Glossary: Homeostasis and Human Organisation

Question 1

Abdominal Cavity

Answer 1

Superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity that contains stomach, spleen, liver, gall bladder, most of the large intestine; serous membrane of abdominal cavity is the peritoneum

Question 2

Afferent Pathway

Answer 2

A sensory pathway from a receptor to the central nervous system

Question 3

Anatomical Position

Answer 3

The erect position of the body with the face directed forward, the arms at the side, and the palms of the hands facing forward, used as a reference in describing the relation of body parts to one another

Question 4

Anatomy

Answer 4

Science of body structure and their relationship to one another

Question 5

Atom

Answer 5

The smallest unit of matter

Question 6

Cell

Answer 6

Smallest living unit in the body. Basic structural and functional units of an organism composed of chemicals

Question 7

Control centre

Answer 7

Sets the range of values within which a controlled condition should be maintained, e.g. Brain

Question 8

Cranial Cavity

Answer 8

Formed by cranial bones and contains brain

Question 9

Deep

Answer 9

Away from the surface of the body, e.g. the ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back

Question 10

Distal

Answer 10

Farther from the attachment of a limb to trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure

Question 11

Dorsal

Answer 11

Back or behind

Question 12

Effector

Answer 12

Structure that receives output from the control centre and produces a response, e.g. skeletal muscles when the body is cold, shiver.

Question 13

Efferent pathway

Answer 13

Efferent pathways carry signals away from the central nervous system

Question 14

Frontal/coronal plane

Answer 14

Divides the body or an organ into anterior and posterior positions

Question 15

Homeostasis

Answer 15

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment

Question 16

Inferior

Answer 16

Away from the head, or the lower part of a structure

Question 17

Lateral

Answer 17

Farther from the midline

Question 18

Medial

Answer 18

Towards the midline

Question 19

Median/midsagittal plane

Answer 19

Divides the body into equal right and left sides

Question 20

Mediastinum

Answer 20

Central portion of thoracic cavity between the lungs; extends from sternum to vertebral column and from first rib to diaphragm; contains heart, thymus, oesophagus, trachea and large blood vessels

Question 21

Negative Feedback

Answer 21

Reverses a change in a controlled condition

Question 22

Organ

Answer 22

Structures composed of two or more different types of tissue

Question 23

Organ System

Answer 23

Consists of related organs with a common function

Question 24

Organism

Answer 24

All the parts of the human body functioning together constitute to the total organism

Question 25

Pelvic Cavity

Answer 25

Inferior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity that contains urinary bladder, portions of large intestine, and internal organs of reproduction

Question 26

Pericardial Cavity

Answer 26

A potential space between the layers of the pericardium that surrounds a lung

Question 27

Physiology

Answer 27

Science of body function

Question 28

Pleural Cavities

Answer 28

A potential space between the layers of the pleura that surrounds a lung

Question 29

Posterior

Answer 29

Nearer to or at the back of the body

Question 30

Positive Feedback

Answer 30

Enhances a change in controlled condition

Question 31

Proximal

Answer 31

Nearer to the attachment of a limb or trunk; nearer the the origination of a structure

Question 32

Receptor

Answer 32

Structure that monitors change and sends input to a control centre

Question 33

Superficial

Answer 33

Towards or on the surface of the body, e.g. the ribs are superficial to the lungs

Question 34

Thoracic Cavity

Answer 34

Chest cavity; contains the pleural and pericardial cavities and the mediastinum

Question 35

Tissue

Answer 35

Group of cells and materials that surround them to work together to perform a particular function

Question 36

Transverse Plane

Answer 36

Divides the body or organ into superior and inferior portions

Question 37

Ventral

Answer 37

In front

Question 38

Vertebral canal

Answer 38

Formed by vertebral column and contains spinal cord and the beginnings of spinal nerves