Anatomy & Physiology: Introduction & Overview Flashcards
What is Anatomy?
It is the study of the structure and shape of the body, body parts, and their relationship to one another.
What are the two classifications of anatomy?
Gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. 
What is gross anatomy? 
It refers to the large and easily observable structures. 
What is microscopic anatomy?
Requires the use of a microscope to view the small structures in the body. 
What is physiology?
It is the study of how the body and its parts work together in order to perform a certain function. 
What is pathophysiology?
It is the study of disordered physiological processes that result from disease or injury. It means that there is something wrong with the physiological processes in the body. 
What is an atom? 
It is the smallest unit of an element that still maintains the properties of that element. For example, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
What is a molecule? 
Atoms combine to form molecules. Can have entirely different properties than the atoms they contain.
What is a cell?
A cell is the smallest unit of life. It is enclosed by a membrane or cell wall. In multicellular organisms, often perform specific functions. 
What is a tissue?
A tissue is a group of cells with similar functions. 
What is an organ? 
An organ consists of two or more types of tissues that work together to complete a specific task. 
What is an organ system? 
An organ system is a group of organs that carries out a more generalized set of functions. 
What is an organism? 
An organism has several organ systems that function together. 
Name the 11 organ systems. 
Integumentary system, skeletal system muscular system, nervous system, endocrine system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, reproductive system.
What is the function of the Integumentary system?
- Protection of the deeper organs from mechanical, chemical, and bacterial injury and from drying out. 
- Excretion of salts and urea.
- Synthesis of vitamin D.
- Maintenance of cellular fluid.
- Detection of stimuli. 
What are the three main layers of the skin?
Epidermis, dermis, hypodermis. 
What is the function of the skeletal system? 
It is the framework of the body.
Functions:
1. Facilitates movement
2. Body support
3. Reduction of internal organs
4. Storage of minerals and fats
5. Blood cell formation
What are the four main fibrous and mineralized connective tissues of the skeletal system? 
- Bones
- Tendons
- Joints
- Ligaments
What are the two major parts of the skeletal system? 
The axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.
What is the function of the muscular system? 
- Permits movement of the body
- Maintains posture
- Helps in the circulation of blood throughout the body
- Heat generation
What is the muscular system controlled by? 
The nervous system. 
What are the three types of muscular tissue? 
Skeletal or striated muscle, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle
What is the nervous system? 
It is made up of a network of nerves cells and fibers. It is also an electrochemical communication system. 
What are the functions of the nervous system? 
- Receives sensory messages from the external environment.
- Organizes information and integrates it with already stored information.
- Uses integrated information to send out messages to muscles and glands.
At a cellular level, the nervous system is defined by the presence of a cell called__________. 
Neuron or nerve cell. 
What are the three types of neurons? 
Sensory neuron, relay neuron, and motor neuron.
What are the two main parts of the nervous system? 
Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. 
What is the central nervous system composed of? 
Brain and spinal cord. 
What is the peripheral nervous system composed of? 
It is mainly composed of nerves. 
Peripheral nervous system is subdivided into the __________ and __________. 
Autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system. 
Function of the autonomic nervous system. 
It regulates involuntary physiological processes. 
The autonomic nervous system is subdivided into three namely the ______, _____, and _____.
Parasympathetic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system, and enteric nervous system
Function of the somatic nervous system. 
It handles the voluntary controls of the body’s movement and coordinates with the skeletal muscles. 
What is the function of the endocrine system? 
It serves as the chemical messenger of the body. 
What are the nine major endocrine glands? 
Thyroid gland, adrenal gland, pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testis, parathyroid gland, and hypothalamus.
What are the functions of the endocrine system?
- Regulates the body’s metabolism
- Growth and development
- Tissue function
- Sexual function
- Reproduction
- Sleepiness and mood of a person
- Maintenance of the body’s homeostasis
What is the circulatory system composed of? 
The heart, blood vessels, and other blood essential components. 
What is the function of the circulatory system? 
It is a transport system that carries blood containing O2, CO2 nutrients, waste ions, hormones and other substances throughout the body. It transports blood through the pumping action of the heart.
What are the functions of the circulatory system? 
- Delivers O2 to the cells
- Removes CO2
- Removes waste products of metabolism to the excretory organs for disposal
- Protect the body against diseases and infections
What are the two components of the circulatory system? 
Pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation. 
What is pulmonary circulation? 
It moves the deoxygenated blood between the heart and the lungs.
What is systemic circulation?
It moves oxygenated blood between the heart and the rest of the body. 
What does the lymphatic system consist of?
It consists of the lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils and scattered collections of lymphoid tissues.
What are the functions of the lymphatic system?
- Transports excess interstitial fluid back into the bloodstream
- Cleanses the blood of pathogens and other debris
- It provides immunological defenses against disease causing agents
The lymphatic system involves an extensive network of vessels that passes through almost all the tissues to allow for a movement called the ________. 
Lymph (similar to blood & circulates throughout the body) 
How many lymph nodes does the body have?
600
What does lymphadenitis? 
It is a condition that occurs when lymph nodes become infected.
What does the respiratory system consist of? 
Nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and lungs.
What are the functions of the respiratory system? 
- Keeps the blood supplied with oxygen while removing CO2
- Contributes to the acid base balance of the blood (carbonic-acid-bicarbonate buffer system) 
The respiratory system is divided into two. The ______ and _______. 
Upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract
What is the function of the digestive system?
It breaks down ingested food to minute particles.
What does the digestive system consist of? 
The oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines
What is the urinary system also called? 
Excretory system or renal system
The urinary system is composed of _____________. 
The kidneys, uterus, bladder and urethra
What are the functions of the urinary system? 
- Eliminates waste from the body
- Regulates blood volume and blood pressure
- Controls levels of electrolytes
- Regulates blood pH
The functional unit of the urinary system. 
Nephron
A process by which waste of the body are expelled. 
Urination
What are the three processes of urine formation? 
Glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, tubular secretion
What is the normal output of urine per day? 
500 ML
Urine is composed of _____ % water.
95%
What are the functions of the reproductive system? 
- Produces egg and sperm cell
- Transports and sustains these cells
- Nurtures and protects developing offspring
- Produces hormones
What are the six parts of the female reproductive system? 
Ovaries, uterine tubules (fallopian tubes), uterus, cervix, mammary glands, vagina
What are the five parts of the male reproductive system? 
Testes, prostate gland, scrotum, penis, duct system
Directional term: towards the head
Superior (Cranial) 
Directional term: towards the bottom
Inferior (Caudal) 
Directional term: towards the front
Anterior (Ventral)
Directional term: towards the back
Posterior (Dorsal) 
Directional term: towards the midline of the body
Medial
Directional term: towards the side of the body
Lateral
Directional term: away from the surface of the body
Internal (Deep) 
Directional term: towards the surface of the body
External (superficial) 
Directional term: towards the main mass of the body
Proximal
Directional term: away from the main mass of the body
Distal
Directional term: related to internal organs
Visceral
Directional term: related to the body walls
Parietal
A body plane that divides the body into left and right portions. 
Sagittal plane
A body plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions. 
Coronal plane
A body plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions. 
Horizontal plane
What is a body cavity? 
It is a fluid-filled space inside the body that either holds or protects internal organs.
The body cavity is classified into the _______ and ________.
Dorsal body cavity and ventral body cavity
Name the four quadrants of the body. 
Left and right upper quadrant, left and right lower quadrant
Enumerate the abdominal regions of the body.
Left and right hypochondriac region, left and right lumbar region, left and right inguinal region, epigastric region, umbilical region and hypogastric region
What does homeostasis? 
A state of equilibrium where there is a balance in which the internal environment changes. It is also a property of human biological system where is the self-regulating processes tend to maintain the balance of the body for survival. 
The meaning of homeostasis in Greek. 
Stable
What are the three main components in homeostasis?
Receptor, control center, effector
Name the two types of feedback.
Positive and negative feedback
With POSITIVE feedback, effectors _______ change.
Enhance
With NEGATIVE feedback, effectors _______ change.
Oppose
