Organization of the Human Body

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from the Chapter 1 lecture transcript on the Organization of the Human Body.

Anatomy

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

Morphology

The branch of biology that deals with the form of living things.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the human body and its parts.

Chemical Level

The level of organization where atoms, the smallest units of matter, form molecules, compounds, and macromolecules.

Cellular Level

The level of organization where cells act as the smallest living units in the body, formed by complex molecules.

Tissue Level

The level of organization where a group of cells work together to perform a particular function or functions.

Organ Level

The level of organization made of two or more tissues working together to perform a particular function.

Organ System Level

The level of organization where a group of organs work together to accomplish a larger goal.

Organism Level

The individual life form and highest level of organization considered.

Nervous Tissue

A primary tissue type responsible for internal communication, found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Muscle Tissue

A tissue type that contracts to cause movement, categorized into skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.

Epithelial Tissue

A tissue type that forms boundaries between different environments, protects, secretes, absorbs, and filters.

Connective Tissue

A tissue type that supports, protects, and binds other tissues together.

Characteristics of Life

Fundamental processes of living organisms including movement, responsiveness, growth, reproduction, respiration, digestion, absorption, circulation, assimilation, and excretion.

Movement

A process of life defined as a change in position of the body or of a body part, or the motion of an internal organ.

Responsiveness

A process of life defined as the reaction to a change inside or outside the body.

Growth

A process of life defined as an increase in body size without a change in shape.

Reproduction

A process of life defined as the production of new organisms and new cells.

Respiration

A process of life involving obtaining oxygen, removing carbon dioxide, and releasing energy from foods.

Digestion

A process of life defined as the breakdown of food substances into simpler forms that can be absorbed and used.

Absorption

A process of life defined as the passage of substances through membranes and into body fluids.

Circulation

A process of life defined as the movement of substances in body fluids.

Assimilation

A process of life defined as the changing of absorbed substances into different chemical forms.

Excretion

A process of life defined as the removal of wastes produced by metabolic reactions.

Integumentary System

An organ system that forms the external body covering, protects deeper tissues, synthesizes vitamin D, and houses cutaneous receptors and glands.

Skeletal System

An organ system that protects and supports body organs, provides a framework for muscle movement, forms blood cells within bones, and stores minerals.

Muscular System

An organ system that allows environmental manipulation, locomotion, and facial expression while maintaining posture and producing heat.

Nervous System

The fast-acting control system of the body that responds to internal and external changes by activating muscles and glands.

Endocrine System

An organ system composed of glands that secrete hormones regulating growth, reproduction, and nutrient metabolism.

Cardiovascular System

An organ system where blood vessels transport blood carrying oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes, pumped by the heart.

Lymphatic System

An organ system that picks up leaked fluid from blood vessels, returns it to blood, disposes of debris, and houses white blood cells involved in immunity.

Respiratory System

An organ system that keeps blood supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide via lung air sacs.

Digestive System

An organ system that breaks down food into absorbable units for distribution to body cells and eliminates indigestible foodstuffs as feces.

Urinary System

An organ system that eliminates nitrogenous wastes and regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood.

Homeostasis

The existence of a stable internal environment, which is vital for human survival.

Negative Feedback

A homeostatic regulatory mechanism that opposes variation to return conditions to normal by correcting deviation points.

Positive Feedback

A homeostatic regulatory mechanism that produces a response that amplifies or enhances the original change in condition.

Feedforward Mechanism

An anticipatory body response, such as salivation when smelling tasty food.