anatomy- vince

Anatomy

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

Physiology

The study of how body parts function and work together.

Gross Anatomy

The study of structures large enough to see without a microscope (e.g., heart, bones).

Microscopic Anatomy

The study of structures so small that a microscope is required to see them (e.g., cells, tissues).

Systemic Anatomy

The study of organs related by shared functions (e.g., the digestive system).

Comparative Anatomy

The study of the anatomy of nonhuman species to assist in the study of the human body.

Homologous Structures

Structures in different species with a similar origin but potentially different functions (e.g., human arm, porpoise flipper, bat wing).

Developmental Anatomy

The study of the changes that begin in the human body at conception and proceed into adulthood.

Embryology

The subdivision of developmental anatomy that covers the first eight weeks following conception.

Surface Anatomy

The study of external features, often used by physicians for diagnosis.

Regional Anatomy

The analysis of specific parts of the body (e.g., podiatry focuses on the feet).

Organism

The whole living being, made up of eleven organ systems.

Organ System

A group of organs that work together to perform related functions.

Organ

A group of tissues specialized for a particular function.

Tissue

Groups of cells forming various building materials of the body. The four basic kinds are nervous, muscular, connective, and epithelial.

Cell

The basic unit of life.

Organelle

Membrane-bound "little organs" inside a cell (e.g., mitochondria).

Molecule

A combination of atoms.

Homeostasis

The state of dynamic balance in the body, maintaining internal conditions within a certain range despite external changes.

Epithelial Tissue

Covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs, body cavities, and ducts, and forms glands.

Connective Tissue

Protects, supports, and binds structures and organs. Examples include bone and cartilage.

Muscular Tissue

Generates the physical force needed to make body structures move.

Nervous Tissue

Detects changes in the body and transmits nerve impulses that coordinate activities.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures on a neuron that collect and edit messages. They can add mass or volume when needed; if they stop working, the neural cell can disappear.

Axon

The nerve fiber that transmits signals away from the cell body.

Protein Marker

Located near the cell body; sorts information and picks out what is most important.

Brain Protection & Pressure

The brain is protected by three membranes surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid ('break pressure' fluid). The brain is extremely sensitive to pH and pressure—if unwanted mass or swelling occurs, it pushes against the rigid skull and places dangerous pressure on neurons.

Levels of Organization (From Subatomic to Earth)

1. Subatomic Particles
2. Atoms / Elements
3. Molecules / Compounds
4. Organelles
5. Cells
6. Organs
7. Systems
8. Organism
9. Population
10. Communities & Ecosystems
11. Biome
12. Earth