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Anatomy & Physiology: Body Cavities, Regions, and Feedback Loops

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What are the two main body cavities and their general locations?
    Posterior (dorsal) cavity located along the back of the body; Anterior (ventral) cavity located along the front of the body.
  • What are the two subcavities within the posterior body cavity?
    Cranial cavity (houses the brain) and vertebral (spinal) cavity (houses the spinal cord).
  • What separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity?
    The diaphragm muscle, which functions in breathing.
  • Name the three smaller cavities within the thoracic cavity.
    Right and left pleural cavities (each surrounds a lung), mediastinum (central area), and pericardial cavity (surrounds the heart).
  • What are the two main divisions of the abdominopelvic cavity?
    Abdominal cavity (from diaphragm to pelvis) and pelvic cavity (within the pelvis).
  • How many quadrants are in the abdominopelvic cavity and what are they called?
    Four quadrants: Right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant (LUQ), Right lower quadrant (RLQ), and Left lower quadrant (LLQ).
  • What are the nine regions of the abdominopelvic cavity?
    Right and left hypochondriac, epigastric, right and left lumbar, umbilical, right and left iliac (inguinal), and hypogastric regions.
  • What is the function of serous membranes in body cavities?
    They are thin tissue layers that enclose spaces and produce serous fluid to lubricate organs and prevent friction.
  • Name the three main serous membranes and the cavities they surround.
    Pleural membranes (lungs), pericardial membranes (heart), and peritoneal membranes (some abdominal organs).
  • Describe the anatomical position.
    Body standing upright, feet shoulder-width apart, arms at sides, palms and face facing forward.
  • What is the difference between the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes?
    Sagittal plane divides body into right and left; frontal (coronal) plane divides into front and back; transverse plane divides into top and bottom.
  • What is a negative feedback loop in homeostasis?
    A process where the effector opposes the initial stimulus to return a variable to its normal range, maintaining stability.
  • Give an example of a negative feedback loop controlling body temperature.
    When hot, receptors detect temperature rise, control center signals effectors like sweat glands to cool the body.
  • What is a positive feedback loop?
    A process where the effector amplifies the initial stimulus, reinforcing the change until a specific event occurs.
  • Give an example of a positive feedback loop in the body.
    Blood clotting: platelets activate more platelets to rapidly seal a blood vessel injury.
  • What is the principle of complementarity of structure and function?
    The function of a body part depends on its structure; e.g., a heart defect impairs blood supply.
  • Define a gradient and give an example.
    A difference in concentration or pressure between two connected areas; e.g., temperature gradient from a heater.
  • What is the role of receptors, control centers, and effectors in homeostasis?
    Receptors detect changes, control centers process info and send commands, effectors carry out responses.
  • What is the peritoneal cavity?
    A subcavity within the abdominopelvic cavity enclosed by the peritoneal serous membrane.
  • What is the mediastinum and what does it contain?
    The central compartment of the thoracic cavity containing the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus.