What is the primary focus of physiology?

Physiology investigates the processes and functions of living things.

What are the seven structural levels of the human organism?

Chemical, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, and organism.

What does anatomy study?

Anatomy is the scientific discipline that investigates the structure of the body.

What is systemic anatomy?

The study of the body's structures by systems, such as the nervous and muscular systems.

What is regional anatomy?

The study of the body's organization by areas, commonly used in medical schools.

What is surface anatomy?

The study of external features that serve as landmarks to locate deeper structures.

What is anatomical imaging?

The use of x-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging to create pictures of internal structures.

What is the basic living unit of all plants and animals?

Cell.

What is an organelle?

A structure within a cell that performs one or more specific functions.

What is a tissue?

A group of cells with similar structure and function plus the extracellular substances located between them.

What is an organ?

Two or more tissue types that together perform one or more common functions.

What is the function of the cardiovascular system?

It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood; transports nutrients, wastes, and gases.

What does the nervous system consist of?

The brain, spinal cord, and nerves; detects sensation and controls movements.

What is the role of the respiratory system?

It consists of the lungs; exchanges gases between blood and the air.

What is the function of the urinary system?

It consists of the kidneys and urinary bladder; removes waste products from the circulatory system.

What is metabolism?

The ability to use energy to perform vital functions such as growth.

What is homeostasis?

The existence and maintenance of a relatively constant environment within the body.

What is a control center in homeostasis?

It establishes the set point around which the value of a variable is maintained; part of the brain is an example.

What is a receptor in the context of homeostasis?

It monitors the value of a variable such as blood pressure.

What is an effector?

It can change the value of a variable; for example, the heart can change blood pressure.

What is negative feedback?

It maintains homeostasis by resisting or reducing any deviation from the set point.

What is positive feedback?

When a deviation from a normal value occurs, the response is to make the deviation even greater.

What is differentiation in biological terms?

Change in cell structure and function from generalized to specialized.

What is growth in the context of living organisms?

Results in an increase in size; can be caused by an increase in cell number, cell size, or the amount of substance surrounding cells.

What is reproduction in biological terms?

The formation of new cells or new organisms.

What is responsiveness in the context of living organisms?

The ability to sense changes in the environment and make adjustments that help to maintain life.

What is the effect of a decrease in blood pressure on heart rate?

It increases heart rate.

What happens to the heart's ability to pump after blood loss?

It decreases.

What physiological response is triggered by the stretch of the uterus?

It causes uterine contractions during delivery.

What do directional terms refer to in anatomy?

They refer to the body in the anatomical position.

What does the term 'anterior' mean?

Toward the front of the body.

What does the term 'posterior' mean?

Toward the back of the body.

What does 'medial' refer to?

Toward the midline of the body.

What does 'lateral' mean?

Away from the midline.

What does 'superior' mean?

Higher than or above.

What does 'inferior' mean?

Lower than.

What does 'distal' refer to?

Farther from the point of attachment to the body.

What does 'proximal' mean?

Closer to the point of attachment to the body.

What does 'deep' mean in anatomical terms?

Away from the surface.

What does 'superficial' mean?

Closer to the surface.

What is a plane in anatomy?

An imaginary flat surface passing through the body or an organ.

What does the frontal (coronal) plane do?

Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

What does the sagittal plane do?

Divides the body into right and left parts.

What does the transverse (cross) plane do?

Divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

What is an oblique section?

A cut across the long axis of an organ at any angle other than a right angle.

What is the abdominal cavity?

Cavity containing the stomach and kidneys.

What is the pelvic cavity?

Cavity containing the urinary bladder and internal reproductive organs.

What is the thoracic cavity?

Cavity containing the heart and lungs.

What is the mediastinum?

The area between the right and left parts of the thoracic cavity.

What are serous membranes?

Membranes that line the trunk cavities and cover the organs of these cavities.

What is the visceral layer of a serous membrane?

The portion in contact with an organ.

What is the parietal layer of a serous membrane?

The portion that lines a trunk cavity.

What is the pericardial membrane?

The serous membrane that surrounds the heart.

What is the pleural membrane?

The serous membrane that surrounds the lungs.

What is the serous membrane that lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities?

Peritoneum

What is the double-layered serous membrane that anchors some abdominal organs to the body wall?

Mesentery

What is the space filled with serous fluid located between the visceral and parietal serous membranes?

Peritoneal cavity

What term describes organs covered only by parietal peritoneum?

Retroperitoneal

What is the anatomical position?

A standard position of the body where the person stands upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

List the three major planes used to section the human body.

Frontal (coronal), sagittal, and transverse planes.

What are the four primary tissue types?

Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.

What are the two kinds of feedback mechanisms found in living organisms?

Negative feedback and positive feedback.

Name the three trunk cavities of the human body.

Thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity.

What are four retroperitoneal organs?

Kidneys, adrenal glands, aorta, and inferior vena cava.

What is the function of serous membranes?

To reduce friction between organs and line fluid-filled cavities.

What does the term 'sagittal' refer to?

A plane that divides the body into left and right parts.

What does the prefix 'peri-' mean?

Around.

What does the prefix 'retro-' mean?

Behind or back of.

What is the role of the nervous and endocrine systems?

They are the most important systems in the regulation or control of other systems in the body.

What is the diaphragm's role in the body?

It separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.

What is the pericardial cavity?

The cavity that surrounds the heart.

What is the pleural cavity?

The cavity that surrounds the lungs.

What is the significance of negative feedback mechanisms?

They help maintain homeostasis by making deviations from normal smaller.

What is the anatomical term for 'above'?

Superior.

What is the anatomical term for 'below'?

Inferior.

What is the anatomical term for 'toward the front'?

Anterior (or ventral).

What is the anatomical term for 'toward the back'?

Posterior (or dorsal).

What is the anatomical term for 'closer to the point of attachment'?

Proximal.

What is the anatomical term for 'farther from the point of attachment'?

Distal.

What does the integumentary system consist of?

The skin, hair, nails, and a variety of glands.

What is the primary function of the epidermis?

To provide protection against abrasion, ultraviolet light, and water loss, and to produce vitamin D.

What is the hypodermis?

A layer that attaches the skin to underlying tissue and is a major site of fat storage.

Is the hypodermis part of the integumentary system?

No, the hypodermis is not part of the integumentary system.

What is the dermis made of?

Dense connective tissue that forms the deep layer of the skin.

What are cleavage lines?

Directions in which the skin is most resistant to stretch.

What are striae?

Lines visible through the epidermis produced by overstretching of the dermis.

What do dermal papillae do?

They project from the dermis into the epidermis and produce fingerprints.

What is keratinization?

The process that changes the shape and chemical composition of epidermal cells.

What is the stratum basale?

The strata of the epidermis that produces new cells by mitosis.

What is the stratum corneum?

The strata of the epidermis that contains dead, squamous cells.

What is the function of lipids in the skin?

They are responsible for preventing fluid loss through the skin.

What is a callus?

A thickened area of stratum corneum produced in response to friction.

What determines skin color?

Pigments in the skin, blood circulation, and the thickness of the stratum corneum.

What is melanin?

A group of pigments responsible for skin, hair, and eye color, produced by melanocytes.

What is albinism?

A mutation that prevents the manufacture of melanin.

What is cyanosis?

A bluish color produced by a decrease in blood oxygen content.

What is carotene?

A yellow pigment found in plants that can accumulate in the skin.

What is the arrector pili?

Smooth muscle cells that cause hair to stand on end and produce goose flesh.

What is the hair follicle?

An extension of the epidermis into the dermis that surrounds the hair root.

What is the hair bulb?

The part of the hair where growth occurs.