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Anatomy & Physiology Exam 1 Study Guide (Chapters 1-4)

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  • What is anatomy?

    Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.

  • What are the subtypes of anatomy?

    Gross/macroscopic, regional, systemic, surface, microscopic (cytology, histology), developmental (embryology), pathological, and radiographic anatomy.

  • What is physiology?

    Physiology is the study of the function of the body and its parts.

  • What does complementarity of structure and function mean?

    Function depends on structure; e.g., sharp incisors are ideal for cutting because of their shape.

  • List the levels of structural organization in the human body.

    Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, and organismal levels.

  • What are the necessary life functions?

    Maintaining boundaries, movement, responsiveness, digestion, metabolism, excretion, reproduction, and growth.

  • Name the survival needs of the body.

    Nutrients, oxygen, water, normal body temperature, and appropriate atmospheric pressure.

  • What is homeostasis?

    Body's ability to maintain a dynamic internal equilibrium despite external changes.

  • What are the main parts of a feedback system?

    Receptor (senses stimulus), afferent pathway, control center, efferent pathway, effector (produces response).

  • Difference between negative and positive feedback?

    Negative feedback reverses a stimulus to maintain homeostasis; positive feedback amplifies a stimulus, often causing imbalance.

  • What is the correct anatomical position?

    Standing erect, feet flat, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

  • Define the sagittal plane.

    Vertical plane dividing the body into right and left sections; midsagittal divides equally.

  • What does the dorsal body cavity contain?

    Contains the cranial cavity (brain) and vertebral/spinal cavity (spinal cord).

  • What are the subdivisions of the ventral body cavity?

    Thoracic cavity (pleural cavities for lungs, mediastinum with pericardial cavity for heart) and abdominopelvic cavity (abdominal and pelvic cavities).

  • What is the function of serous membranes?

    Double-layered membranes that reduce friction between organs and cavity walls by secreting serous fluid.

  • What are the four main types of tissues?

    Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.

  • Characteristics of epithelial tissue?

    Tightly packed cells, avascular, polarity with apical and basal surfaces, supported by basement membrane.

  • What are the three types of cell junctions?

    Tight junctions (impermeable), desmosomes (anchoring), and gap junctions (communication).

  • Difference between passive and active membrane transport?

    Passive transport requires no ATP and moves substances down concentration gradients; active transport requires ATP and moves substances against gradients.

  • What is osmosis?

    Movement of water across a membrane from high to low water concentration.

  • What is the function of the Na+/K+ pump?

    Active transport pump that moves 3 Na+ ions out and 2 K+ ions into the cell to maintain resting membrane potential.

  • What is the function of mitochondria?

    Powerhouse of the cell; produces ATP through cellular respiration.

  • What is the role of ribosomes?

    Sites of protein synthesis; contain ribosomal RNA.

  • What occurs during mitosis?

    Cell division producing two daughter cells; phases include prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

  • What is transcription?

    Process of making mRNA from a DNA template in the nucleus.

  • What is translation?

    Synthesizing a protein from mRNA at the ribosome.

  • What are the three types of muscle tissue?

    Skeletal (striated, voluntary), smooth (nonstriated, involuntary), and cardiac (striated, involuntary).

  • What are the main components of connective tissue?

    Ground substance, fibers (collagen, elastic, reticular), and cells (fibroblasts, chondroblasts, osteoblasts, hematopoietic stem cells).

  • What is the function of connective tissue ground substance?

    Supports cells and fibers, acts as a medium for nutrient diffusion.