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Anatomy & Physiology: Human Body Orientation and Systems

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Terms in this set (28)

  • What is the primary focus of anatomy?

    Anatomy is the study of the body’s structure.

  • What does physiology study?

    Physiology is the study of the body’s function.

  • What is the principle of complementarity in anatomy and physiology?

    Structure exists to perform a function, so to understand an organ’s function, you must understand its structure, and vice versa.

  • List the levels of organization in the human body from smallest to largest.

    Atomic/molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.

  • What is anatomical variation and why is it important?

    Anatomical variation refers to differences in body structures among individuals; understanding it is important because textbooks often show only one standard form, which may not represent all variations.

  • What is the anatomical position?

    Body upright, face forward, feet shoulder-width apart, toes forward, arms at sides with palms facing forward; used as a universal reference for anatomical terms.

  • Define the directional terms: superior and inferior.

    Superior means toward the head; inferior means toward the feet.

  • What do the terms anterior and posterior mean?

    Anterior means toward the front of the body; posterior means toward the back.

  • Explain the terms medial, lateral, ipsilateral, and contralateral.

    Medial: toward the midline; Lateral: away from the midline; Ipsilateral: same side; Contralateral: opposite side.

  • What do proximal and distal refer to in limb anatomy?

    Proximal means closer to the limb’s attachment point; distal means farther from the attachment.

  • What is the difference between superficial and deep?

    Superficial means closer to the body surface; deep means farther from the surface.

  • Name the major organ systems responsible for protection, support, and movement.

    Integumentary, skeletal, and muscular systems.

  • Which systems are primarily responsible for communication and integration?

    Nervous system (electrical signals) and endocrine system (chemical messengers).

  • What are the main functions of the circulatory and lymphatic systems?

    Circulatory system transports materials through the body; lymphatic system transports fluids and provides immunity.

  • Which organ systems are involved in gas, nutrient, and waste exchange?

    Respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems.

  • What is homeostasis?

    Maintenance of a stable internal environment within narrow limits despite external changes.

  • What are the two main types of feedback loops controlling homeostasis?

    Negative feedback opposes the original stimulus to maintain stability; positive feedback amplifies the stimulus, moving the system away from the set point.

  • Give an example of a negative feedback loop.

    Body temperature regulation: sweating to cool down when hot, shivering to warm up when cold.

  • Give an example of a positive feedback loop.

    Labor contractions: oxytocin release increases contractions until delivery.

  • What are the three components of a negative feedback loop?

    Receptor (detects change), control center (processes info), effector (carries out response).

  • What is the function of the anatomical planes?

    Imaginary lines used to divide the body into sections for study or imaging: frontal, sagittal, transverse, and oblique planes.

  • What are the main body cavities and what do they contain?

    Anterior (ventral) cavity contains thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities housing most organs; posterior (dorsal) cavity contains cranial cavity (brain) and vertebral cavity (spinal cord).

  • What is the difference between the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities?

    Thoracic cavity is above the diaphragm and contains heart and lungs; abdominopelvic cavity is below the diaphragm and contains digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs.

  • What is the peritoneal cavity?

    A serous membrane-bound cavity within the abdominopelvic cavity that surrounds most abdominal organs.

  • Why is knowledge of anatomical variation important in medicine?

    Because variations can affect surgical approaches and diagnosis, as standard textbook anatomy may not represent all individuals.

  • Why is the anatomical position important for directional terms?

    It provides a consistent reference point so that anatomical descriptions are clear and unambiguous.

  • What is the difference between midsagittal and parasagittal planes?

    Midsagittal divides the body into equal left and right halves; parasagittal divides the body into unequal left and right parts.

  • What is the function of the pleurae in the thoracic cavity?

    Serous membranes that surround the lungs and reduce friction during breathing.