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Anatomy & Physiology: Structural Levels, Body Divisions, and Systems

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Terms in this set (24)

  • What is anatomy?

    Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.

  • What is physiology?

    Physiology is the study of the function of the body and how body parts work to carry out life-sustaining activities.

  • What is the principle of complementarity of structure and function?

    The principle that form (anatomy) determines function (physiology), meaning what a structure can do depends on its specific form.

  • Name the levels of structural organization in the human body from simplest to most complex.

    Chemical, Cellular, Tissue, Organ, Organ system, Organismal levels.

  • What are the subdivisions of gross anatomy?

    Regional anatomy, System anatomy, and Surface anatomy.

  • What does microscopic anatomy study?

    Structures too small to be seen with the naked eye, including cytology (cells) and histology (tissues).

  • What are the necessary life functions of the human body?

    Maintaining boundaries, movement, responsiveness, digestion, metabolism, excretion, reproduction, and growth.

  • What substances are essential for human survival?

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

  • List the eleven major body systems.

    Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, Reproductive systems.

  • Define an organ and an organ system.

    An organ contains two or more types of tissues; an organ system is a group of organs that work closely together to perform a function.

  • What is homeostasis?

    Maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite continuous environmental changes; a dynamic state of equilibrium.

  • What are the three components of homeostatic control?

    Receptor (detects change), Control center (determines set point and response), and Effector (carries out response).

  • How does negative feedback maintain homeostasis?

    By reducing or shutting off the original stimulus to return the variable to its set point (e.g., body temperature regulation).

  • How does positive feedback differ from negative feedback?

    Positive feedback enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus (e.g., blood clotting, labor contractions).

  • What is the anatomical position?

    Body erect, feet slightly apart, facing forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward with thumbs pointing away from the body.

  • Define the directional terms: superior and inferior.

    Superior means toward the head or upper part; Inferior means away from the head or lower part.

  • Define the directional terms: anterior and posterior.

    Anterior means toward or at the front; Posterior means toward or at the back.

  • Define the directional terms: medial and lateral.

    Medial means toward the midline; Lateral means away from the midline.

  • Define the directional terms: proximal and distal.

    Proximal means closer to the origin of a body part; Distal means farther from the origin.

  • What are the three major planes of the body?

    Sagittal (divides body into right and left), Frontal (coronal) (divides body into front and back), and Transverse (divides body into upper and lower parts).

  • Name the two major body cavities and their subdivisions.

    Ventral cavity (thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities) and Dorsal cavity (cranial and vertebral cavities).

  • What is the function of serous membranes in the ventral body cavity?

    They are thin, double-layered membranes that cover cavity walls (parietal serosa) and organs (visceral serosa), secreting lubricating serous fluid.

  • What are the four abdominopelvic quadrants?

    Right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant (LUQ), Right lower quadrant (RLQ), Left lower quadrant (LLQ).

  • What are the nine abdominopelvic regions?

    Epigastric, Umbilical, Pubic (hypogastric), Right and Left hypochondriac, Right and Left lateral (lumbar), Right and Left inguinal (iliac) regions.