Body Organization and Histology Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical terminology, body organization, homeostasis mechanisms, and tissue types from Chapter 1 and Chapter 4 lecture notes.

Anatomy

The study of structure, summarized as the "naming of parts".

Physiology

The study of function, answering the question "how does it work?".

Cell Physiology

The study of cell function.

Neuroanatomy

The study of nervous system structures and parts.

Digestive Physiology

The study of digestive function.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of structures seen under a microscope.

Gross Anatomy

The study of structures of the human body that can be seen with the unaided eye.

Systemic Anatomy

The study of the human body taken from the perspective of individual organ systems.

Regional Anatomy

The study of the human body taken from the perspective of specific body regions.

Surface Anatomy

The study of the surface markings of the human body.

Levels of Structural Organization

The hierarchical organization of the human body consisting of 6 levels: chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, and organism level.

Homeostasis

The tendency of an organism to maintain a relatively constant internal environment.

State of Dynamic Equilibrium

A state of always changing while staying within normal range (e.g., growing/changing with age while maintaining normal body temperature and blood pressure).

Autoregulation (Intrinsic Regulation)

Regulation mechanism in which a cell, tissue, organ, or organ system regulates itself (e.g., heart rate regulation, some digestive functions).

Extrinsic Regulation

Regulation mechanism in which one organ system is controlled or regulated by another organ system.

Nervous System (as Extrinsic Regulator)

An extrinsic regulator that is fast-acting, but short-lived.

Endocrine System (as Extrinsic Regulator)

An extrinsic regulator that is slower-acting and lasts longer.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

A feedback mechanism where the end result opposes the change to homeostasis, bringing the variable back toward the set point; it is by far the most common feedback system.

Positive Feedback Mechanism

A feedback mechanism where the end result increases the change in homeostasis; it is very rare, can make things happen fast, and has break points (e.g., blood clotting, labor pains).

Receptor (Feedback System)

The component of a feedback mechanism that detects a stimulus/change and sends input via the afferent pathway.

Control Center (Feedback System)

The component of a feedback mechanism that processes incoming signal information and sends output via the efferent pathway.

Effector / Response

The component of a feedback mechanism that carries out the response to adjust the original stimulus.

Anatomical Position

A standard reference position in which the body is standing upright, feet are shoulder-width apart, upper limbs are at the sides of the trunk, and head and palms are facing forward.

Oblique Plane

A plane of section used less frequently that is taken at an angle.

Serous Membrane (Mesothelium)

Two-layered membranes with serous fluid between the layers that help hold organs in place and reduce friction between organs.

Visceral Layer

The layer of a serous membrane that makes direct contact with the organ.

Parietal Layer

The layer of a serous membrane that attaches to surrounding structures.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium that can stop heart function.

Tissue

A group of cells with similar structure and function.

Epithelium

A general tissue type that forms internal and external coverings and most glands.

Connective Tissue

A general tissue type that provides structure, support, holds things together, storage, cushioning, and transport.

Muscle Tissue

A general tissue type responsible for movement and creating force through contraction.

Nervous Tissue

A general tissue type that generates electrical signals to control bodily function.

Cellularity

The condition of tissue where cells are connected directly to each other, found in epithelial and muscle tissue.

Tight Junctions

Cell-cell connections found in the lining of the digestive tract that use junctional locking proteins to make spaces between cells impermeable.

Desmosomes

Cell connections found in the epidermis that use integral linker proteins and intermediate filaments to increase tissue resistance to mechanical stress.

Hemidesmosomes

Cellular connections located at the basement membrane of epithelial tissue.

Gap Junctions

Cell connections composed of protein channels found in cardiac muscle that allow small substances to move directly from one cell to another.

Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs)

Cell membrane proteins, also known as intercellular cement or cell glue, that connect adjacent cells.

Proteoglycans

A protein strand with a bunch of sugars attached, found in the extracellular matrix.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

Bristle-like carbohydrate structures attached to proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix.

Glycoprotein

Proteins attached to sugars present in the extracellular matrix.

Apical Surface

The top, free surface of covering epithelial tissue.

Basement Membrane

The bottom, non-free surface that attaches epithelial tissue to underlying structures.

Simple Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of more than one layer of cells.