receptors, spinal cord

• responds to stimuli (internal and external)

• sends messages through nerve impulses

What is the structure and function of the endocrine system?

• secretes hormones for growth, reproduction, metabolism

• includes pituitary gland, thyroid, thymus, pancreas, pineal gland, ovaries/testes

What is the structure and function of the cardiovascular system?

• includes heart, blood vessels

• transports blood to tissues

• transports materials in body, like nutrients, gases, and waste; if there is no blood in an area, there are no living cells (barring outside of your skin)

What is the structure and function of the lymphatic system?

• includes lymphatic vessel, lymph nodes, lymphoid organs

• cleanses blood

• involved in immune responses

What is the structure and function of the respiratory system?

• includes nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs

• supplies blood with oxygen

• removes carbon dioxide

What is the structure and function of the digestive system?

• includes oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestines, and other organs

• breaks down food

• allows nutrient absorption into blood

• eliminates indigestible material as feces

What is the structure and function of the urinary system?

• includes kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra

• eliminates nitrogenous wastes

• maintains pH at 7.4

• regulates water and electrolytes

What is the structure and function of the reproductive system?

• in males: testes produce sperm and are carried to exterior

• in females: ovaries produce eggs and uterus is site of fetal development

responsiveness

the ability to sense changes and react

digestion

the breakdown and absorption of nutrients

peristalsis wave

the contracting of the smooth muscle of the esophagus to push food down

What does a disturbance in homeostasis result in?

disease

What are the steps of homeostatic response?

1. A stimulus produces a change in a variable.

2. A receptor detects change.

3. The information is sent along an afferent pathway to the control center.

4. Integration: the control center decides what to do with the information.

5. Information is sent back along an efferent pathway.

6. The information from the efferent pathway feeds back to reduce the stimulus’s effect and puts the variable back into homeostasis.

What is a receptor in homeostasis?

something in the body that detects change and sends information about it to the nervous system’s control center

What is an afferent pathway in homeostasis?

the pathway information is sent along to tell the brain about a change in a variable in the body

What is an efferent pathway in homeostasis?

the pathway information is sent along to tell an affected area what the brain wants it to do to return a variable to homeostatic equilibrium

negative feedback

like most homeostatic control mechanisms; shuts off original stimulus or reduces it entirely

positive feedback

increases original sitmulus to push a variable farther and make the reaction occur faster; only really happens in blood clotting, childbirth, and breastfeeding