Anatomy Flashcards
Which part of the body is anterior?
The front
Which part of the body is posterior?
The back
Which part of the body is superior?
Top
Which part of the body is inferior?
Bottom
Which part of the body is medial?
Towards the centre
Which part of the body is lateral
Towards the edges
Which part of the body is proximal?
Towards a point of attachment
Which part of the body is distal?
Away from a point of attachment
What is the coronal plane?
Divides the front and back
What is the sagittal plane?
Divides left and right
What is the transverse plane?
Divides top and bottom
What are the 4 types of tissues in the body?
Epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous
What is epithelial tissue and give an example of where it is found
Layers of cells that cover the exterior surface of the body, lines organs, internal cavities and passageways. They are involved in secretion, absorption, protection and transcellular transport. E.g skin, lining or organs, lining of blood vessels
What is connective tissue and give an example of where it is found
Tissue that forms a matric beneath epithelial tissue and connects and supports the framework of most organs. E.g bones, ligaments, tendons and adipose tissue (fat). They are involved in transport of fluid, nutrients, waste and chemical messengers
What are the 3 types of muscle tissues
Skeletal, smooth and cardiac
Describe skeletal muscle
Attached to bones and are involved in voluntary movements of the body. They are long striated fibres with several nuclei along the membranes.
What causes striation of skeletal muscles?
Regular alteration of actin and myosin along with structural proteins
Describe smooth muscle
Responsible for involuntary movement in the internal organs, airways and arteries. Each cell is spindle shaped with a single nucleus and no striations
Describe cardiac muscle
Forms the contractile walls of the heart. Cells are striated with a single centrally located nucleus and are connected to each other via intercalated discs
What is the 2 main functions of nervous tissue?
Integration and communication
What are the 2 types of nervous tissue?
Neurones and neuroglia
What are neurones?
Excitable, they propagate the information via electro-chemical impulses, e.g sensory neurones, motor neurones and interneurons
What are neuroglia?
They support neurones and modulate the information propagation. E.g astrocytes, microglia, enteric glia
What does the integumentary system include?
Skin, hair, nails, glands and the subcutaneous tissue below the skin
What are the 4 main functions of the integumentary system
Protect the body from environmental factors
Prevent dehydration
Act as a sensory organ
Synthesise vitamin D
What does the skeletal system consist of?
Bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons
What are the 2 main functions of bone?
To provide a rigid frame.
To metabolise calcium
What makes the brain less vulnerable to injury?
The fused bones of cranium that surround the brain
What helps to protect the spinal chord?
The vertebrae
What helps to protect the heart and lungs of the thorax
The rib cage
Where does the formation of blood cells occur?
Red marrow of the bones
What is involved in the muscular system?
Muscle fibres that are able to contract and produce movement
What controls skeletal muscle?
The central nervous system
What controls smooth musucle?
The autonomic nervous system
What does the lymphatic system consist of?
Lymph (a fluid), vessels that transport lymph and organs that contain lymphoid tissue
What is lymph?
A fluid that is of a similar composition to blood plasma and is derived from the interstitial fluid
What is the role of lymph?
To return proteins and excess fluid to the bloodstream so that oedema is prevented and normal blood volume and pressure is maintained
Which direction do lymphatic vessels only flow in?
Away from tissues