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Anatomy & Physiology: Key Concepts from Chapters 2-3

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Terms in this set (20)

  • 7 Characteristics of All Living Things
    • Composed of cells
    • Complex structural arrangement
    • Respond to stimuli
    • Maintain homeostasis
    • Growth and development
    • Reproduction
    • Metabolism
  • Metabolism: Anabolic vs Catabolic
    Anabolic: Building up molecules.
    Catabolic: Breaking down molecules.
  • Difference between Anatomy and Physiology
    Anatomy: Study of structure.
    Physiology: Study of function and how body parts work.
  • Levels of Organization in the Human Body
    Chemical → Cellular → Tissue → Organ → Organ system → Organism.
  • Cell Theory Principles
    1. Cells are structural building blocks of all plants and animals.
    2. Cells come from pre-existing cells.
    3. Cells perform all vital functions.
  • Four Primary Tissue Types
    Epithelial: Covers surfaces and secretes.
    Connective: Supports and connects.
    Muscle: Contracts for movement.
    Nervous: Transmits information.
  • Three Types of Muscle Tissue
    Skeletal: Moves/stabilizes skeleton.
    Cardiac: Heart muscle.
    Smooth: Walls of vessels and organs.
  • Homeostasis Definition
    Maintaining a relatively stable internal environment despite external changes.
  • Three Components of Homeostatic Regulation
    Receptor: Detects change.
    Control Center: Processes info.
    Effector: Produces response.
  • Negative Feedback
    Opposes original stimulus to minimize change and maintain stability. Example: Temperature regulation.
  • Positive Feedback
    Amplifies original stimulus to drive a process to completion. Example: Blood clotting.
  • Anatomical Position
    Standing upright, hands at sides, palms forward, feet together facing forward, eyes forward.
  • Directional Terms: Anterior vs Posterior
    Anterior (Ventral): Front.
    Posterior (Dorsal): Back.
  • Body Positions: Supine vs Prone
    Supine: Lying face up.
    Prone: Lying face down.
  • Three Sectional Planes
    Frontal (Coronal): Divides front/back.
    Sagittal: Divides left/right.
    Transverse: Divides top/bottom.
  • Major Body Cavities of the Trunk
    Thoracic cavity: Chest area.
    Abdominopelvic cavity: Abdomen and pelvis.
  • Thoracic Cavity Subdivisions
    Pleural cavities: Contain lungs.
    Mediastinum: Contains pericardial cavity and heart.
  • Abdominopelvic Cavity Subdivisions
    Abdominal cavity: Digestive organs.
    Pelvic cavity: Urinary bladder, reproductive organs, last digestive tract.
  • Peritoneal Cavity and Position Terms
    Peritoneal cavity: Lined by peritoneum.
    Retroperitoneal: Behind peritoneum (e.g., kidneys).
    Intraperitoneal: Below peritoneum (e.g., bladder).
  • Function of the Pericardium
    Membrane around the heart that secretes fluid to reduce friction and allow heart movement.