Chapter 1: Introduction to the human body Flashcards
What is anatomy?
is the study of the structure of the body and the physical relationships between its constituent parts.
What is physiology?
is the study of how the body systems work.
What are cells?
are the smallest independent units of living matter and there are trillions of them within the body.
What forms tissues?
Cells form tissue
What are organs?
are made up of several different types of tissue and have evolved to carry out a specific function.
What are systems?
consist of several organs and tissues that together contribute to one or more survival needs of the body.
External environment
surrounds the body and is the source of oxygen and nutrients required by all body cells.
Internal environment
is the water-based medium in which body cells exist.
Interstitial (fluid) tissue
is a solution that bathes and surrounds the tissue cells of multicellular animals.
Plasma membrane
a microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins which forms the external boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell or encloses a vacuole, and regulates the passage of molecules in and out of the cytoplasm.
Selective permeability
is a property of cellular membranes that only allows certain molecules to enter or exit the cell.
What are the three basic components of a control system?
Detector, control center, effector.
Control center
is the body structure that determines the normal range of the variable, or set point.
Detector
receives input from sensors and integrates the incoming information.
Effector
is an organ or tissue that receives information from the integrating center and acts to bring about the changes needed to maintain homeostasis.
Negative feedbacks
means that any movement of such a control system away from its normal set point is negated (reversed).
Positive feedback
It intensifies a change in the body’s physiological condition rather than reversing it.
Internal communication
involves mainly the nervous and endocrine systems; these are important in the maintenance of homeostasis and regulation of vital body functions.
How does blood get transport substances around the body? what does it consist of?
Through a large network of blood vessels. Two parts – a fluid called plasma and blood cells suspended in the plasma.
Plasma
Plasma is the largest part of your blood. It makes up more than half (about 55%) of its overall content. When separated from the rest of the blood, plasma is a light yellow liquid.
Plasma’s function
The main role of plasma is to take nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that need it. Cells also put their waste products into the plasma. The plasma then helps remove this waste from the body. Blood plasma also carries all parts of the blood through your circulatory system.
Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
transport oxygen and, to a lesser extent, carbon dioxide between the lungs and all body cells.
Leukocytes (white blood cells)
are mainly concerned with the protection of the body against infection and foreign substances.
Platelets (thrombocytes)
are tiny cell fragments that play an essential part in blood clotting.
Cardiovascular system
consists of a network of blood vessels and the heart.
Arteries
carry blood away from the heart.
Veins
return blood to the heart.
Capillaries
links the arteries and veins
Pulmonary circulation
is a circuit for blood flow to and from the lungs that provides oxygenation of the venous blood.
Heart
It is a muscular sac with four chambers, which pumps blood around the body and maintains blood pressure.
Lymphatic system
the network of vessels through which lymph drains from the tissues into the blood.
Lymph
is tissue fluid that also contains material drained from tissue spaces, including plasma proteins and, sometimes, bacteria or cell debris.
Lymph vessels
are thin-walled vessels (tubes) structured like blood vessels, that carry lymph.
Lymph nodes
are small structures that work as filters for harmful substances. They contain immune cells that can help fight infection by attacking and destroying germs that are carried in through the lymph fluid.
Lymphocytes
A type of immune cell that is made in the bone marrow and is found in the blood and in lymph tissue. The two main types of lymphocytes are B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.
Nervous system
is a rapid communication system.
What main components of the central nervous system consist of?
the brain and the spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
is the division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system (CNS)
Afferent (sensory) nerves
transmit information, such as sights, sounds, smells, and textures, received by the sensory organs to the nervous system.
Efferent (motor) nerves
carrying neural impulses away from the central nervous system and toward muscles to cause movement.
Somatic senses
Sensations arising from the skin — such as touch, pressure, cold, warmth, and pain — and from the muscles, tendons, and joints — such as the position of the limbs and pain
Neurotransmitter
is the body’s chemical messenger. They are molecules that transmit signals from neurons to muscles, or between different neurons.
Reflex actions
are fast, involuntary, and usually protective motor responses to specific stimuli.
Endocrine system
is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.
Special senses
are the senses that have specialized organs devoted to them. ( sight, touch, hearing, equilibrium, smell, and taste)
Verbal communication
Sound is produced in the larynx when expired air coming from the lungs passes through and vibrates the vocal cords during expiration.
Non-verbal communication
Posture and movements are often associated with non-verbal communication, e.g., nodding the head and shrugging the shoulders.
Intake of oxygen
: Oxygen is necessary for the series of chemical reactions that result in the release of energy from nutrients.
Nasal cavity
is the inside of your nose. It is lined with a mucous membrane that helps keep your nose moist by making mucus so you won’t get nosebleeds from a dry nose.
Pharynx
the membrane-lined cavity behind the nose and mouth, connecting them to the esophagus.
Oral cavity
the anatomical term for the inside of the mouth.
Larynx
the hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals; the voice box.
Trachea
a large membranous tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, extending from the larynx to the bronchial tubes and conveying air to and from the lungs; the windpipe.
Bronchus
any of the major air passages of the lungs which diverge from the windpipe.
Lungs
each of the pair of organs situated within the rib cage, consisting of elastic sacs with branching passages into which air is drawn, so that oxygen can pass into the blood and carbon dioxide be removed.
Digestion system
, the system by which ingested food is acted upon by physical and chemical means to provide the body with absorbable nutrients and to excrete waste products.
Alimentary canal
the whole passage along which food passes through the body from mouth to anus. It includes the esophagus, stomach, and intestines
Accessory organs
These are the salivary glands, pancreas and liver, which lie outside the alimentary canal.
Metabolism
• This is the sum of the chemical activity in the body.
Anabolism
the synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy; constructive metabolism.
Catabolism
breaking down substances to provide energy and raw materials for anabolism, and substances for excretion as waste.
Urine
This is formed by the kidneys, which are part of the urinary system. Urine consists of water and waste products mainly of protein breakdown.
Kidneys
regulate water balance and they also play a role in maintaining blood pH within the normal range. the bladder stores urine until it is excreted during micturition.
The skin
forms a barrier against invasion by microbes, chemicals, and dehydration.
Epidermis
The top layer of the skin. It’s thin but durable and acts as a protective barrier between your body and the world around you.
Dermis
The dermis is thicker than the epidermis and contains all sweat and oil glands, hair follicles, connective tissues, nerve endings, and lymph vessels.
Subcutis
The layer of skin beneath the dermis is sometimes called the subcutaneous fat, subcutis, or hypodermis layer. This layer provides insulation for your body, keeping you warm. It also provides a cushion that works like a shock absorber surrounding your vital organs.
Non-specific defense mechanisms
refers to the ways in which the body protects itself from the invasion of pathogenic organisms or other foreign materials such that it provides defense against their harmful effects.
Specific defense mechanisms
is the ability of the body to develop immunity against specific pathogens, toxins or foreign things
Musculoskeletal system
includes the bones of the skeleton, skeletal muscles and joints. The skeleton provides the rigid body framework and movement takes place at joints between two or more bones. Skeletal muscles under the control of the voluntary nervous system, maintain posture and balance, and move the skeleton.
Sexual intercourse (reproduction)
is the reproductive act in which semen can be expelled into the female via male ejaculation.
Conception
reproduction
occurs when a single sperm penetrates the egg and fuses together. This process is called fertilization 1. Once the mature egg is fertilized, the egg travels down the Fallopian tube to the uterus.
Pregnancy
reproduction
The normal pregnancy lasts between 38 to 42 weeks. During this time, the embryo forms the vital organs that must be present in order for the fetus to live outside of the uterus. The embryo is attached to the mother by the umbilical cord, and receives all of the nutrients needed by this connection. Once the pregnancy reaches nine weeks, the embryo is known as a fetus until birth.
Birth
reproduction
is when the fetus is expelled. Hormones inside the mother begin a process called labor, which slowly pushes the fetus out of the vagina (known as the birth canal during this process).
Etiology
Diseases are usually caused by one or more of a limited number of mechanisms that may include: genetic abnormalities, chemicals,
ionizing radiation, physical trauma, degeneration.
Pathogenesis
is the process by which a disease or disorder develops.
Inflammation
This is a tissue response to any kind of tissue damage such as trauma or infection.
Tumors
These arise when abnormal cells escape body surveillance and proliferate. The rate of their production exceeds that of normal cell death causing a mass to develop.
Genetic abnormalities
These may be either inherited or caused by environmental factors such as exposure to ionizing radiation.
Acute
a disease with sudden onset often requiring urgent treatment (compare with chronic)
Chronic
a long-standing disorder that cannot usually be cured (compare with acute)
Communicable
a disease that can be transmitted (spread) from one individual to another
Congenital
a disorder which one is born with (compare with acquired)
Iatrogenic
a condition that results from a healthcare intervention
Sign
an abnormality is seen or measured by people other than the patient
Symptom
an abnormality described by the patient
Syndrome
a collection of signs and symptoms which tend to occur together
Acquired
a disorder that develops any time after birth (compare with congenital)
