Anatomy and Physiology - Chapter 1: The Human Organism

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Seeley's Anatomy & Physiology 13th Edition, Chapter 01 lecture transcript.

Anatomy

Scientific discipline that investigates the body's structure, such as the size and shape of a bone.

Physiology

Scientific investigation of the processes or functions of living things.

Gross Anatomy

The study of body structures that can be examined without a microscope.

Regional Anatomy

The study of the body's organization area by area.

Systemic Anatomy

The study of the body's organization system by system.

Surface Anatomy

The study of external body forms used to visualize deeper structures.

Cytology

The study of cellular anatomy.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Radiograph

A flat, two-dimensional (2D) image created when extremely shortwave electromagnetic radiation (X-rays) moves through the body and exposes a photographic plate.

Ultrasound

An imaging technique using high-frequency sound waves that strike internal organs and bounce back to a receiver on the skin, visualized as a sonogram.

Computed Tomography (CT)

Computer-analyzed X-ray images that can stack 2D slices short distances apart to produce 3D images of body parts.

Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)

An imaging technique one step beyond CT scanning that uses an injected radiopaque dye in the blood to enhance contrast between images.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging technique that directs radio waves at a person inside a large electromagnetic field and analyzes the radio waves via computer.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

An imaging technique that detects radioactively labeled glucose usage by a tissue to pinpoint metabolically active cells and identify tissue metabolic states.

Pathology

The study of structural and functional changes caused by disease.

Exercise Physiology

The study of structural and functional changes caused by exercise.

Chemical Level

The structural level of organization involving the interaction of atoms and molecules.

Cell Level

The basic structural and functional unit of living organisms, formed by combinations of molecules into organelles.

Tissue Level

A group of similar cells and the materials surrounding them; classified into epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues.

Organ Level

A structure composed of two or more tissue types functioning together.

Organ System Level

A group of organs functioning together to accomplish coordinated functions.

Organism Level

Any living thing considered as a whole, whether composed of one cell or many.

Integumentary System

Organ system consisting of skin, hair, nails, and sweat glands that provides protection, regulates temperature, prevents water loss, and helps produce vitamin D.

Skeletal System

Organ system consisting of bones, associated cartilages, ligaments, and joints that provides protection and support, allows movement, produces blood cells, and stores minerals and fat.

Muscular System

Organ system consisting of muscles attached to the skeleton by tendons that produces body movements, maintains posture, and produces body heat.

Nervous System

A major regulatory system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory receptors that detects sensations and controls movements, physiological processes, and intellectual functions.

Endocrine System

A major regulatory system consisting of glands (such as the pituitary) that secrete hormones to influence metabolism, growth, reproduction, and other functions.

Cardiovascular System

Organ system consisting of the heart, blood vessels, and blood that transports nutrients, waste products, gases, and hormones, and aids in immune response and temperature regulation.

Lymphatic System

Organ system consisting of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and other lymphatic organs that removes foreign substances from blood and lymph, combats disease, maintains fluid balance, and absorbs fats.

Respiratory System

Organ system consisting of the lungs and respiratory passages that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and air and regulates blood pH.

Digestive System

Organ system consisting of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and accessory organs that performs digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination.

Urinary System

Organ system consisting of the kidneys, urinary bladder, and ducts that removes waste products from blood and regulates blood pH, ion balance, and water balance.

Female Reproductive System

Organ system consisting of ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, and associated structures that produces oocytes, supports fertilization/fetal development, produces milk, and secretes sexual hormones.

Male Reproductive System

Organ system consisting of testes, accessory structures, ducts, and penis that produces and transfers sperm cells to the female and produces sexual hormones.

Organization (Characteristic of Life)

The condition in which there are specific interrelationships and functions among the parts of an organism.

Metabolism

The ability to use energy to perform vital functions; includes all chemical reactions of the body.

Responsiveness

The ability to sense changes in the interior and exterior environment and adjust accordingly.

Growth

An increase in size and/or number of cells.

Differentiation

The process of developmental change from a general state to a specific cell or tissue type.

Morphogenesis

The change in shape of tissues, organs, or an entire organism during development.

Reproduction

The formation of new cells or new organisms for growth and development, allowing organisms to pass on genes.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment within the body.

Set Point

The ideal normal value around which physiological variables fluctuate within a normal range.

Receptor (Feedback Loop)

Component of a feedback loop that monitors the value of a variable by detecting a stimulus (a change in the variable).

Control Center (Feedback Loop)

Component of a feedback loop that establishes the set point and receives input from the receptor.

Effector (Feedback Loop)

Component of a feedback loop that generates a response to change the value of a variable.

Negative Feedback

A regulatory mechanism that counteracts a change in a variable by decreasing that change to return the system toward its set point.

Positive Feedback

A mechanism in which a deviation from normal occurs and the body's response is to make the deviation even greater, moving away from homeostasis until the original stimulus is removed.

Anatomical Position

Standard reference position in which the body is standing erect, face forward, feet together, and palms facing forward.

Supine

Lying face upward.

Prone

Lying face downward.

Superior (Cephalic)

Directional term meaning closer to the head or above another structure.

Inferior (Caudal)

Directional term meaning closer to the tail/feet or below another structure.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional term meaning toward the front or belly of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional term meaning toward the back of the body.

Proximal

Directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Superficial

Directional term meaning toward or on the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning away from the surface of the body; internal.

Sagittal Plane

An anatomical plane that runs vertically through the body, dividing it into left and right portions.

Median Plane

A specific sagittal plane passing directly down the midline of the body.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

An anatomical plane that runs vertically to divide the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

An anatomical plane that runs horizontally to divide the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections.

Oblique Plane

An anatomical plane or cut made at any angle other than a right angle.

Longitudinal Cut

A cut along the length of an organ.

Transverse (Cross) Cut

A cut at a right angle to the length of an organ.

Visceral Serous Membrane

The inner layer of a serous membrane that directly covers an internal organ.

Parietal Serous Membrane

The outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the cavity wall.

Pericardium

The serous membrane surrounding the heart, containing pericardial fluid within its cavity.

Pleura

The serous membrane surrounding the lungs and lining the thoracic cavity, containing pleural fluid.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane surrounding many abdominal organs and lining the abdominopelvic cavity, containing peritoneal fluid.

Mesentery

Double-folded regions of visceral peritoneum attached to the posterior abdominopelvic wall that provide pathways for nerves and blood vessels to reach digestive organs.

Retroperitoneal

Refers to organs located behind the peritoneum that only have peritoneum on their peritoneal cavity side, such as the kidneys, ureters, and adrenal glands.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium.

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleura.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum.