anatomy
the science of body structures and the relationships among them
physiology
the science of body functions - how the body parts work
dissection
the careful cutting apart of body structures to study their relationships
atoms
the smallest units of matter that participate in chemical reactions
molecules
two or more atoms joined together
cells
the basic structural and functional units of an organism that are composed of chemicals
tissues
groups of cells and the materials surrounding them that work together to perform a particular function
organs
structures that are composed of two or more different types of tissues; they have specific functions and usually have recognizable shapes
system
consists of related organs with a common function
organism
any living individual - all the parts of the human body functioning together to constitute the total organism
noninvasive diagnostic technique
one that does not involve insertion of an instrument or device through the skin or a body opening
inspection
the examiner observes the body for any changes that deviate from normal
palpation
the examiner feels body surfaces with the hands
auscultation
the examiner listens to body sounds to evaluate the functioning of certain organs, often using a stethoscope to amplify the sounds
percussion
the examiner taps on the body surface with fingertips and listens to the resulting sound
metabolism
the sum of all chemical processes that occur in the body
catabolism
the breakdown of complex chemical substances into simpler components
anabolism
the building up of complex chemical substances from smaller, simpler components
responsivenss
the body’s ability to detect and respond to changes
movement
includes motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells, and even tiny structures inside cells
growth
an increase in body size that results from an increase in the size of existing cells, an increase in the number of cells, or both
differentiation
the development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state
reproduction
refers to either (1) the formation of new cells for tissue growth, repair, or replacement or (2) the production of a new individual
autopsy
a postmortem examination of the body and dissection of its internal organs to confirm or determine the cause of death
homeostasis
the condition of equilibrium (balance) in the body’s internal environment due to the constant interaction of the body’s many regulatory processes
body fluids
dilute, watery solutions containing dissolved chemicals that are found inside cells as well as surrounding them
intracellular fluid (ICF)
fluid within cells
extracellular fluid (ECF)
fluid outside the body cells
interstitial fluid (ICF)
the ECF that fills the narrow spaces between cells of tissues
blood plasma
the ECF within blood vessels
lymph
the ECF within lymphatic vessels
cerebrospinal fluid
the ECF in and around the brain and spinal cord
synovial fluid
the ECF in joints
aqueous humor / vitreous body
the ECF of the eyes
feedback system / feedback loop
a cycle of event in which the status of a body condition is monitored, evaluated, changed, remonitored, reevaluated, and so on
receptor
a body structure that monitors changes in a controlled condition and sends input to a control center
control center
sets the range of values within which a controlled condition should be maintained, evaluates the input it receives from receptors, and generates output commands when they are needed
effector
a body structure that receives output from the control center and produces a response
response
effect that changes the controlled condition
negative feedback system
reverses a change in a controlled condition ex. blood pressure
positive feedback system
strengthens or reinforces a change in one of the body’s controlled conditions ex. childbirth, or losing a great deal of blood
disorder
any abnormality of structure
disease
a specific term for an illness characterized by a recognizable set of signs and symptoms
symptoms
subjective changes in body functions that are not apparent to an observer
signs
objective changes that a clinician can observe and measure
epidemiology
the science that deals with why, when, and where disease occur and how they are transmitted among individuals in a community
pharmacology
the science that deals with the effects and uses of drugs in the treatment of disease
diagnosis
the science and skill of distinguishing one disorder or disease from another
anatomical position
A standard position of reference in which the subject stand erect facing the observer, with the head level and the eyes facing directly forward. The lower limbs are parallel and the feet are flat on the floor and directed forward, and the upper limbs are at the sides with the palms turned forward.
prone position
body is lying facedown
supine position
body is lying faceup
directional terms
words that describe the position of one body part relative to another
Superior (cephalic or cranial)
Toward the head, or the upper part of a structure.
ex. The heart is superior to the liver.
Inferior
(caudal)
Away from the head, or the lower part of a structure.
ex. The stomach is inferior to the lungs.
Anterior
(ventral)
Nearer to or at the front of the body.
ex. The sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.
Posterior
(dorsal)
Nearer to or at the back of the body.
ex. The esophagus (food tube) is posterior to the trachea (windpipe).
Medial
Nearer to the midline (an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal right and left sides).
ex. The ulna is medial to the radius.
Lateral
Farther from the midline.
ex. The lungs are lateral to the heart.
Intermediate
Between two structures.
ex. The transverse colon is intermediate to the ascending and descending colons.
Ipsilateral
On the same side of the body as another structure.
ex. The gallbladder and ascending colon are ipsilateral.
Contralateral
On the opposite side of the body from another structure.
ex. The ascending and descending colon are contralateral.
Proximal
Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure.
ex. The humerus (arm bone) is proximal to the radius.
Distal
Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk; farther from the origination of a structure.
ex. The phalanges (finger bones) are distal to the carpals (wrist bones).
Superficial
(external)
Toward or on the surface of the body.
ex. The ribs are superficial to the lungs.
Deep
(Internal)
Away from the surface of the body.
ex. The ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back.
planes
imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the body parts
sagital plane
a vertical plane that divides the body or an organ into right and left sides