General Anatomy (Intro)

Anatomy

this is the study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts and their relationship to each other

gross anatomy

this is the type of anatomy that is when we observe our own body and structures such as the heart or bones; keyword is large and easily observable

-tomy

this is the Greek word that means to cut

ana-

this is the Greek word that means “apart”

microscopic anatomy

also known as histology, this is the study of body structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and needs the assistance of a microscope

physiology

this is the study of how body parts function

physio-

this is the Greek prefix that means nature

-ology

this is the Greek suffix that means the “study of"

neurophysiology

this is the type of physiology that explains the workings of the nervous system

cardiac physiology

this is the branch of physiology that studies the functions of the heart

chemical level

this is the simplest level of organization on the structural ladder

atoms

these are tiny building blocks of matter that combine to form molecules like water, sugar, and proteins.

cellular level

this is the structural level that involves the basic building blocks of life otherwise known as cells

tissues

these consist of groups of similar cells that have a common function

tissue level

this is the rung of the structural ladder that involves tissues

epithelial/connective/muscular/neural

these are the 4 types of tissues in the human body

organ

this is a structure composed of two or more tissue types that perform a specific function for the body

organ level

this is the rung of the structural ladder where extremely complex functions starting to become possible

organ system

this is a group of organs that work together to accomplish a common purpose.

organism

this is the sum total of all structural levels working together to keep us alive

integumentary system

the organ system that is the external covering of the body or the skin, and it waterproofs, cushions and protect deep tissue from injury.

skeletal system

this is the organ system that consistes of bones, cartilages, ligaments and joints. It supports the body and provides framework that the skeletal muscles use to cause movement/provides protection

movement

this includes all activities promoted by the musclar system such as propelling ourselves from one place or another by walking, swimming and so forth, and manipulating the external environment with our fingers.

movement

this also occurs when substances such as blood, foodstuffs, and urine are propelled through the internal organs of the cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary systems respectively

responsiveness/irritability

this is the ability to sense changes (stimuli) in the environment and then react to them

digestion

this is the process of breaking down ingested food into simple molecules that can then be absorbed into the blood

metabolism

this is the broad term that refers to all chemical reactions that occur within body cells. It includes breaking down complex substances into simpler building blocks, making larger structures from smaller ones and using nutrients and oxygen to produce molecules of adenosine triphosphate. it is regulated by the endocrine system.

excretion

this is the process of removing exreta, or wastes from the body

reproduction

this is the production of offspring regulated by endocrine system

growth

this is an increase in size, usually accomplished by an increase in the number of cells; the endocrine system plays a major role in regulating this

nutrients

the body takes this in through food and they contain the chemicals used for energy and cell building

carbohydrates

these are the major energy-providing molecules that provide fuel for somatic cells or body cells

protein

these along with fats (albeit a lesser extent) are essential for building cell structures

fats

these cushion body organs and provide reserve fuel for the body

minerals/vitamins

these are required for the chemical reactions that go on in cells for oxygen transport in the blood

water

this accounts for 60 to 80 percent of body weight and is the single most abundant chemical substance in the body and provides the fluid base for body secretions and excretions

atmospheric pressure

the force exerted on the surface of the body by the weight of ait

homeostasis

this describes the body’s ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions even though the outside world is continuously changing, lit means “unchanging”

homeo-

this is the Greek prefix that means “the same”

stasis

this is the Greek word that means standing still

homeostasis

this refers to a dynamic state of equilibrium or a balance in which internal conditions change and vary but always within relatively narrow limits

receptor

one of the 3 homeostatic control mechanisms that is one type of sensor that monitors and responds to changes in the environment

affarent pathway

this is the pathway from receptor to control center; think “approach”

control center

determines the level/set point at which a variable is to be maintained, analyzes the information it receives and then determines the appropriate response or course of action

effector

this provides the means for the control centers response (output) to the stimulus

efferent pathway

this is the pathway from the control center to the effector; think “exit”

negative feedback mechanism

this is when the net effect of the response to the stimulus is to shut off the original stimulus or reduce its intensity

hypothalamus

this is the part of the brain that regulates body temperature

positive feedback mechanism

this is rarer because these increase the original stimulus and push the variable further from the original value e.g. blood clotting/birth

gross anatomy

this is the study of the structures that are visible to the naked eye, either by surface observation or dissection

histology

this is also known as microscopic anatomy and is the observation of individual cells from tissue specimens thinly sliced and stained observed under the microscope

histopathology

this is the microscopic examination of the tissues for signs of disease

surface anatomy

this is the external structure of the body, and is especially important in conducting a physical examination of a patient

systemic anatomy

this is the study of one organ at a time; like in textbooks

regional anatomy

this is the study of multiple organ systems at the same time in a given region of the body such as the head or chest

comparative anatomy

this is the study of more than one species in order to learn generalizations, evolutionary trends, and structure-function relationships

inspection

this is the simplest form of examining the body

dissection

this is the careful cutting and separation of tissues to reveal their relationships (was called anatomizing until the 19th century)

cadaver

this is a dead human body used for scientific or medical study

palpation

this is the method of examination where the examiner feels structures with their fingertips, such as doing this on a swollen lymph node or taking a pulse

auscultation

this is the type of examination where the examiner listens to the natural sounds of the body like the heart and lungs

percussion

this is the type of examination where the examiner taps on the body and listens to the sounds for signs of abnormalities like pockets of air or fluids

medical imaging

this is the type of examination where the examiner observes the inside of the examinee withouth surgery.

radiology

this is the branch of medicine concerned with imaging particularly with x-rays

exploratory surgery

this was the method of opening the body to examine the problem areas for treatment planning.

noninvasive

this means that it does not involve penetration of the skin or body orifices.

invasive

this involves the inserting of ultrasound probesor injecting substances into the bloodstream or body passages to enhance imaging

radiology

this is the process of photographing internal structures with x-rays, a form of high energy radiation

Computed tomography

this is a more sophisticated application for x-rays where the patient is moved through a ring-shaped machine that emits low-intensity x-rays on one side and receives them with a detector and produces an image of a “slice” of the body about as thin as a coin

magnetic resonance imaging

this is even bette than a CT for visualizing soft tissues where the patient lies within a tunnel surrounded by a large electromagnet that creates a very strong magnetic field and an image is generated by the responses of tissues to the magnetic field and radio waves

positron emission tomography

this is the type of imaging that is used to assess the metabolic state for a tissue and is used to distinguish which tissues are most active

nuclear medicine

this is the use of radioisotopes to treat diseases or to form diagnostic images of the body

sonography

this uses a hand-held device placed firmly against the skin which emits high-frequency ultrasound that recieves signals reflected back from internal organs

echocardiography

this is the sonographic examination of the beating heart