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Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals

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Terms in this set (24)

  • What is anatomy?

    Anatomy is the study of the structure of an organism, including microscopic and gross structures.

  • What is physiology?

    Physiology is the study of the functions of the body, such as neurophysiology, cardiac physiology, and renal physiology.

  • What is the Principle of Complementarity?

    The principle that structure and function are closely related; the way something is built determines how it works.

  • What does microscopic anatomy study?

    Structures that cannot be seen without magnification, including cytology (cells) and histology (tissues).

  • What is gross anatomy?

    Also called macroscopic anatomy, it studies structures visible without a microscope, including systemic, regional, surface, developmental, pathological, and radiographic anatomy.

  • List the hierarchy of structural organization from smallest to largest.

    Atoms > Molecules > Cellular level > Tissue > Organ > System > Organism.

  • What are the four basic tissue types?

    Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.

  • Name three necessary life functions.

    Examples: Movement, metabolism, and reproduction.

  • What are the five survival needs of the human body?

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

  • Define homeostasis.

    Homeostasis is the process that maintains a stable internal environment despite external changes.

  • What is negative feedback in homeostasis?

    A control mechanism that reverses a change to return to a set point; it acts in the opposite direction of the stimulus.

  • What is positive feedback?

    A feedback mechanism that amplifies a change, moving away from the set point; examples include labor and blood clotting.

  • What are the main components of the integumentary system?

    Skin, hair, nails, and associated structures; provides protection and thermoregulation.

  • What functions does the skeletal system provide?

    Support, attachment, blood production, protection, motility, and mineral storage.

  • What distinguishes skeletal muscle tissue?

    Attached to bones or connective tissue, under voluntary control, and provides movement.

  • What organs are included in the cardiovascular system?

    Heart, blood vessels, and blood; functions include transport of oxygen, nutrients, waste, and thermoregulation.

  • What is the function of the lymphatic system?

    Immunity via lymphocytes and returning extracellular fluid to the cardiovascular system.

  • Name the three main body planes.

    Sagittal (right and left), frontal (coronal) (anterior and posterior), and transverse (superior and inferior).

  • What is the anatomical position?

    Standing erect, facing observer, legs together, feet flat and forward, head level, eyes forward, hands at sides with palms forward.

  • Define the terms 'superior' and 'inferior'.

    Superior means above; inferior means below, relative to anatomical position.

  • What are the dorsal and ventral body cavities?

    Dorsal cavity contains the cranial and spinal cavities; ventral cavity contains thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

  • What is the function of serous membranes?

    They line body cavities and organs to reduce friction and compartmentalize; consist of visceral (inner) and parietal (outer) layers.

  • Name the nine abdominopelvic regions.

    Right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac, right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar, right inguinal, hypogastric, left inguinal.

  • What is the difference between afferent and efferent pathways in feedback systems?

    Afferent pathways carry signals to the control center; efferent pathways carry signals away to effectors.