Human Body: An Orientation Flashcards
(75 cards)
1
Q
the branch of biological science that studies and describes how body parts work or function
A
physiology
2
Q
the study of the shape and structure of body parts
A
anatomy
3
Q
homeostasis
A
the tendency of the body’s systems to maintain a relatively constant or balanced internal environment
4
Q
metabolism
A
the term that indicates all chemical reactions in the body
5
Q
anatomy
A
measures an organ’s size, shape, and weight; can be studied in dead specimens, often with static dissections; observations and directional terms
6
Q
physiology
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often studied in living subjects, observations of chemical and physics principles (ie. measuring the acid content of the stomach, observing the heart in action), dynamic experimentation
7
Q
chemical level
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smallest level of structural organization; atoms combine to form molecules
8
Q
cellular level
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second level of structural organization; cells are made up of molecules
9
Q
tissue level
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third level of structural organization; tissues consist of similar types of cells
10
Q
organ level
A
fourth level of structural organization; organs are made up of different types of tissues
11
Q
organ system level
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fifth level of structural organization; organ systems consist of different organs that work together closely
12
Q
organismal level
A
largest level of structural organization; human organisms are made up of many organ systems
13
Q
integumentary system
A
- forms the external body covering (skin)
- protects deeper tissue from injury
- helps regulate body temperature
- location of cutaneous nerve receptors (senses)
14
Q
skeletal system
A
- protects and supports body organs
- provides muscle attachment for movement
- site of blood cell formation
- stores minerals
15
Q
muscular system
A
- produces movement
- maintains posture
- produces heat
16
Q
nervous system
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- fast-acting control system
- responds to internal and external change
- activates muscles and glands
17
Q
endocrine system
A
- secretes regulatory hormones for growth, reproduction and metabolism
18
Q
cardiovascular system
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- transports materials in body via blood pumped by heart to circulate oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes
19
Q
lymphatic system
A
- returns fluids to blood vessels
- cleanses the blood
- involved in immunity
20
Q
respiratory system
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- keeps blood supplied with oxygen
- removes carbon dioxide
21
Q
digestive system
A
- breaks down food
- allows for nutrient absorption into blood
- eliminates indigestible material as feces
22
Q
urinary (excretory)
A
- eliminates nitrogenous wastes
- maintains acid-based balance
- regulates water and electrolytes
23
Q
reproductive system
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- produces offspring
- testes produce sperm and male hormone
- ovaries produce ovum and female hormones
24
Q
dorsal body cavity
A
- cranial cavity houses the brain
- spinal cavity houses the spinal cord
25
ventral body cavity
- thoracic cavity houses heart, lungs, and others
- abdomino-pelvic cavity houses digestive system and most urinary system organs
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digestion
the process of breaking down food by mechanical and enzymatic action in the alimentary canal into substances that can be used by the body
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excretion
the process of eliminating or expelling waste matter
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growth
occurs when constructive activities occur at a faster rate than destructive activities
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maintenance of boundaries
keeps the body's internal environment distinct from the external environment; at the cellular, membranes; for the whole organism, the skin
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metabolism
all chemical reactions occurring in the body in order to maintain life
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movement
walking, throwing a ball, riding a bicycle;
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responsiveness
ability to react to stimuli, a major role of the nervous system
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reproduction
provides new cells for growth and repair
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when too high or too low, physiological activities cease, primarily because molecules are destroyed or become nonfunctional
appropriate body temperature
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required for the release of energy from foodstuffs
atmospheric pressure
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includes carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and minerals
nutrients
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essential for normal operation of the respiratory system and breathing
oxygen
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provides the basis for body fluids
water
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this senses changes in the environment and responds by sending information to the control center along the afferent pathway
receptor
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the body structure that determines the normal range of the variable, or set point; analyses the input, determines the appropriate response, and activates the effector by sending information via the efferent pathway
control center
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neural pathway that conducts impulses from a sense organ toward the brain or spinal cord or from one brain region to another (toward the brain; sends information)
afferent pathway
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a cell that performs a specific function in response to a stimulus
effector
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neural pathway that carries impulses away from a particular region of the central nervous system toward an effector (away from the brain; creates movement)
efferent pathway
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intensifies a change in the body's physiological condition rather than reversing it; example: childbirth
positive feedback mechanism
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reverses a deviation from the set point, and in turn, maintains body parameters within their normal range; example: shivering in response to feeling cold in order to produce heat
negative feedback mechanism
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region where which digestive activities occur
abdomen
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triangular region on the anterior side of the elbow between the forearm and the anatomical arm
antecubital
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pyramid-shaped area located between the shoulder girdle and thorax
axillary
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region encompassing the upper arm
brachial
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paired fat-containing spaces on each side of the face forming cheeks
buccal
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the upper most region of your neck on spinal cord
cervical
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region of the lower limb located between the hip and knee joints
femoral
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region located posterior to the pelvic girdle and extends distally into the upper leg
gluteal
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region located on the lower portion of the anterior abdominal wall (hip/pelvis)
inguinal
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region consisting of the lower back
lumbar
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region at the base of the skull at the back of the head
occipital
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diamond-shaped space behind the knee joint
popliteal
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most forward-facing (ventral and anterior) region of the three main regions making up coxal bone in the pelvic cavity
pubic
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flat, triangular-shaped bone located in the upper thoracic region on the dorsal surface of the rib cage
scapular
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muscular swelling of the back of the leg below the knee, better known as the calf of the leg
sural
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most central of the nine abdominal region
umbilical
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anterior
refers to the front side of the body; "in front of", "the front surface of"; example: the sternum is anterior to the heart
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posterior
refers to the back side of the body; "behind of"; example: the lungs are posterior to the ribcage
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superior
toward the head, on top of; example: the ears are superior to the shoulders
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inferior/caudal
away from the head, below; example: the cervical region is inferior to the umbilical region
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lateral
away from the body's midline; example: the arms are lateral to the chest
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medial
toward the body's midline; example: the nose is medial to the ears
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distal
sites located away from the point of attachment/point of origin; example: the wrist is distal than the elbow from the shoulder
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proximal
sites located close to the point of attachment/point of origin; example: the knees are proximal than the ankles to the hips
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transverse
anatomical plane that cuts the body into superior and inferior sections (top and bottom)
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coronal/frontal
anatomical plane that cuts the body into anterior and posterior sections (front and back)
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sagittal
anatomical plane that cuts the body into left and right sections
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midsagittal
equal left and right sections
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parasagittal
unequal left and right sections
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