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Anatomy & Physiology: Body Fluids, Homeostasis, and Anatomical Terminology

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Terms in this set (29)

  • Intracellular Fluid

    Intracellular Fluid is the fluid located within a cell.

  • Extracellular Fluid

    Extracellular Fluid is the fluid outside body cells, also called interstitial fluid. Examples include blood plasma, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, and synovial fluid.

  • Three parts of a feedback system

    Receptor monitors changes, Control Center sets range and sends commands, Effector produces response to change condition.

  • Negative Feedback System

    Negative feedback reverses a change to return to a set point, like a thermostat regulating temperature.

  • Example of negative feedback in body temperature

    Temperature receptors detect heat, CNS triggers sweat glands (effectors) to cool the body by evaporation.

  • Positive Feedback System

    Positive feedback reinforces a change, causing more change in the same direction, and usually ends at a critical point.

  • Example of positive feedback in childbirth

    Stretching cervix (receptor) signals brain (control center) to release oxytocin (effector), causing stronger contractions and more stretching.

  • Example of positive feedback in blood clotting

    Damage causes platelets to adhere and release chemicals attracting more platelets until a plug forms, stopping the cycle.

  • Anatomical Position

    Body stands facing observer, head level, feet forward, palms facing forward.

  • Prone position

    Lying face down.

  • Supine position

    Lying face up.

  • Transverse plane

    Divides body into upper and lower sections; also called cross-section.

  • Sagittal plane

    Divides body into left and right parts; median (midsagittal) divides at midline.

  • Frontal (Coronal) plane

    Divides body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) parts.

  • Superior

    Toward the head or upper part of a structure.

  • Inferior

    Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure.

  • Anterior (ventral)

    Towards the front of the body.

  • Posterior (dorsal)

    Towards the back of the body.

  • Medial

    Toward the body midline.

  • Lateral

    Toward the side or away from the body midline.

  • Proximal

    Toward the trunk or point of attachment.

  • Distal

    Away from the trunk or point of attachment.

  • Superficial

    Towards the surface of the body.

  • Deep

    More internal or away from the surface.

  • Regional Terminology: Axillary and Cervical

    Axillary refers to the armpit area; Cervical refers to the neck region.

  • Ventral body cavities

    Located on the belly side; includes thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities separated by the diaphragm.

  • Thoracic cavity subdivisions

    Pleural cavities contain lungs; Mediastinum contains heart, trachea, and esophagus.

  • Abdominopelvic cavity subdivisions

    Abdominal contains digestive organs, kidneys, ureters; Pelvic contains bladder and reproductive organs.

  • Dorsal body cavities

    Located on the back side; includes cranial cavity (brain) and spinal cavity (spinal cord).