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Anatomy & Physiology Key Concepts

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Terms in this set (29)

  • Anatomy vs. Physiology

    Anatomy studies the structure of body parts and their relationships. Physiology studies the function of body parts and how they work together.

  • Levels of Organization in the Human Body

    Chemical, Cellular, Tissue, Organ, Organ system, Organism levels form a hierarchy from smallest to whole body.

  • Anatomical Position

    Standard reference: standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward.

  • Directional Terms: Anterior and Posterior

    Anterior means front; Posterior means back.

  • Directional Terms: Superior and Inferior

    Superior means above; Inferior means below.

  • Directional Terms: Medial and Lateral

    Medial means toward midline; Lateral means away from midline.

  • Body Planes

    Sagittal: divides left/right; Frontal: divides front/back; Transverse: divides top/bottom.

  • Major Body Cavities

    Dorsal cavity: cranial and vertebral; Ventral cavity: thoracic and abdominopelvic.

  • Serous Membranes and Their Locations

    Pericardium: heart; Pleurae: lungs; Peritoneum: abdominopelvic cavity.

  • Homeostasis and Feedback Mechanisms

    Homeostasis maintains stable internal environment. Negative feedback reduces stimulus effect; Positive feedback enhances it.

  • Feedback Pathway Sequence

    Stimulus → Receptor → Afferent pathway → Control center → Efferent pathway → Effector → Response.

  • Atom, Molecule, and Compound Definitions

    Atom: smallest element unit; Molecule: bonded atoms; Compound: molecules with different elements.

  • Types of Chemical Bonds

    Ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds connect atoms in molecules.

  • Water Properties Important for Life

    Water is a universal solvent, has high heat capacity, and is essential for chemical reactions.

  • pH and Its Meaning

    pH measures hydrogen ion concentration; acids release H+ ions, bases release OH- ions.

  • ATP Role in Cells

    ATP is the usable energy currency for cellular processes.

  • Cell Theory Key Points

    Cells are the smallest unit of life, all organisms have cells, and cells come from preexisting cells.

  • Three Basic Parts of a Human Cell

    Plasma membrane: boundary; Cytoplasm: fluid and organelles; Nucleus: DNA and control center.

  • Phospholipid Bilayer Structure

    Phosphate heads are polar and hydrophilic; fatty acid tails are nonpolar and hydrophobic; heads face water, tails inward.

  • Membrane Protein Types and Functions

    Integral proteins transport and receptors; Peripheral proteins support and enzymes.

  • Cell Junction Types and Functions

    Tight junctions: seal cells; Desmosomes: strong attachments; Gap junctions: communication tunnels.

  • Membrane Transport Types

    Simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis (no ATP); active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis (require ATP).

  • Osmosis and Tonicity Effects on Cells

    Water moves to higher solute concentration; isotonic (no change), hypotonic (cell swells), hypertonic (cell shrinks).

  • Sodium-Potassium Pump Function

    Uses ATP to move 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, maintaining membrane potential.

  • Main Functions of Cell Organelles

    Nucleus: DNA storage; Ribosomes: protein synthesis; Mitochondria: ATP production; Golgi: packaging; Lysosomes: digestion.

  • Stages of Mitosis

    Prophase: chromatin condenses; Metaphase: chromosomes align; Anaphase: chromatids separate; Telophase: nuclei form; Cytokinesis: cytoplasm divides.

  • Transcription Process

    DNA unwinds, RNA polymerase makes mRNA, introns removed, exons spliced together.

  • Translation Process

    Ribosome reads mRNA codons; tRNA brings amino acids; polypeptide chain forms.

  • Ribosome Sites and Functions

    A site: incoming tRNA; P site: growing peptide; E site: tRNA exit.