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Anatomy & Physiology: Key Concepts from Chapters 1-5

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Terms in this set (25)

  • Organizational Levels of the Body

    The body is organized hierarchically: Chemical, Cellular, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, and Organism levels.

  • Four Major Classes of Tissues

    Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, and Nervous tissues, each with distinct functions like protection, support, contraction, and communication.

  • Types of Epithelial Tissue

    Lining epithelium classified by layers (simple, stratified) and shape (squamous, cuboidal, columnar); Glandular epithelium forms endocrine and exocrine glands.

  • Body Fluid Compartments

    Intracellular Fluid (ICF) ~67% of body water; Extracellular Fluid (ECF) ~33%, subdivided into Plasma (~7%) and Interstitial Fluid (ISF) (~26%).

  • Homeostasis

    Maintenance of a stable internal environment via regulated variables, set points, and feedback loops to ensure optimal cellular function.

  • Negative Feedback Loop

    Counteracts changes to return a variable to its set point, e.g., blood glucose regulation by insulin.

  • Positive Feedback Loop

    Amplifies changes, moving a variable away from its set point, e.g., blood clotting cascade.

  • Major Biomolecule Classes

    Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids are essential for cellular structure and function.

  • Plasma Membrane Structure

    Composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, carbohydrates, and cholesterol; controls permeability and signaling.

  • Phospholipid Bilayer

    Amphipathic molecules with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails forming the membrane's basic structure.

  • Types of Chemical Bonds

    Covalent (electron sharing), Ionic (electron transfer), and Hydrogen bonds (weak polar attractions).

  • Metabolic Reactions: Hydrolysis and Condensation

    Hydrolysis breaks bonds using water; Condensation forms bonds by removing water.

  • ATP and Energy Transfer

    ATP is the main energy carrier; energy is released by hydrolysis to ADP for cellular processes.

  • Catabolic vs. Anabolic Reactions

    Catabolic reactions break down molecules releasing energy; Anabolic reactions build molecules requiring energy.

  • Glycolysis

    Converts glucose to pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH in the cytoplasm.

  • Citric Acid (Krebs) Cycle

    Oxidizes acetyl-CoA to produce CO2, NADH, FADH2, and ATP in mitochondria.

  • Oxidative Phosphorylation

    Uses NADH and FADH2 to produce ATP via the electron transport chain and oxygen as final electron acceptor.

  • Passive vs. Active Transport

    Passive transport requires no energy, moves down gradients; Active transport requires energy, moves against gradients.

  • Sodium-Potassium Pump

    Active transport pump moving 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, maintaining ion gradients using ATP.

  • Membrane Potential (Vm)

    Voltage difference across the membrane, typically about -70 mV at rest (inside negative).

  • Nernst Equation Purpose

    Calculates the equilibrium potential for an ion based on concentration gradients and charge.

  • Categories of Chemical Messengers

    Autocrine, Paracrine, Neurotransmitters, and Endocrine messengers mediate cell communication at different distances.

  • Second Messengers

    Intracellular molecules like cAMP that amplify signals after receptor activation.

  • Types of Ion Channels

    Leak (always open), Ligand-gated, Voltage-gated, and Mechanically-gated channels regulate ion flow.

  • Osmolarity and Tonicity

    Osmolarity is solute concentration; Tonicity describes cell volume changes in isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic solutions.