Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards
Fix italics before card number 125.
What is the study of the body’s structure?
Anatomy
What is the study of the body’s function?
Physiology
What is the study of disease?
Pathophysiology
What is the role of homeostasis in the human body?
Homeostasis is a state of balance or equilibrium within the body. Every cell, tissue, organ, and system in the human body functions to maintain homeostasis. The human body’s homeostatic range is quite narrow.
Describe the anatomical position.
The body is in the standing position, arms at the sides, with palms forward (thumbs on the outside).
Describe the midline plane.
The midline divides the body into left and right.
Describe the transverse plane.
The transverse plane divides the body into top and bottom at the level of the umbilicus.
Describe the frontal plane.
The frontal plane (imaginary line) divides the body into anterior and posterior.
Describe the difference between abduction and adduction.
Abduction refers to movement away from the midline and adduction refers to movement towards the midline.
Describe extension and flexion.
Extension refers to straightening the joint (increasing the angle of the joint) and flexion refers to bending the joint (decreasing the angle of the joint).
Describe the supine position.
Lying on your back, face up.
Describe the prone position.
Lying on your stomach, face down.
Describe the fowler position.
Seated with head elevated.
Describe the recovery position.
Lying on the left or right side.
The abdomen can be divided into four quadrants:
The right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), right lower quadrant (RLQ), and left lower quadrant (LLQ).
What organs are contained in the right upper quadrant (RUQ)?
The right upper quadrant contains the gallbladder, the duodenum of the intestines, the majority of the liver, and a small portion of the pancreas.
What organs are contained in the left upper quadrant (LUQ)?
The left upper quadrant contains the spleen, most of the stomach, and the larger portion of the pancreas.
What organs are contained in the right lower quadrant (RLQ)?
The right lower quadrant contains large portions of the large and small intestines (including the ascending colon and the right half of the transverse colon), as well as the appendix, which is situated at the proximal end of the ascending colon.
What organs are contained in the left lower quadrant (LLQ)?
The left lower quadrant contains portions of the large and small intestines (most notably the descending colon and the left half of the transverse colon).
What is the function of the skeletal system?
The skeletal system provides shape, allows movement, and protects internal organs.
How many bones are there in the human body?
There are 206 bones in the human body.
How are bones connected to other bones?
The fibrous tissues that connect bone to bone are called ligaments.
What tissue protects bones from rubbing against each other?
The semirigid although flexible tissue that covers and cushions the ends of articulating bones is called cartilage.
What connective tissue in the human body attaches bone to muscle?
The connective tissue that attaches bone to muscle is called tendon.
What does the axial skeleton consists of?
The axial skeleton consists primarily of the skull, spinal column, and rib cage (thoracic cavity).
Describe what kind of bones are found in the spinal column. How many sections does the spinal column have?
The vertebral column (or spinal column) is composed of 33 bones, called vertebrae, divided into five sections.
Name each section of the spinal column along with the corresponding vertebrae for each section.
The cervical spine (7 vertebrae, C1 TO C7), the thoracic spine (12 vertebrae, T1 to T12), the lumbar spine (5 vertebrae, L1 to L5), the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae), and the coccyx (4 fused vertebrae).
What does the appendicular skeleton consists of?
The appendicular skeleton includes the bones of the arms, legs, and pelvis.
Describe smooth muscle.
Smooth muscle is involuntary, located within the blood vessels and the digestive tract.
Describe skeletal muscle.
Skeletal muscle is voluntary muscle that attaches to the skeleton.
Explain the role of the respiratory system in the human body.
The respiratory system provides the body with adequate oxygen and eliminates waste products such as carbon dioxide (CO2). The respiratory system helps regulate pH levels to assist in maintaining homeostasis.
What components are found in the upper airway?
Components of the upper airway include nose and mouth, nasopharynx (upper part of the throat behind the nose), oropharynx (area of the throat behind the mouth), larynx (voice box), and epiglottis (valve that protects the opening of the trachea).
What components are found in the lower airway?
Trachea, carina (where the trachea branches into left and right mainstem bronchi), left and right mainstem bronchi (primary branches of the trachea leading to left and right lungs), bronchioles (smaller branches of the bronchi), and alveoli.
What is the common cause of upper airway obstruction?
The tongue is by far the most common cause of upper-airway obstruction.
What is the function of the alveoli?
Pulmonary alveolus (pl. alveoli) are tiny air sacs that function as basic respiratory units. Alveoli diffuse oxygen from the respiratory system to the rest of the body.
Where are alveoli found?
The alveoli are located sparsely in the respiratory bronchioles, lining the walls of the alveolar ducts. They are located in the alveolar sacs of the lungs in the pulmonary lobules of the respiratory zone.
What keeps alveoli from collapsing?
Surfactant is a substance that helps keep the alveoli from collapsing.
Define pleura.
Each of a pair of serous membranes lining the thorax and enveloping the lungs. The visceral pleura lines the outer surface of the lungs and the parietal pleura lines the inside surface of the chest cavity.
Explain the function of the diaphragm in the human body.
The diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration. It separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. It is usually under involuntary control but can be controlled voluntarily. The diaphragm is dome shaped until it contracts during inhalation. During inhalation, it moves down and expands the size of the thoracic cavity.
What is the role of the intercostal muscles?
Located between the ribs, the intercostal muscles contract during inhalation and expand the thoracic cage.
Describe what occurs during inhalation.
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, the thoracic cage expands, pressure in the chest cavity decreases, and air rushes in. Inhalation is an active process and requires energy.
How much oxygen does atmospheric air contain?
Atmospheric air contains 21% oxygen.
Describe what occurs during exhalation.
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, the thoracic cage contracts, pressure in the chest cavity rises, and air is expelled. Exhalation is normally passive and does not require energy.
How much oxygen does exhaled air contain?
Exhaled air contains 16% oxygen.
What is external respiration?
The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries.
What is internal respiration?
The exchange of gas between the body’s cells and the systemic capillaries.
How does cellular respiration occur?
(Better known as aerobic metabolism), uses oxygen to break down glucose to create energy.
How is carbon dioxide levels monitored in the human body?
The brain stem monitors carbon dioxide levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid.
What happens to the human body when there is high carbon dioxide levels?
High carbon dioxide levels will stimulate an increase in respiratory rate and tidal volume.
Describe the hypoxic drive and how it differs from the carbon dioxide drive.
The hypoxic drive is a backup system to the carbon dioxide drive. Specialized sensors in the brain, aorta, and carotid arteries monitor oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels will stimulate breathing. The hypoxic drive is less effective than the carbon dioxide drive.
Define tidal volume.
Tidal volume is the amount of air inhaled or exhaled in one breath.
Define residual volume.
Residual volume is the amount of air in the lungs after completely exhaling. The residual volume keeps the lungs open.
What is the inspiratory and expiratory reserve volume?
The inspiratory and expiratory reserve volume is the amount of air that can still be inhaled or exhaled after a normal breath.
What is dead space?
Dead space is the amount of air in the respiratory system not including the alveoli.
Define minute volume.
Minute volume is the respiratory rate multiplied by the tidal volume.
What is the normal rate and tidal volume for an adult patient?
12 to 20 breaths per minute (bpm).
What is the normal rate and tidal volume for a pediatric patient?
15 to 30 breaths per minute (bpm).
What is the normal rate and tidal volume for an infant patient?
25 to 50 breaths per minute (bpm).
Describe normal breathing.
Normal rate and tidal volume, non-labored, regular rhythm, clear and equal breath sounds bilaterally.
Describe abnormal breathing.
Abnormal rate and tidal volume, labored breathing, muscle retractions, abnormal skin color (gray, pallor, or cyanosis), tripod position, and agonal breaths.
What is the tripod position?
The tripod position is when a person sits or stands leaning forward and supports their upper body with their hands on their knees or other surface.
What are agonal breaths?
Agonal breaths are dying gasps. They are slow and shallow breaths that do not move air into the alveoli.
What does the circulatory system consist of?
The circulatory system includes all blood vessels, capillaries, and the heart. It is also referred to as the cardiovascular system.
What is the function of the heart?
The heart is a muscular organ with two pumps, usually beating about 60 to 100 times per minute. It is divided into two separate pumping systems, the right side and the left side. It continuously pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body to sustain life.