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Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology - Core Concepts and Terminology

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What is Human Anatomy?

    Human Anatomy is the study of the structure or form of the human body.

  • What is Human Physiology?

    Human Physiology is the study of the body’s functions and how its parts work.

  • What are the core study strategies recommended for learning A&P?

    Bring It Back, Space It Out, and Mix It Up to improve memory consolidation and understanding.

  • Define Homeostasis.

    Homeostasis is the condition in which the body maintains a relatively stable internal environment.

  • What are the main structural levels of organization in the human body?

    Chemical, Cellular, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, and Organism levels.

  • Name the 11 organ systems of the human body.

    Includes systems such as the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, muscular, skeletal, endocrine, lymphatic, urinary, reproductive, and integumentary systems.

  • What is the anatomical position?

    Body standing upright, feet shoulder-width apart, upper limbs at sides, head and palms facing forward.

  • Explain the directional terms Anterior and Posterior.

    Anterior means toward the front; Posterior means toward the back of the body or body part.

  • What do Superior and Inferior mean in anatomical terms?

    Superior means toward the head; Inferior means toward the tail or lower part of the body.

  • Define Proximal and Distal.

    Proximal means closer to the point of origin; Distal means farther from the point of origin, used for limbs.

  • What are the four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity?

    Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ), Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ).

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

    The thoracic cavity is superior to the diaphragm and contains lungs and heart; the abdominopelvic cavity is inferior and contains digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs.

  • What are serous membranes and their layers?

    Thin double-layered membranes with visceral layer contacting organs and parietal layer attaching to surrounding structures, filled with lubricating serous fluid.

  • Describe the difference between negative and positive feedback loops.

    Negative feedback opposes changes to maintain stability; Positive feedback reinforces changes to amplify a response.

  • List the steps of a negative feedback loop.

    Stimulus, Receptor, Control Center, Effector, Response to return variable to normal range.

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

    The form of a structure is such that it best suits its function at all levels of organization.

  • What are gradients and their role in physiology?

    Gradients exist when more of something is in one area than another; they drive many physiological processes like diffusion and blood flow.

  • How do cells communicate to maintain homeostasis?

    Cells use electrical signals and chemical messengers to coordinate body functions and maintain homeostasis.

  • What is the significance of the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes?

    Sagittal plane divides body into right and left; Frontal plane divides into anterior and posterior; Transverse plane divides into superior and inferior sections.

  • What is the function of the cerebrospinal fluid in the posterior body cavity?

    Cerebrospinal fluid bathes and cushions the brain and spinal cord within the cranial and spinal cavities.