1. Anatomy & Physiology - Introduction to the Human Body

Nerve impulses

1 of 2 ways the body detects changes to homeostasis and sends ... to counteract a disruption. Cause rapid changes in the body to return the body to homeostasis.

Hormones

1 of 2 ways the body detects changes to homeostasis and sends ... to counteract a disruption. Work more slowly to restore the body to homeostasis.

Responsiveness

1 of 6 major processes of life. Ability to detect and respond to changes in the external or internal environment

Differentiation

1 of 6 major processes of life. Change in a cell from an unspecialized state to a specialized state.

Reproduction

1 of 6 major processes of life. Either formation of new cells for growth repair or replacement or production of a new individual.

Growth

1 of 6 major processes of life. Increase in size and complexity due to an increase in the number of cells, size of cells or both.

Movement

1 of 6 major processes of life. Motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells or even organelles inside the cells.

Metabolism

1 of 6 major processes of life. Sum of all chemical processes including catabolism and anabolism

Endocrine

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: All glands and tissues that produce chemical regulators of body functions, called hormones Functions: Regulates body activities through hormones transported by the blood to various target organs

Cardiovascular

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Blood, heart, and blood vessels Functions: Heart pumps blood through blood vessels; blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells and carbon dioxide and wastes away from cells, and helps regulate acidity, temperature, and water content of body fluids; blood components help defend against disease and mend damaged blood vessels

Skeletal

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Bones and joints of the body and their associated cartilages Functions: Supports and protects the body, provides a specific area for muscle attachment, assists with body movements, stores cells that produce blood cells, and stores minerals and lipids (fats)

Nervous

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Brain, spinal cord, nerves, and special sense organs such as the eyes and ears Functions: Regulates body activities through nerve impulses by detecting changes in the environment, interpreting the changes, and responding to the changes by bringing about muscular contractions or glandular secretions

Reproductive

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females) and associated organs: uterine (fallopian) tubes, uterus, and vagina in females, and epididymis, ductus (vas) deferens, and penis in males; also, mammary glands in females Functions: Gonads produce gametes (sperm or oocytes) that unite to form a new organism and release hormones that regulate reproduction and other body processes; associated organs transport and store gametes, mammary glands produce milk

Urinary

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra Functions: Produces, stores, and eliminates urine; eliminates wastes and regulates volume and chemical composition of blood; helps regulate acid-base balance of body fluids; maintains body's mineral balance; helps regulate red blood cell production

Respiratory

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Lungs and air passageways such as the pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and bronchial tubes leading into and out of them Functions: Transfers oxygen from inhaled air to blood and carbon dioxide from blood to exhaled air; helps regulate acidity of body fluids; air flowing out of lungs through vocal cords produces sounds

Lymphatic

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Lymphatic fluid (lymph) and vessels; spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and tonsils; cells that carry out immune responses (B cells, T cells, and others) Functions: Returns proteins and fluid to blood; carries lipids from gastrointestinal tract to blood; contains sites of maturation and proliferation of B cells and T cells that protect against disease-causing microbes

Digestive

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Organs of gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and anus; also includes accessory digestive organs that assist in digestive processes, such as the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas Functions: Physical and chemical breakdown of food; absorbs nutrients; eliminates solid wastes

Integumentary

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Skin and structures associated with it, such as hair, nails, and sweat and oil glands Functions: Helps regulate body temperature; protects the body; eliminates some wastes; helps make vitamin D; detects sensations such as touch, pressure, pain, warmth, and cold

Muscular

1 of the 11 major body systems. Components: Specifically refers to skeletal muscle tissue, which is mus- cle usually attached to bones (other muscle tissues include smooth and cardiac) Functions: Participates in bringing about body movements such as walking; maintains posture; and produces heat

Chemical

1st of 6 levels of organization in the human body. Includes atoms, the smallest units of matter that participate in chemical reactions. And molecules which are 2 or more atoms joined together.

Cells

2nd of 6 levels of organization in the human body. Basic structural and functional units of organization

Tissues

3rd of 6 levels of organization in the human body. Consist of groups of similarly specialized cells and the substances surrounding them that usually arise from a common ancestor and perform certain special functions

Organs

4th of 6 levels of organization in the human body. Structures of definite form that have specific functions and are composed of 2 or more different tissues

Systems

5th of 6 levels of organization in the human body. Related organs that have a common function

Human organism

6th of 6 levels of organization in the human body. Collection of structurally and functionally integrated systems.

Effector

A body structure that receives output from the control centre and produces a response or effect that changes the controlled condition.

Disorder

A general term for any abnormality of function.

Frontal

A plane of reference that divides the body or an organ into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Oblique

A plane of reference that passes through the body or organ at an angle.

Transverse

A plane of reference. Divides the body or an organ into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. Aka cross-sectional or horizontal.

Parasaggital

A plane of reference. If the sagittal plane does not pass through the midline but instead divides the body or an organ into unequal right and left sides, it is called a ...

Midsagittal

A plane of reference. When a plane passes through the midline of the body and divides it into equal right and left halves.

Sagittal

A plane of reverence. Vertical plane that divides the body or an organ into right and left sides.

Coronal

AKA frontal

Medial

AKA midsagittal (plane)

Cross-sectional

AKA transverse

Horizontal

AKA transverse

Stimulus

Any disruption that changes a controlled condition is called a ...

Mediastinum

Broad, median partition between the lungs that extends from the sternum to the vertebral column. Contains everything in the thoracic cavity except the lungs.

Anabolism

Collectively refers to all of the synthesis reactions that occur in the body.

Homeostasis

Condition of equilibrium in the body's internal environment which is produced by ceaseless interplay of all the body's regulatory processes. Regulated by the nervous and endocrine systems.

Thoracic cavity

Contains two pleural cavities and the mediastinum which includes the pericardial cavity

Feedback system

Cycle of events through which info about the status of a condition is continually monitored and reprted to a central control region. Consists of 3 basic components: receptor, control centre and an effector.

Catabolism

Decomposition reactions that occur in the body

Abdominopelvic cavity

Divided into a superior abdominal and an inferior pelvic cavity.

Pleural cavity

Enclose the lungs

Sections

Flat surfaces that are created by cutting through body structures. These are named according to the plane on which the cut is made, for example transverse, frontal and midsagittal.

Vertebral canal

Formed by the bones of the spine which surround and protect the spinal cord.

Cranial cavity

Formed within the ... bones which surround and protect the brain.

Positive feedback loop

If a response enhances the original stimulus, the system is a ... Example: normal childbirth.

Negative feedback loop

If a response reverses the original stimulus, the system is a ... Example: homeostasis of blood pressure

Planes

Imaginary flat surfaces that are used to divide the body or organs into definite areas.

Quadrants

In clinical studies to locate the site of an abdominopelvic abnormality, the abdominopelvic cavity can be divided into .... by drawing imaginary horizontal and vertical lines through the umbilicus. These include, right upper, Left upper, right lower, left lower. (Remember they are mirrored in a drawing of the body, so picture it as YOUR right, not the drawing's)

Dorsal body cavity

Located near the head of the body; 2 subdivisions - the cranial cavity and the vertebral canal

Receptor

Monitors changes in a controlled condition and sends input as nerve impulses or chemical signals to a control centre.

Disease

More specific term for an illness characterized by a recognizable set of signs and symptoms

Sign

Objective changes that a clinician can observe and measure. Example: fever/rash

Control Centre

Sets the range of values for the maintenance of a controlled condition, evaluates the input received from the receptors and generates commands when needed

Body cavity

Space within the body that help to protect separate and support the internal organs.

Anatomical position

Standardized method for observing or imaging the body which allows precise and consistent anatomical references. Subject stands erect facing the observer; his/her upper extremities (arms) are placed at their side; the palms of their hands are turned forward, and their feet are flat on the floor.

Physiology

Study of how body structures function.

Symptom

Subjective changes in body functions that aren't apparent to an observer. Example: headache/nausea

Pericardial cavity

Surrounds the heart

Regions

The abdominopelvic cavity can be divided into 9 ... by drawing 4 imaginary lines. These include: right hypochondriac, epigastric, Left hypochondriac, Right lumbar, umbilical, Left lumbar, right inguinal, pubic, left inguinal. (Remember they are mirrored in a drawing of the body, so picture it as YOUR right, not the drawing's)

Ventral body cavity

The diaphragm divides the ... into an upper thoracic cavity and a lower abdominopelvic cavity.

Anatomy

The study of structure and relationships among structures.

Directional terms

Used to precisely locate one part of the body relative to another and to reduce the length of explanations about these relationships. Commonly used ... are dorsal, superior, medial, distal.