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Anatomy & Physiology: Chapter One Key Concepts

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Terms in this set (26)

  • What is anatomy?

    Anatomy is the study of the form of living things, including gross (macroscopic) and microscopic anatomy.

  • What is physiology?

    Physiology is the study of the function of the parts that make up living things.

  • Name the three types of gross anatomy.

    Surface anatomy, regional anatomy, and systemic anatomy.

  • What are cytology and histology?

    Cytology is the study of cells and their functions; histology is the study of tissues and their functions.

  • Explain the complementarity of form and function.

    Anatomy and physiology are interrelated; structure affects function, and physiological mechanisms depend on anatomical structures.

  • List the levels of structural organization in the human body from simplest to most complex.

    Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.

  • What is the chemical level of organization?

    Composed of atoms and molecules with specific functional properties and shapes, e.g., water, glucose, proteins.

  • What defines the cellular level?

    Cells are the smallest units capable of performing all vital life functions, formed by organelles interacting.

  • What is the tissue level?

    Specialized groups of cells working together to perform specific functions, e.g., muscle, nerve, connective, epithelial tissues.

  • Describe the organ level.

    Two or more tissues combined to perform several functions, e.g., heart, lungs, stomach.

  • What is the organ system level?

    Organs interacting to form systems that perform vital life functions, e.g., circulatory, respiratory, nervous systems.

  • Name the 11 organ systems and one major function of each.

    Integumentary (protection), Skeletal (support), Muscular (movement), Respiratory (gas exchange), Nervous (response), Circulatory (transport), Lymphatic/Immune (protection), Endocrine (hormone regulation), Urinary (waste removal), Digestive (nutrient absorption), Reproductive (reproduction).

  • What are the characteristics of life?

    Organization, metabolism, responsiveness, movement, development, growth, and reproduction.

  • Define metabolism and its two types.

    Metabolism includes all chemical reactions; anabolism builds complex molecules (requires energy), catabolism breaks down molecules (releases energy).

  • What is ATP's role in metabolism?

    ATP stores and releases energy; converting ADP to ATP is anabolic, ATP to ADP is catabolic.

  • What is homeostasis?

    A dynamic state of equilibrium where internal conditions remain relatively constant despite external changes.

  • What are the three components of homeostatic control?

    Receptor (detects stimulus), control center (processes info), effector (responds to oppose stimulus).

  • How does negative feedback maintain homeostasis?

    It reduces or shuts off the original stimulus to stabilize the system, e.g., body temperature regulation.

  • What is positive feedback and give examples?

    It amplifies the original stimulus to complete a process, e.g., blood clotting and labor contractions.

  • What are directional terms in anatomy?

    Terms describing location: superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, proximal, distal, superficial, deep.

  • Name the three main body planes.

    Sagittal (divides left/right), frontal (anterior/posterior), transverse (superior/inferior).

  • What are the major body cavities and their subdivisions?

    Dorsal cavity (cranial, vertebral) and ventral cavity (thoracic: pleural, pericardial; abdominopelvic: abdominal, pelvic).

  • What is the function of serous membranes?

    They line body cavities and secrete lubricating fluid to reduce friction on organs.

  • What is the difference between CT and MRI scans?

    CT uses X-rays for detailed images with radiation; MRI uses magnets and radio waves without radiation, better for soft tissues.

  • What does a PET scan show?

    Physiological activity by detecting radioactive tracers in areas of high metabolic activity.

  • What is ultrasonography used for?

    Uses high-frequency sound waves to create images; commonly used for monitoring pregnancy and is non-invasive.