Chaper 1

Question 0

What is physiology?

Answer 0

Concerns the function of the body, in other words how the body parts work and carry out their life-sustaining activities.

Question 1

What is anatomy?

Answer 1

Studies the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.

Question 2

Gross or macroscopic anatomy

Answer 2

The study of large body structures visible to the naked eye such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Question 3

Regional anatomy

Answer 3

All the structures (muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, etc.) in a particular region of the body, such as the abdomen or leg are examined at the same time.

Question 4

Systemic anatomy

Answer 4

Body structure is studied system by system. For example, when studying the cardiovascular system, you would examine the heart and blood vessels of the entire body.

Question 5

Surface anatomy

Answer 5

The study of internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin surface. You use surface anatomy when you identify bulging muscles beneath a bodybuilder’s skin, and clinicians use it to locate appropriate blood vessels in which to feel pulses and draw blood.

Question 6

Microscopic anatomy

Answer 6

Deals with structures too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Question 7

Cytology

Answer 7

Subdivisions of microscopic anatomy include cytology which considers the cells of the body.

Question 8

Histology

Answer 8

The study of tissues.

Question 9

Developmental anatomy

Answer 9

Traces structural changes that occur in the body throughout the life span.

Question 10

Embryology

Answer 10

A subdivision of developmental anatomy, concerns developmental changes that occur before birth.

Question 11

Renal physiology

Answer 11

Concerns kidney function and urine production.

Question 12

Neurophysiology

Answer 12

Explains the workings of the nervous system.

Question 13

Cardiovascular physiology

Answer 13

Examines the operation of the heart and blood vessels.

Question 14

Principle of complementarity of structure and function

Answer 14

What a structure can do depends on its specific form.

Question 15

Chemical level

Answer 15

At this level atoms, tiny building blocks of matter, combine to form molecules such as water and proteins. Molecules in turn, associate in specific ways to form organelles. Cells are the smallest units of living things.

Question 16

Cellular level

Answer 16

All cells have some common functions, but individual cells vary widely in size and shape, reflecting their unique functions in the body.

Question 17

Tissue level

Answer 17

Tissues are groups of similar cells that have a common function. The four basic tissue types in the human body are epithelium, muscle, connective tissue, and nervous tissue.

Question 18

Organ level

Answer 18

Extremely complex functions become possible.

Question 19

Organ system level

Answer 19

Organs that work together to accomplish a common purpose make up an organ system.

Question 20

Organism level

Answer 20

Represents the sum total of all structural levels working together to keep us alive.

Question 21

Contractility

Answer 21

On the cellular level, the muscle cell’s ability to move by shortening is more precisely called contractility.

Question 22

Responsiveness or excitability

Answer 22

Is the ability to sense changes (which serve as stimuli) in the environment and then respond to them.

Question 23

Digestion

Answer 23

The breaking down of ingested food to simple molecules that can be absorbed into the blood.

Question 24

Metabolism

Answer 24

A broad term that includes all chemical reactions that occur within body cells. It includes breaking down substances into their simpler building blocks.

Question 25

Excretion

Answer 25

Is the process of removing wastes from the body.

Question 26

Reproduction

Answer 26

Occurs at the cellular and organismal level.

Question 27

Atmospheric pressure

Answer 27

The force that air exerts on the surface of the body.

Question 28

Maintain its boundaries

Answer 28

Every living organism must maintain its boundaries so that its internal environment remains distinct from the external environment

Question 29

Movement

Answer 29

Includes all the activities promoted by the muscular system

Question 30

Growth

Answer 30

Is an increase in size of a body part or the organism as a whole. Usually accomplished by increasing the number of cells

Question 31

Nutrients

Answer 31

Taken in via the diet, contain chemical substances used for energy and cell building

Question 32

Oxygen

Answer 32

Approximately 20% of of air we breathe is oxygen

Question 33

Water

Answer 33

Accounts for up to 60-80% of our body weight and is the single most abundant chemical substance in the body. Provides the watery environment necessary for chemical reactions and the fluid base for body secretions and excretions

Question 34

Normal body temperature

Answer 34

Must be maintained at 37 C or (98.6F)

Question 35

Homeostasis

Answer 35

The body’s ability to maintain stable internal conditions even though the outside world changes continuously

Question 36

Variable

Answer 36

All homeostatic control mechanisms are processes involving at least three components that work together

Question 37

Receptor

Answer 37

The first component is some type of sensor that monitors the environment and responds to changes, called stimuli, by sending information (input) to the second component, the control center. Input flows from the receptor to the control center along the afferent pathway

Question 38

Control center

Answer 38

Determines the set point, which is the level or range at which a variable is to be maintained. It also analyzes the input it receives and determines the appropriate response or course of action. Information (output) then flows from the control center to the third component, the effector along the efferent pathway

Question 39

Effector

Answer 39

Provides the means for the control centers response (output) to the stimulus. The results of the response then feedback to influence the effect of the stimulus, either reducing it (in negative feedback) so that the whole process if shut off, or enhancing it (in positive feedback) so that the whole process continues at a even faster rate

Question 40

Negative feedback

Answer 40

In these systems the output shuts off the original effect of the stimulus or reduces its intesity

Question 41

Positive feedback

Answer 41

The result or response enhances the original stimulus so that the response is accelerated. Feedback is positive because the change that results in same direction as the initial change, causing the variable to deviate further and further from its original value or range

Question 42

Homeostatic imbalance

Answer 42

As we age our body’s control systems become less effienct