SCIE125: Human Anatomy and Physiology - Chapter 1 Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, levels of organization, body systems, homeostatic mechanisms, anatomical terminology, body planes, and cavities from Chapter 1.

Anatomy

The scientific discipline that investigates the structure of the body, derived from the Greek meaning to cut apart, dissect, or separate.

Physiology

The study of the function of body parts and how they work and carry out their life-sustaining activities.

Gross (macroscopic) anatomy

The study of structures large enough to be seen with the naked eye.

Regional anatomy

The study of all body structures (muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, etc.) in a given body region examined at the same time.

Systemic anatomy

The study of the body structure system by system.

Surface anatomy

The study of internal body structures as they relate to the overlying skin.

Microscopic anatomy

The study of body structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Cytology

The study of individual cells.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Developmental anatomy

The study of the structural changes in the body over the course of a lifetime.

Embryology

A branch of developmental anatomy concerning changes that occur before birth.

Pathological anatomy

The study of structural changes associated with disease.

Radiographic anatomy

The study of internal structures using specialized visualization techniques such as X-rays or special scanning devices.

Molecular biology

The study of biological molecules.

Renal physiology

A branch of physiology concerning kidney function and urine production.

Neurophysiology

A branch of physiology explaining the workings of the nervous system.

Cardiovascular physiology

A branch of physiology examining the operation of the heart and blood vessels.

Complementarity of Structure and Function

The principle stating that function depends on structure, and the form of a structure relates directly to its specific function.

Chemical level

The simplest level of structural organization, where atoms combine to form molecules and organelles.

Cellular level

The level of structural organization consisting of cells, which are the smallest units of living things.

Tissue level

The level of structural organization consisting of groups of similar cells having a common function.

Epithelium

A basic tissue type that covers the body surface and lines its cavities.

Muscle tissue

A basic tissue type that provides movement.

Connective tissue

A basic tissue type that supports and protects body organs.

Nervous tissue

A basic tissue type that provides a means of rapid internal communication by transmitting electrical impulses.

Organ level

The level of structural organization made up of different types of tissues to perform specific body functions.

Organ system level

The level of structural organization consisting of different organs that work together closely.

Organismal level

The highest level of structural organization, represented by the human organism made up of many organ systems.

Integumentary System

An organ system that forms the external body covering, protects deeper tissues, synthesizes vitamin D, houses cutaneous receptors, and contains sweat and oil glands.

Skeletal System

An organ system that protects and supports body organs, provides a framework for muscles, forms blood cells, and stores minerals.

Muscular System

An organ system that allows manipulation of the environment, locomotion, facial expression, maintains posture, and produces heat.

Nervous System

A fast-acting control system of the body that responds to internal and external changes by activating appropriate muscles and glands.

Endocrine System

An organ system of glands that secrete hormones regulating processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use by body cells.

Cardiovascular System

An organ system where blood vessels transport blood carrying oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes, pumped by the heart.

Lymphatic System/Immunity

An organ system that picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels, returns it to blood, disposes of debris, houses white blood cells, and mounts attacks against foreign substances.

Respiratory System

An organ system that keeps blood supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide via gaseous exchanges through lung air sac walls.

Digestive System

An organ system that breaks down food into absorbable units that enter the blood and eliminates indigestible foodstuffs as feces.

Urinary System

An organ system that eliminates nitrogenous wastes and regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood.

Nutrients

Consumed chemical substances used for energy and cell building.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain a relatively constant internal environment, regardless of environmental changes.

Receptor

A homeostatic sensor that monitors the environment and responds to changes (stimuli) by sending input to the control center.

Control Center

The homeostatic structure that determines the set point, analyzes input from receptors via afferent pathways, and coordinates an appropriate response.

Effector

The homeostatic structure that carries out the response directed by the control center along the efferent pathway.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

A control system where the output shuts off the original stimulus or reduces its intensity to return the variable to its ideal value.

Insulin

A pancreatic hormone secreted when blood glucose rises, accelerating cellular glucose uptake and glycogen storage in the liver.

Glucagon

A pancreatic hormone released when blood glucose declines, targeting the liver to break down glycogen and release glucose into the blood.

Positive Feedback Mechanism

A control mechanism where the response enhances or accelerates the original stimulus, causing a greater deviation from the set point.

Homeostatic Imbalance

A disturbance of homeostasis resulting in disease, often occurring when negative feedback mechanisms are overwhelmed.

Anatomical Position

A standard body position where the body is erect, feet slightly apart, palms face forward, and thumbs point away from the body.

Supine

The position of lying face upward.

Prone

The position of lying face downward.

Superior (cranial or cephalic)

Directional term meaning toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.

Inferior (caudal)

Directional term meaning away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Anterior (ventral)

Directional term meaning toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Posterior (dorsal)

Directional term meaning toward or at the backside of the body; behind.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of.

Intermediate

Directional term meaning between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Proximal

Directional term meaning close to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial (external)

Directional term meaning toward or at the body surface.

Deep (internal)

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

Axial region

A main body division that makes up the main axis of the body, including the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular region

A main body division consisting of the appendages or limbs attached to the body's axis.

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane that separates the body into right and left parts.

Median (midsagittal) plane

A specific sagittal plane that lies exactly along the body's midline.

Parasagittal plane

A sagittal plane that lies offset from the body's midline.

Frontal plane

A vertical plane that separates the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse plane

A plane running horizontally from right to left that divides the body into superior and inferior parts (also called a cross section).

Oblique sections

Cuts made at angles between the horizontal and vertical planes.

Dorsal body cavity

A body cavity that houses the central nervous system, subdivided into the cranial cavity and vertebral cavity.

Ventral body cavity

A large body cavity anterior to the dorsal cavity housing internal organs (viscera), subdivided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Viscera

The internal organs contained within a body cavity.

Serosa

A thin, double-layered serous membrane covering the outer surfaces of organs and the walls of the ventral body cavity.

Parietal serosa

The portion of the serous membrane lining internal body cavity walls.

Visceral serosa

The portion of the serous membrane covering the outer surfaces of internal organs.

Pleurisy

Excruciating pain caused by inflammation of the serous membranes surrounding the lungs in the thoracic cavity.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneal serous membranes in the abdominal cavity.

Umbilical region

The centermost abdominopelvic region surrounding the umbilicus (navel).

Epigastric region

The abdominopelvic region located superior to the umbilical region.

Hypogastric (pubic) region

The abdominopelvic region located inferior to the umbilical region.

Synovial cavities

Joint cavities enclosed within fibrous capsules surrounding movable joints, lined with membranes that secrete friction-reducing fluid.