Week 1 (introduction to physiology and homeostasis)

Question 1

Define anatomy

Answer 1

The science of body structures and their relationships.

Question 2

Define physiology

Answer 2

The science of body functions.

Question 3

Name the 6 levels of structural organisation

Answer 3

1. chemical
2. cellular
3. tissue
4. organ
5. system
6. organism

Question 4

Describe the chemical level

Answer 4

Atoms (smallest unit of matter)
Molecules (2 or more atoms)
Will occur repeatedly throughout all different cell types.

Question 5

Describe the cellular level

Answer 5

Cells are the basic structural and functional units of an organism.
They are specialised for specific functions.

Question 6

Describe the tissue level

Answer 6

Tissues are groups of cells and surrounding material. They work together to perform a particular function. There are 4 basic types; epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous.

Question 7

Describe the organ level

Answer 7

Organs are composed of 2 or more types of tissue.
They have specific functions and a recognisable shapes.

Question 8

Describe the system level

Answer 8

A system is made up of many organ components that have a common function.

Question 9

Describe the organism level

Answer 9

All the parts of our body functioning together.

Question 10

Describe the components and functions of the integumentary system

Answer 10

Components: skin, hair, fingernails, sweat glands
Functions: protects body, regulate body temperature, sensation, insulation

Question 11

Describe the components and functions of the skeletal systems

Answer 11

Components: bones, joints, cartilage
Functions: supports, protection, aids movement

Question 12

Describe the components and functions of the muscular system

Answer 12

Components: skeletal muscle tissue
Functions: body movement, posture, heat production

Question 13

Describe the components and functions of the nervous system

Answer 13

Components: brain, spinal cord, nerves, specialised organs
Functions: regulate body activity, detect and interpret changes.

Question 14

Describe the components and functions of the endocrine system

Answer 14

Components: hormone producing glands
Functions: regulate body activity

Question 15

Describe the components and functions of the cardiovascular system

Answer 15

Components: heart, blood vessels, blood
Functions: transport oxygen and nutrients, remove waste, regulation

Question 16

Describe the components and functions of the lymphatic system

Answer 16

Components: lymphatic fluids, spleen, thymus
Functions: return proteins and fluid to blood, transport lipids from GI tract, immune cells

Question 17

Describe the components and functions of the respiratory system

Answer 17

Components: lungs, pharynx, trachea
Functions: transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide, regulation of acid-base balance

Question 18

Describe the components and functions of the digestive system

Answer 18

Components: GI tract, accessory organs
Functions: physical and chemical digestion of food, nutrient absorption, waste elimination

Question 19

Describe the components and functions of the urinary system

Answer 19

Components: kidney, ureter, bladder
Function: produce, store and eliminate urine, eliminate waste, regulate fluid balance

Question 20

Describe the components and functions of the reproductive system

Answer 20

Components: gonads and associated organs
Functions: produce and store gametes, produce hormones

Question 21

Name and describe the 6 basic life processes

Answer 21

Metabolism: sum of all chemical processes in the body
Responsiveness: ability to detect and respond to change
Movement: motion at different levels
Growth: increase in body size
Differentiation: development of a cell from unspecialised to specialised
Reproduction: production of new cells through cell division

Question 22

What is homeostais?

Answer 22

The maintenance of relatively stable conditions in the body’s internal environment.

Question 23

Why is homeostasis important?

Answer 23

Maintains life
Detects changes before a critical state is reached.
Make sure all systems are working optimally and efficiently.
Restores the normal state of the body after disturbances.

Question 24

Which systems are the most important in homeostasis and why?

Answer 24

Endocrine and nervous system as they send messages to the body and they respond quickly.

Question 25

Describe the disturbances that can occur to the body (give examples)

Answer 25

Disturbances is normally mild and temporary and can happen to both the external and internal environments. Prolonged and intense disturbance can affect our health. External environment: e.g., temperature Internal environment: e.g., insufficient blood glucose

Question 26

How do we regulate our internal environment?

Answer 26

Feedback systems/loop = cycle of events (monitor, evaluate, effect a change, re-monitor) Control systems = maintain a variable within a given range following disturbances.

Question 27

Define stimulus

Answer 27

The thing that changes the controlled condition

Question 28

Define controlled condition

Answer 28

The variable that is being changed.

Question 29

Name the three components of a feedback loop

Answer 29

Receptor Control centre Effector

Question 30

Describe receptors

Answer 30

Monitors change in a controlled condition Sends input to a control centre Afferent pathway

Question 31

Describe the control centre

Answer 31

e.g., brain Sets the 'set point' of the variable Evaluates input from receptors Efferent pathway

Question 32

Describe the effector

Answer 32

Receives output from the control centre Produces a response that changes the controlled condition

Question 33

Describe a negative feedback loop

Answer 33

Change occurs in the opposite direction to the original stimulus. Decrease in function or output E.g., blood pressure ruses

Question 34

Describe a positive feedback loop

Answer 34

Change occurs in the same direction to the original stimulus. Increase in function or output. E.g., childbirth

Question 35

What does homeostasis maintain in terms of body fluids?

Answer 35

The body fluids volume and composition

Question 36

Name the two types of body fluids

Answer 36

Intracellular fluid = inside cells Extracellular fluid = outside cells

Question 37

Give examples of extracellular fluids

Answer 37

Interstitial fluid: between cells of tissues Blood vessels: plasma Lymphatic vessels: lymph plasms CNS: cerebrospinal fluid Joints: synovial fluid Eyes: aqueous humor and vitreous body

Question 38

What happens when there are homeostatic imbalances?

Answer 38

Development of illness, infections and diseases.

Question 39

Name the three ways to describe sensory receptors

Answer 39

Structure Location Type

Question 40

Describe the microscopic structure of sensory receptors

Answer 40

Free nerve endings of first-order sensory neurons Encapsulated nerve endings of first-order sensory neurons Separate cells that synapse with first-order sensory neurons

Question 41

Name the three locations of sensory receptors

Answer 41

Exteroceptors Interoceptors/visceroceptors Proprioceptors

Question 42

Describe exteroceptors

Answer 42

Located at or near the external surface of the body. Provide information about the external environment Examples: hearing, vision, smell, taste, touch, pressure, temperature, pain.

Question 43

Describe interoceptors

Answer 43

Located in blood vessels, visceral organs, muscles and the nervous system. Provide information about the internal environment. Generated nerve impulses not usually consciously perceived.

Question 44

Describe proprioceptors

Answer 44

Located in muscles, tendons, joints and inner ear. Provide information about body position, muscle length and tension, and the position and movement of joints.

Question 45

Name and describe the 6 types of stimulus of sensory receptors

Answer 45

Mechanoreceptors: sensitive to mechanical stimuli and monitor the stretching of blood vessels and internal organs. Thermoreceptors: detect changes in temperature. Nociceptors: respond to painful stimuli from physical or chemical damage to tissue. Photoreceptors: detect light that strikes the retina of the eye. Chemoreceptors: detect chemicals in the mouth, nose and body fluids. Osmoreceptors: detect the osmotic pressure of body fluids.