Bio 32: An Orientation to the Human Body

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers levels of structural organization, organ system functions, homeostatic control mechanisms, directional and regional terminology, body planes, and body cavities as presented in the lecture notes.

Chemical level

The level of structural organization where atoms combine to form molecules.

Cellular level

The level of structural organization where cells are made up of molecules.

Tissue level

The level of structural organization where tissues consist of similar types of cells.

Organ level

The level of structural organization where organs are made up of different types of tissues.

Organ system level

The level of structural organization where organ systems consist of different organs that work together closely.

Organismal level

The highest level of structural organization where the human organism is made up of many organ systems.

Lymphatic System

Picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to blood; disposes of debris in the lymphatic stream; houses white blood cells involved in immunity.

Nervous System

Fast-acting control system of the body; responds to internal and external changes by activating appropriate muscles and glands.

Endocrine System

Glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use by body cells.

Respiratory System

Keeps blood constantly supplied with oxygen and removes $CO_2$; gaseous exchanges occur through the walls of the air sacs of the lungs.

Digestive System

Breaks food down into absorbable units that enter the blood for distribution to body cells; indigestible foodstuffs are eliminated as feces.

Muscular System

Allows manipulation of the environment, locomotion, and facial expression; maintains posture; produces heat.

Urinary System

Eliminates nitrogen-containing wastes from the body; regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood.

Skeletal System

Protects and supports body organs; provides a framework the muscles use to cause movement; blood cells are formed within bones; stores minerals.

Integumentary System

Forms the external body covering; protects deeper tissue from injury; synthesizes vitamin D; location of cutaneous receptors and sweat and oil glands.

Cardiovascular System

Blood vessels transport blood, which carries oxygen, $CO_2$, nutrients, wastes, etc.; the heart pumps blood.

Receptor

A sensor that monitors the environment and detects change (stimulus) in a homeostatic control system.

Control Center

Determines the set point at which a variable is maintained and analyzes input received via the afferent pathway.

Effector

Provides the means for the control center's response to the stimulus, with information flowing along the efferent pathway.

Negative feedback mechanism

A control system, such as body temperature regulation, where the response reduces the effect of the original stimulus.

Positive feedback mechanism

A control system, such as platelet plug formation or labor contractions, where the result or response enhances the original stimulus so that the activity is accelerated.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Ventral (anterior)

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Dorsal (posterior)

Toward or at the back of the body; behind.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of.

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Frontal plane

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

Transverse plane

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

Median (midsagittal) plane

A plane that lies exactly in the midline and divides the body into right and left halves.

Dorsal body cavity

Protects the fragile nervous system organs; consists of the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity.

Ventral body cavity

The more anterior and larger of the closed body cavities; houses internal organs called viscera and consists of the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Diaphragm

A dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the more inferior abdominopelvic cavity.

Parietal serosa

The part of the double-layered membrane that lines the walls of the ventral body cavity.

Visceral serosa

The part of the double-layered membrane that covers the organs in the ventral body cavity.

Epigastric region

The centermost abdominopelvic region located superior to the umbilical region.

Hypogastric (pubic) region

The centermost abdominopelvic region located inferior to the umbilical region.