chapter 1: an introduction to the human body Flashcards
homeostasis
the state of relative stability of the body’s internal environment
feedback systems
corrective cycles that help restore the conditions needed for health and life
anatomy
the science of body structures and the relationships among them
dissection
the careful cutting apart of body structures to study their relationships
physiology
the science of body functions – how the body parts work
atoms
the smallest units of matter that participate in chemical reactions
molecules
two or more atoms joined together
cells
the basic structural and functional units of an organism that are composed of chemicals
tissues
groups of cells and the materials surrounding them that work together to perform a particular function
epithelial tissue
covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs and cavities, and forms glands
connective tissue
connects, supports, and protects body organs while distributing blood vessels to other tissues
muscular tissue
contracts to make body parts move and in the process generates heat
nervous tissue
carries information from one part of the body to another through nerve impulses
organs
structures that are composed of two or more different types of tissues; they have specific functions and usually have recognizable shapes
system
consists of related organs with a common function
organism
any living individual
noninvasive diagnostic technique
a technique that does not involve insertion of an instrument or device through the skin or a body opening
inspection
the examiner observes the body for any changes that deviate from normal
palpation
the examiner feels body surfaces with the hands
auscultation
the examiner listens to body sounds to evaluate the functioning of certain organs, often using a stethoscope to amplify the sounds
percussion
the examiner taps on the body surface with the fingertips and listens to the resulting sound
metabolism
the sum of all chemical processes that occur in the body
catabolism
the breakdown of complex chemical substances into simpler components
anabolism
the building up of complex chemical substances from smaller, simpler components
responsiveness
the body’s ability to detect and respond to changes
movement
motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells, and tiny structures inside cells
growth
an increase in body size that results from an increase in the size of existing cells, an increase in the number of cells, or both
differentiation
the development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state
stem cells
precursor cells that can divide and give rise to cells that undergo differentiation
reproduction
the formation of new cells for tissue growth, repair, or replacement; the production of a new individual
autopsy
a postmortem examination of the body and dissection of its internal organs to confirm or determine the cause of death
homeostasis
the maintenance of relatively stable conditions in the body’s internal environment
body fluids
dilute, watery solutions containing dissolved chemicals that are found inside cells as well as surrounding them
intracellular fluid (ICF)
the fluid within cells
extracellular fluid (ECF)
the fluid outside body cells
interstitial fluid
the ECF that fills the narrow spaces between cells of tissues
feedback system
a cycle of events in which the status of a body condition is monitored, evaluated, changed, remonitored, reevaluated, and so on
controlled condition
a monitored variable
stimulus
any disruption that changes a controlled condition
receptor
a body structure that monitors changes in a controlled condition and sends input to a control center
afferent pathway
a pathway in which information flows toward the control center
control center
sets the narrow range or set point within which a controlled condition should be maintained, evaluates the input it receives from receptors, and generates output commands when they are needed
efferent pathway
a pathway in which the information flows away from the control center
effector
a body structure that receives output from the control center and produces a response or effect that changes the controlled condition
negative feedback system
reverses a change in a controlled condition
positive feedback system
strengthens or reinforces a change in one of the body’s controlled conditions
disorder
any abnormality of structure or function
disease
an illness characterized by a recognizable set of signs and symptoms
symptoms
subjective changes in body functions that are not apparent to an observer
signs
objective changes that a health care professional can observe or measure
epidemiology
the science that deals with why, when, and where diseases occur and how they are transmitted among individuals in a community
pharmacology
the science that deals with the effects and uses of drugs in the treatment of disease
diagnosis
the science and skill of distinguishing one disorder or disease from another
anatomical position
a universal position in which the subject stands erect facing the observer, with the head level and the eyes facing directly forward; the lower limbs are parallel and the feet are flat on the floor and directed forward, and the upper limbs are at the sides with the palms turned forward
