Anatomy Flashcards
Anatomy
the science that studies the structure of the body
physiology
the way in which a living organism or bodily part functions
organelle
a biological structure that performs a distinctive function inside a cell
cell
makes up all living organisms and the tissues of the body
tissue
a group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit
organ
a part of the body that is made up of cells and tissues that perform a specific function
organ system
group of organs that work together in the body to perform a complex function
organism
something having many related parts that function together as a whole
metabolism
all the chemical processes going on continuously inside your body that allow life and normal functioning
homeostasis
the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium in the body
negative-feedback mechanisms
Body performing homeostasis
receptor
an organ or cell able to respond to light, heat, or other external stimulus and transmit a signal to a sensory nerve
control center
brain and other parts of the body monitor and react to deviations from homeostasis using negative feedback
effector
a bodily part that becomes active in response to stimulation
positive-feedback mechanism
a process that occurs in a feedback loop which exacerbates the effects of a small disturbance
anatomical position
positioning of the body when it is standing upright and facing forward with each arm hanging on either side of the body
superior
toward the head end of the body
inferior
away from the head; lower
anterior
the front side of the body
posterior
the back of the body
sagittal plane
a vertical plane which passes through the body longitudinally
transverse plane
an anatomical plane that divides the body into superior and inferior sections
frontal plane
A vertical plane running from side to side
oblique plane
has no fixed orientation. It cuts the body at an angle
thoracic cavity
a space inside your thorax (chest) that contains your heart, lungs and other organs and tissues
abdominal cavity
The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and the spine
pelvic cavity
housing space for the urinary bladder, the pelvic colon, internal reproductive organs, and rectum
serous membranes
covered by a thin layer of serous fluid that is secreted by the epithelium
pericardial cavity
a potential space between the visceral and parietal pericardial layers, which meet at lines of attachment on the surfaces of the heart and the great vessels
pleural cavity
The space enclosed by the pleura, which is a thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and lines the interior wall of the chest cavity
