Chapter 1 - Intro to the human body Flashcards
What are the six levels of structural organizations in the body?
1) Chemical Level: Atoms and molecules
2) Cellular Level: Molecules combined to form cells (smallest living units)
3) Tissue Level: Groups of cells working together to perform a function
4) Organ Level: Different types of tissues joined together
5) System Level: Related organs with a common function (ie digestive system)
6) Organism Level: All parts of the human body function together
What are the 6 important life processes?
1) Metabolism
2) Responsiveness
3) Movement
4) Growth
5) Differentiation
6) Reproduction (cell division or fertilization)
Define the following body fluids:
- intracellular fluid
- extracellular fluid
- interstitial fluid
- lymph
- blood plasma
- synovial fluid
- aqueous humor
- vitreous body
Extracellular fluid (ECF) that fills narrow spaces between cells and tissues.
- intracellular fluid - within cells
- extracellular fluid - outside of cells
- interstitial fluid (internal environment) - space between cells
- lymph (ECF) - within lymphatic system
- blood plasma (ECF) - within blood vessels
- synovial fluid (ECF) - in joints
- aqueous humor & vitreous body - in eye
What are the 2 systems that control homeostasis?
Nervous and Endocrine systems (hormones)
Describe a feedback loop
First a stimulus occurs (i.e., increased heat outside). This affects the controlled condition which is monitored by RECEPTORS.
RECEPTORS send nerve impulses or chemical signals to the CONTROL CENTRE (via afferent pathway)
CONTROL CENTRE then provides nerve impulses or chemical signals (output via efferent pathway) to EFFECTORS.
EFFECTORS bring about the response that alters the controlled condition. Homeostasis returns.
Positive vs. negative feedback?
Positive - Strengthen or reinforce a change in one of the body’s controlled conditions
Negative - reverses a change in a controlled condition
Describe an example of a positive feedback loop
Childbirth: Contractions in wall of uterus force baby to cervix, which stretches the cervix (CONTROLLED CONDITION). The RECEPTORS are the stretch-sensitive nerve cells in the cervix which sends nerve impulses to the CONTROL CENTRE (brain). The brain interprets and releases oxytocin (output). The EFFECTORS are the muscles in the walls of the uterus and they contract more forcefully. The responses is that the baby’s body stretches the cervix more. Increased stretching of cervix causes release of more oxytocin which results in more stretching… cycle repeats. The birth is the interruption of the cycle… so then the cycle stops.
Difference between disorder and disease
Disorder - abnormality in structure or function
Disease - more specific, characterized by a set of symptoms (subjective changes) and signs (objective changes)
Define: Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy - body structures
Physiology - body functions
What are the 11 systems of the human body?
- Integumentary system (protection)
- Skeletal system (support)
- Muscular system (movement/posutre)
- Nervous system (regulates body activity)
- Endocrine system (hormones)
- Cardiovascular system (pumps blood)
- Lymphatic system (immunity/proteins)
- Respiratory system (transfers oxygen)
- Digestive system (breaks down food)
- Urinary system (eliminates waste)
- Reproductive system (forms new organisms)
What is metabolism? (differentiate catabolism vs. anabolism)
Metabolism - sum of chemical processes in body
Catabolism - breaks down complex substances
Anabolsim- builds up complex substances
Define homeostasis
condition of equilibrium in the body’s internal environment
Define these body positions:
- anatomical
- prone
- supine
- anatomical: standing erect, palms forward
- prone - face up
- supine: face up
What constitutes these regions of the body:
- Cephalic (head)
- Cervical (neck)
- Trunk
- Upper limb
- Lower limb
- Cephalic (head): skull and face
- Cervical (neck)
- Trunk: chest, abdomen, pelvis
- Upper limb: shoulder, armpit, arm, forearm, wrist, hand
- Lower limb: button, thigh, leg, ankle, foot
Define stem cell
Precursor cell that divides and gives rise to cells that undergo differentiation
