Principles of Anatomy & Physiology - Lecture 1: The Human Body

Flashcards testing core concepts from Lecture 1: The Human Body, covering anatomy vs physiology, levels of organization, homeostatic feedback loops, and anatomical terminology.

How are anatomy and physiology defined and related?

Anatomy is the study of structural forms of the body (macroscopic and microscopic), while physiology is the study of how body structures function. They are interrelated disciplines where form follows function.

What is embryology?

The branch of anatomy that studies the first $8$ weeks of development after fertilization of a human egg.

What is histology?

The branch of anatomy that studies the microscopic structure of tissues.

What is surface anatomy?

The study of surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation (gentle touch).

What is pathophysiology?

The study of functional changes associated with disease, injury, and aging.

What clinical effects does a myocardial infarction (MI) have on cardiac structure and function?

Individual cardiac cells are damaged (releasing unique intracellular proteins), pathophysiological changes appear on an EKG, and scar tissue (fibrosis) forms in tissues during healing attempts.

What non-invasive methods are used to study anatomy?

Observation, palpation, auscultation, percussion, and manipulation.

What are the six levels of structural organization in the human body from smallest to largest?

Chemical (atoms and molecules), Cellular (cells), Tissue, Organ, Organ system, and Organismal.

How many main organ systems keep the human body functioning?

There are $11$ main organ systems.

What is the primary role of the endocrine system?

Regulation of body processes through hormone production.

What is the primary role of the lymphatic system?

Circulation of lymph, which maintains fluid balance and helps fight infection.

What are the five essential survival needs of the human body?

Nutrients, oxygen, water, temperature, and atmospheric pressure.

What is homeostasis and which two systems maintain it?

Homeostasis is a dynamic state of equilibrium or balance in the body's internal environment. It is maintained by the nervous and endocrine systems through communication via nerve impulses and hormones.

How does a negative feedback mechanism maintain homeostasis?

It reduces an excessive response (either too high or too low) by causing the variable to change in a direction opposite to that of the initial change, returning it to its normal range or ideal value.

What is the normal set point for blood glucose homeostasis?

$$90\,\text{mg glucose/100 mL blood}$$

How does negative feedback lower elevated blood glucose levels after eating?

The pancreas secretes insulin into the blood, which enhances glucose transport into body cells and stimulates liver and muscle cells to store glucose as glycogen, causing blood glucose levels to drop.

How does negative feedback raise blood glucose levels when they drop below the set point?

The pancreas secretes the hormone glucagon, which opposes insulin by promoting glycogen breakdown in the liver and releasing glucose into the blood.

What is a positive feedback mechanism and what are three examples?

A mechanism that enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus to push levels out of normal ranges with an amplifying effect. Examples include labor contractions (via oxytocin), prolactin release for lactation, and blood clotting.

What are the features of the standard anatomical position?

The body is erect, feet are slightly apart, palms face forward, and thumbs point away (laterally) from the body.

What are the anatomical regional terms for the forehead, cheek, chin, and armpit?

Frontal (forehead), Buccal (cheek), Mental (chin), and Axillary (armpit).

What are the anatomical regional terms for the forearm, wrist, palm, and groin?

Antebrachial (forearm), Carpal (wrist), Palmar or volar (palm), and Inguinal (groin).

What is the distinction between proximal and distal?

Proximal means closer to the origin of the body part or point of attachment of a limb to the trunk; distal means farther from the origin or point of attachment.

What is the difference between a body plane and a section?

A body plane is an imaginary flat surface along which the body or a structure may be cut for anatomical study, whereas a section is a cut made along a body plane.

What are the three serous membranes and which organs/cavities do they line?

Pericardium (heart), Pleurae (lungs), and Peritoneum (abdominopelvic cavity).

Which organs are located in the Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) and Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)?

RUQ contains the liver and gallbladder; LUQ contains the stomach, spleen, and pancreas.