Exam 1: Overview of Anatomy and Physiology

Definition of anatomy

structure of body parts and their relation to one another

Definition of physiology

function of each part of the body to sustain life

What is gross anatomy?

aka macroscopic anatomy

-regional: all structures in one part of the body

-systemic: gross anatomy of the body studied by system

-surface: study of internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin

What is microscopic anatomy?

-cytology: study of the cell

-histology: study of the tissues

What is developmental anatomy?

-traces structural changes throughout life

-embryology: study of developmental changes of the body before birth

What are other specialized branches of anatomy?

-pathological anatomy: study of structural changes caused by disease

-radiographic anatomy: study of internal structures visualized by specialized scanning procedures such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans

-molecular biology: study of anatomical structures at a subcellular level

What are the different topics of physiology?

-considers the operation of specific organ systems (renal, neurophysiology, cardiovascular)

-focuses on the functions of the body, often at the cellular or molecular level

-knowledge of physics (electrical currents, blood pressure, way muscle uses bone for movement

What is the principle of complementarity?

-function always reflects structure

-what a structure can do depends on its specific form

What are the levels of structural organization?

-chemical: atoms combined to form molecules

-cellular: cells are made of molecules

-tissue: consists of similar types of cells

-organ: made up of different types of tissues

-organ system: consists of different organs that work closely together

-organism: made up of the organ systems

What are the necessary life functions?

-maintaining boundaries: internal environment remains distinct from external environment

-movement: locomotion, propulsion, contractility

-responsiveness: sense changes in environment and respond

-digestion: breakdown of ingested foodstuffs

-metabolism: all chemical reactions that occur in the body

-excretion: removal of wastes

-reproduction: cellular and organismal level

-growth: increase in size of a body part or of the organism

-environmental factors: nutrients, oxygen, water, normal body temperature, atmospheric pressure

What is the definition of homeostasis?

-ability to maintain a relatively stable internal environment in an ever-changing outside world

-internal environment of the body is in a dynamic state of equilibrium

-chemical, thermal, and neural factors interact to maintain homeostasis

What are homeostatic control mechanisms?

-variables produce a change in the body

-three independent components: receptor, control center, effector

receptor: monitors the environment and responds to change(stimuli)

control center: determines the set point at which the variable is maintained

effector: provides the means to respond to stimulus

What is negative feedback?

-output shuts off the original stimulus

-example: regulation of room temperature

What is positive feedback?

-output enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus

-example: regulation of blood clotting

What is homeostatic imbalance?

-disturbance of homeostasis or the body’s normal equilibrium

-overwhelming the usual negative feedback mechanisms allows destructive positive feedback mechanisms to take over