Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
Sagittal plane
“Side to side” divides body into left and right
Transverse plane
“Table” Superior (top) inferior (bottom)
Coronal plane
“Crown” Anterior (front) posterior (behind)
Cranial cavity
Within the skull, houses the meninges (the brain)
Spinal cavity
Traveling down the midline of the back and formed by the vertebrae, this contains the spinal cord
Thoracic cavity
Within the chest, houses the lungs, heart and major vessels
Abdominal cavity
Within the abdomen, houses several major organs such as the stomach, liver, gallbladder, and intestines
Pelvic cavity
Inferior to the abdominal cavity, houses the bladder and reproductive organs
RUQ
Right upper quadrant
LUQ
Left upper quadrant
RLQ
Right lower quadrant
LLQ
Left lower quadrant
Right hypochondriac region
Top left corner of region
Epigastric region
Top middle region
Left hypochondriac region
Top left region
Right lumbar region
Right middle region
Umbilical region
Middle / center region
Left lumbar region
Left middle region
Right iliac region
Lower right region
Hypogastric region
Lower middle region
Left iliac region
Left lower region
What are the primary functions of the integumentary system (skin)?
Protection, temperature regulation, excretion, sensation, vitamin D production
What are the primary functions of the skeletal system?
Gives the body structure and posture, protects soft internal organs from injury, and serves as attachment points for muscles.
What are the primary functions of the muscular system?
Movement, posture, stability, heat production, circulation, digestion, and respiration
How do the immune and lymphatic system work together to protect the body?
The lymphatic system activates immune defenses, including B-cells and T-cells when it detects pathogens to prevent infections
How do B-cells contribute to the adaptive immune response when they encounter antigens?
B-cells recognize antigens,
‘become’ into plasma cells, and these plasma cells produce specific antibodies to neutralize the antigens.
How do T-cells directly combat invading cells bearing specific antigens?
T-cells recognize and aTtach to antigen-presenting cells, releasing substances that directly destroy the infected or abnormal cells.
Immunoglobulins
Antibodies (protein the body creates in response) to specific antigens (foreign substance within the body)
What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system
Pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells, and removing waste
What is the average heart beat of an adult
60 to 80 times per minute while at rest
What is the primary function of the urinary system?
filters blood to remove waste products, which are them eliminated as urine
What is the primary function of the gastrointestinal system?
Responsible for digestion and absorption of nutrients, which are essential for proper function of body systems, organs, tissues, and cells.
What is the primary function of the respiratory system
Moving air into and out of the lungs
External respiration
Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Internal respiration
Exchange within the hemoglobin of a red blood cell
What are the two main sections of the nervous system?
Controls all other body systems and is divided into two main sections CNS and PNS
CNS - brain and spinal cord
PNS - peripheral nerves
Endocrine system
Made up of organs and glands that produce, store and release hormones
What is the primary function of hormones
Chemical messengers that increase or decrease the activity of specific target cells throughout the body
Two types of glands
Exocrine and Endocrine
Reproductive System
Achieve fertilization and produce offspring
How does the heart’s electrical system trigger ventricular contraction and blood flow during the cardiac cycle?
- SA node generates electrical impulse
- Impulse travels to the AV node
- Impulse travels into the ventricular system
- Electrical impulse reaches the Purkinje fibers
- Ventricles contract and pump blood into pulmonary artery and aorta
What does the presence of antibodies typically indicate when testing for immunity, and why?
The presence of antibodies usually indicates active immunity, because it shows the individual’s own immune system has produced them in response to an antigen.
When organs work together - why are they referred to as systems
Body systems are responsible for all vital functions, including maintaining homeostasis - the nervous system and endocrine system are primarily responsible
What is the primary cause of Type 2 diabetes?
The body’s resistance to insulin, typically developing in adulthood.
What is the primary cause of Type 1 diabetes?
The body’s inability to produce insulin due to an autoimmune disorder.
Nuclear medicine
Diagnostic imaging that involves the administration of radioactive material called tracers (radio pharmaceuticals) to access bodily functions
Which diagnostic studies uses radiation?
X-ray, CT scan, nuclear medicine
Endemic disease
Predominately spreads throughout a community at a normal rate
Epidemic
Predominately spreads rapidly to a large number of people
Pandemic
Worldwide outbreak of a disease
Which organization researches potential agents related to the pandemics
World Health Organization
Precautions that can help prevent a pandemic
Vaccines, cough protocols, handwashing, and the use of hand sanitizer
What is the standard frame of reference for describing body positions in anatomy?
Anatomical position: standing upright, face forward, arms at side, palms forward, toes forward
Supine
Lying face up
Prone
“Plastered” Lying face down
Dorsal recumbent “Baby Delivery”
Lying facing upward with flexed knees, feet flat on floor
Fowler position
Sitting upright with back angles at 90 degrees
Semi-growler’s position
Sitting with back angles at 45 degrees
Anterior
Toward the front of the body, also known as ventral
Posterior
Toward the back of the body, also known as dorsal
Superior
Above; toward the head
Inferior
Below; toward the feet
Medial
Closer to the midline of the body
Lateral
Further from the midline of the body (toward the side)
Superficial
Closer to the surface of the body; more external
Deep
Father from the body’s surface; more internal
Proximal
Closer to the body’s trunk
Distal
Further from the body’s trunk
Dextrad
Towards the right
Siniestras
Towards the left
Successful outcomes to the unsuccessful outcome within the same development stage
Industry - inferiority
Generativity - stagnation
Autonomy - shame and doubt
Trust - mistrust
Initiative - guilt
Ego integrity - despair
Intimacy - isolation
Identity - role confusion
How does consistent caregiving influence the development of trust versus mistrust in infants?
Consistent caregiving fosters trust, while inconsistent care leads to mistrust.
How does exploring different roles and values help adolescents establish a stable identity rather than role confusion?
Exploration helps define identity, while lack of exploration leads to role confusion.
Why does encouraging exploration and independence in toddlers foster autonomy rather than shame and doubt?
Encouraging exploration builds autonomy, while over controlling actions leads to shame and doubt.
How does allowing preschoolers to initiate activities impact their development of initiative versus guilt?
Allowing initiative builds confidence, while criticizing initiative leads to guilt.
Why is forming meaningful relationships essential for developing intimacy rather than isolation in young adults?
Meaningful relationships foster intimacy, while lack of relationships leads to isolation.
Why is success in school and activities important for developing industry rather than inferiority in school-aged children?
Success builds a sense of industry, while failure creates feelings of inferiority.
How do environmental stressors impact goals and experiences, and what causes the difference in individual response?
Environmental stressors create significant stress, overwhelming coping mechanisms, and hindering focus on goals. The impact varies due to individual resilience, support systems, and the nature/intensity of the stressor.
Why do similar stressors affect people differently
Individual perception, past experiences, and available resources influence how the mind interprets stress and determines coping strategies.
If you are in a room with a developmental delayed patient…..
Do not assume patient is incapable of communicating, always address the patient first, anytime you cannot understand something, ask for clarification
If you are communicating with illness and diseased patients…..
Do not ask causal routine opening lines - welcome patients warmly, never say you know how the patient feels, maintain eye contact, always ask how to help / assist
Accommodations to support a patient with hearing loss
Allow for online appointments, position directly in line with the patient’s face when speaking (not from the side or behind), pronounce words clearly to allow the individual to see lip movements - do not shout, ask if a sign-language interpretation is needed
5 stages of grief
Denial - cannot or will not believe what happened (give them written materials)
Anger - aim feelings of hostility, “why me”
Bargaining - searching for alternate solutions, attempts to avoid the loss by making a deal
Depression - sad, lonely, helpless
Acceptance - comes to terms with loss and makes plans to move on with life
Tell patient that these responses are expected and signs of grief
How should a medical assistant respond to a patient in the denial stage of grief?
Provide written materials and avoid arguing; recognize they are having a hard time accepting the diagnosis.
How should a medical assistant respond to a patient experiencing anger during grief?
Allow the patient to express anger without taking it personally; offer empathetic listening.
What characterizes the bargaining stage of grief, and how can a medical assistant respond?
Patients seek alternate solutions or deals; offer support and avoid false hope.
How can a medical assistant support a patient experiencing depression during grief?
Offer empathetic listening, provide resources, and acknowledge their sadness.
What occurs during the acceptance stage of grief, and how can a medical assistant support the patient?
Patients come to terms with loss; support their plans for moving forward and offer ongoing support.
Why is it important for medical assistants to understand the five stages of grief?
Understanding these stages helps medical assistants provide empathetic support and normalize the grieving process for patients.
Axial skeleton
Consists of 80 bones, including skull, vertebrae, and ribs
Appendicular skeleton
Consists of 126 bones, including arms, legs and pelvic girdle
Four components of the muscular system
Skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, tendons
How do monocytes (munch) contribute to the elimination of pathogens in the body?
Monocytes engulf and destroy pathogens that have been coated with antibodies (opsonized), effectively clearing them from the body.
Examples of long bones
Femur, humerus, tibia, fibula, ulna, radius
Examples of irregular bones
Vertebrae, pelvis
Example of involuntary muscle movement
Digestion, heart pumping
Lymphatic system function (L.I.F.E)
Prevent infections in the body - Lymphatic = Immunity Fighting Enemies (pathogens)
How does artificially acquired passive immunity affect the interpretation of standard antibody tests?
Standard antibody tests detect the presence of antibodies, regardless of whether they were produced by the patient or introduced externally (e.g., immunoglobulin injection). Therefore, a positive result may not indicate the patient’s own immune response.
Three layers of heart muscle
Epicardium (outermost layer) myocardium (middle layer, thickest), and endocardium (inner layer, which part of electrical conduction system)
Generativity vs. stagnation
This is the psychosocial crisis for middle adults. Generativity is the successful outcome of this stage. Stagnation is the unsuccessful outcome.
Why is the lymphatic system crucial for preventing infections in the body?
It filters pathogens and initiates immune responses via lymphocytes (B-cells and T-cells).
Why does naturally acquiring an infection lead to long-term active immunity?
The body creates its own antibodies and memory cells after exposure to a pathogen.
Why do vaccinations (WIP) provide artificially acquired active immunity?
(W.I.P - weakened or inactive pathogens) Vaccines introduce weakened or inactive pathogens, stimulating the body to produce antibodies and memory cells.
Why is naturally acquired passive immunity, such as through maternal antibodies, temporary?
The recipient receives pre-made antibodies, which degrade over time, without the body producing its own.
Why are treatments like immunoglobulin injections considered artificially acquired passive immunity?
They provide pre-made antibodies from an external source, offering immediate but temporary protection.
How do exocrine glands deliver their secretions to target cells?
Exocrine glands release secretions into ducts, which transport them to specific target cells or surfaces.
Why do endocrine glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream?
Endocrine glands lack ducts, so they release hormones into the bloodstream for transport to distant target cells.
