Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is Biology?
biology is the study of life
one aim is to discover patterns in the diversity
What are the common functions of all living things?
- Responsiveness
- Growth
- Reproduction
- Movement
- Metabolism
Responsiveness
-Doing something in response to a change in the immediate environment
-Also called irritability
-Capacity to make longer term adjustments is adaptability
EX-moving away from a painful stimulus
Growth
An increase in organism size accomplished by:
- Growth of cells
- Addition of new cells
- Differentiation
- Process of individual cells becoming specialized for particular functions
Reproduction
Creation of new generations of similar organisms
Movement
- May be Internal or External
- Internal: transporting blood, food, or other material with the body
- External: moving through the environment
Metabolism
- Sum total of all chemical operations in the body
- Cells use materials absorbed from the environment for energy
- Nutrients form food
- Oxygen
- More complex organisms require specialized structures and systems for metabolic processes
What are the main metabolic processes?
- Respiration
- Absorption, transport, and use of oxygen by cells
- Digestion
- Breaking down complex foods into simpler compounds that can be absorbed
- Excretion
- Elimination waste products generated by metabolic operations
Anatomy
-Greek origin
-Means cutting open
STUDY OF
-internal and external structure
-Relationships between body parts
-Divided into gross anatomy or microscopic anatomy
Gross Anatomy
-Also called macroscopic anatomy
-Studies structures visible with unaided eye
includes:
-Surface anatomy
-Study of general form and superficial markings
Regional Anatomy
The study of superficial and internal features of a specific region of the body
- Systemic anatomy
- Study of the structure of major organ systems
Microscopic Anatomy
Studies structures that cannot be seen without magnification
Includes:
Cytology and Histology
Cytology
Study of internal structure of individual cells
Histology
Study of tissues, groups of specialized cells and cell products that work together to preform specific functions
Physiology
- Greek origin
- Study of function in living organisms
- Interrelated with anatomy
- Anatomy gives clues about function
- Physiology is explained in anatomical terms
Human Physiology
Studies functions of the human body
Specialties include the study of:
-The functions of living cells-Cell Physiology
-Includes chemical and molecular levels
-The physiology of specific organs-special physiology
-All aspects of the function of specific organ systems-systemic physiology
-the effects of diseases on organ or system functions-pathological physiology or pathology
Levels of organization
Chemical level
- Atoms are the smallest stable units of matter
- Atoms combine to form molecules
- Molecular shape defines function