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Anatomy & Physiology: Framework, Language, and Tissue Types

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What is the anatomical position?

    The person stands with feet flat on the ground, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward. All anatomical descriptions are based on this position.

  • Define the sagittal plane.

    A vertical plane dividing the body into left and right parts. The midsagittal plane divides the body into equal halves.

  • What does the frontal (coronal) plane divide?

    A vertical plane dividing the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions.

  • Describe the transverse (horizontal) plane.

    A plane perpendicular to the long axis of the body or organ, dividing it into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.

  • What is the difference between proximal and distal?

    Proximal means closer to the point of attachment or origin; distal means farther from the point of attachment or origin.

  • Define medial and lateral in anatomical terms.

    Medial means toward the median plane; lateral means away from the median plane.

  • What are the two major body regions?

    Axial region includes head, neck, and trunk; appendicular region includes upper and lower limbs.

  • Name the four primary tissue types in the human body.

    Epithelial, connective, nervous, and muscular tissues.

  • What are the main functions of epithelial tissue?

    Protection, secretion, excretion, absorption, filtration, and sensation.

  • What distinguishes simple epithelium from stratified epithelium?

    Simple epithelium has every cell touching the basement membrane; stratified epithelium has multiple layers with only the bottom layer touching the basement membrane.

  • Describe the characteristics of connective tissue.

    Cells occupy less space than the extracellular matrix they secrete; functions include support, connection, protection, immune defense, movement, storage, heat production, and transport.

  • What are the two types of fibrous connective tissue?

    Loose connective tissue has more ground substance; dense connective tissue has more fibers, which can be regular or irregular in orientation.

  • What is the primary function of adipose tissue?

    Energy storage, thermal insulation, and cushioning of organs.

  • What are the three types of cartilage?

    Hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage.

  • What is the difference between compact and spongy bone?

    Compact bone is dense and strong, arranged in osteons; spongy bone is porous, contains red marrow, and is arranged in trabeculae.

  • What are the main components of blood as a connective tissue?

    Water (95%), dissolved proteins, clotting factors, electrolytes, hormones, and gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide.

  • What are the two main cell types in nervous tissue?

    Neurons, which transmit signals, and neuroglia, which protect and assist neurons.

  • Name the three types of muscle tissue and one key feature of each.

    Skeletal: voluntary, striated, multinucleated; cardiac: involuntary, striated, branched with intercalated discs; smooth: involuntary, non-striated, found in hollow organs.

  • What is the function of the basement membrane in epithelial tissue?

    It anchors the epithelium to the underlying connective tissue and acts as a selective barrier.

  • What is the difference between keratinized and nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium?

    Keratinized epithelium has a surface layer of dead cells with keratin for abrasion resistance; nonkeratinized lacks this layer and remains moist.