A&P Vocabulary Flashcards
Anatomy
the study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts and their relationships to one another
Physiology
the study of how the body and its parts work or function
atom
the smallest part of an element’ indivisible by ordinary chemical means
cell
the basic biological unit of living organisms, containing a nucleus and a variety of organelles enclosed by a limiting membrane
tissue
a group of similar cells specialized to perform a specific function; primary tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues
organ
a part of the body formed of two or more tissues that performs a specialized function
organ system
a group of organs that work together to perform a vital body function; e.g., nervous system
organism
an individual living thing
integumentary system
the skin and its accessory organs
skeletal system
system of protection and support composed primarily of bone and cartilage
muscular system
organ system consisting of skeletal muscles and their connective tissue attachments
nervous system
fast-acting control system that employs nerve impulses to trigger muscle contraction or gland secretion
endocrine system
body system that includes internal organs that secrete hormones
cardiovascular system
organ system that distributes blood to all parts of the body
lymphatic system
a system of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and other lymphoid organs and tissues
respiratory system
organ system that carries out gas exchange; includes the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs
digestive system
system that process food into absorb-able units and eliminates indigestible wastes
urinary system
system primarily responsible for water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance and the removal of nitrogenous wastes from the blood
reproductive system
organ system that functions to produce offspring
CT
computed tomography
CAT
computerized axial tomography
DSR
dynamic spatial recontruction
DSA
digital subtraction angiography
PET
positron emission tomography
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MRS
magnetic resonance spectroscopy
What does this highly organized human body do?
maintain their boundaries, move, respond to environmental changes, take in and digest nutrients, carry out metabolism, dispose of wastes, reproduce themselves, and grow.
movement
all the activities promoted by the muscular system
responsiveness (irritability)
the ability to sense changes (stimuli) in the environment and then to react to them; see also irritability
irritability
ability to respond to a stimulus
digestion
the bodily process of breaking down foods chemically and mechanically
metabolism
the sum total of the chemical reactions that occur in the body
ATP
adenosine triphosphate
excretion
the elimination of waste products from the body
excreta
wastes
reproduction
production of offspring
growth
increase in size, usually accomplished by an increase in the number of cells
survival needs
nutrients (food), oxygen, water, and appropriate temperature and atmospheric pressure
nutrients
taken in through food, contain the chemicals used for energy and cell building
oxygen
required by chemical reaction to release energy from food
water
accounts for 60-80% of body weight. provides the fluid base for body secretions and excretions
body temperature
must be maintained at around 37C (98F)
atmospheric pressure
force exerted on the surface of the body by the weight of air. Breathing and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs depend on appropriate atmospheric pressure
homeostasis
a state of body equilibrium or stable internal environment of the body
receptor
(1) a peripheral nerve ending specialized for response to particular types of stimuli; (2) molecule that binds specifically with another molecule, e.g., hormones and neurotransmitters.
control center
determines the level (set point) at which a variable is to be maintained, analyzes the information it receives and then determines the appropriate response or course of action
afferent pathway
information approaches the control center
effector
an organ, gland, or muscle capable of being activated by nerve endings
efferent pathway
information exists the control center
negative feedback mechanisms
feedback that causes the stimulus to decline or end
positive feedback mechanisms
feedback that tends to cause a variable to change in the same direction as the initial change; enhances the stimulus
anatomical position
body is erect with feet parallel and the arms hanging at the sides with the palms facing forward
abdominal
anterior body trunk inferior to ribs
acromial
point of shoulder
antebrachial
forearm
antecubital
anterior surface of elbow
axillary
armpit
brachial
arm
buccal
cheek area
carpal
wrist
cervical
neck region
coxal
hip
crural
leg
deltoid
curve of shoulder formed by large deltoid muscle
digital
fingers, toes
femoral
thigh
fibular
lateral part of leg
frontal
forehead
inguinal
area where thigh meets body trunk; groin
nasal
nose area
oral
mouth
orbital
eye area
patellar
anterior knee
pelvic
areas overlying the pelvis anteriorly
pubic
genital region
sternal
breastbone area
tarsal
ankle region
thoracic
chest
umbilical
navel
calcaneal
heel of foot
cephalic
head
femoral
thigh
gluteal
buttock
lumbar
area of back between ribs and hips
occipital
posterior surface of head
olecranal
posterior surface of elbow
popliteal
posterior knee area
sacral
area between hips
scapular
shoulder blade region
sural
the posterior surface of lower leg; the calf
vertebral
area of spine
plantar
pertaining to the sole of the foot
sagittal section
cut along the lengthwise, or longitudinal, plane of the body, diving the body into right and left parts
frontal section
cut along a lengthwise plane that divides the body (or an organ) into anterior and posterior parts (aka coronal section)
transverse section
cut along a horizontal plane, dividing the body or organ into superior and inferior parts (aka cross section)
superior (cranial or cephalad)
toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above
inferior (caudal)
away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below
ventral (anterior)
toward or at the front of the body; in front of
dorsal (posterior)
toward or at the backside of the body; behind
medial
toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of
lateral
away from the midline of the body; on the outerside of
proximal
close to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
distal
farther from the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
superficial (external)
toward or at the body surface
deep (internal)
away from the body surface; more internal
dorsal
pertaining to the back; posterior
cranial
pertaining to the skull
ventral
anterior or front
thoracic
refers to the chest
diaphragm
(1) any partition or wall separating one area from another; (2) a muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity
mediastinum
the region of the thoracic cavity between the lungs
pelvic girdle
incomplete bony basin formed by the two coxal bones that secures the lower limbs to the sacrum of the axial skeleton
pelvis
a basin-shaped structure; lower portion of the skeleton of the body trunk
umbilical region
the centermost region, deep to and surrounding the umbilicus (navel)
epigastric region
located superior to the umbilical region
hypogastric (pubic) region
inferior to the umbilical region
right and left iliac (or inguinal) regions
lateral to the hypogatric region
right and left lumbar regions
lie lateral to the umbilical region
right and left hypochondriac regions
flank the epigastric region and contain the lower ribs
Oral and digestive cavities
The oral cavity, commonly called the mouth, contains the teeth and tongue. This cavity is part of and continuous with the cavity of the digestive organs, which opens to the exterior at the anus.
nasal cavity
located within and posterior to the nose, the nasal cavity is part of the respiratory system passageways
orbital cavities
orbits in the skull house the eyes and present them in an anterior position
middle ear cavities
carved into the skull lie just medial to the eardrums. These cavities contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to the hearing receptors in the inner ears.
