Chapter 1: The Body And Its Constituents Flashcards
The study of how the body system works and the ways in which their integrated activities maintain life.
Physiology
The study of the structure if the body and the physical relationships between body systems.
Anatomy
The study of abnormalities and how they affect body functions, often causing illness
Pathology
The smallest independent unit of living matter, there are trillions of them within the body.
Cells
Specialised cell type
Carries out a particular function that contributes to body needs
Cells with similar structure and function are bound together to form
Tissues
Several types of tissue have evolved together to carry out a specific function
Organs
Several types of organs and tissues working together to contribute to one or more survival needs of the body.
System
Several systems which work interdependently to carry out specific functions.
Human body
Surrounds the body and is the source of oxygen and nutrients required by all body cells.
External environment
Water based medium in which body cells exist
Internal environment
Cells are bathed in this fluid
Interstitial or tissue fluid
A potential barrier to substances entering or leaving the cell
Plasma membrane
The structure of the membrane controls which substances can enter or leave the cell
Selective permeability or semipermeability
Dynamic ever changing situation that is kept within narrow limits
Homeostasis
Determines the limits within which the variable factor should be maintained.
The control centre
An input from stimulus is received by
The detector or sensor
An incoming signal indicates that an adjustment is needed and so the control centre responds and signals to
The effector
The effector response decreases the effect of the original stimulus maintaining/restoring homeostasis
Negative feedback mechanism
The stimulus progressively increases the response, so that’s long as the stimulus is continued the response is amplified
Positive feedback system
Afferent
Towards control centre
Efferent
Away from control centre
A type of Negative feedback
Body temperature
A type of positive feedback
Labour and the release of oxytocin
Homeostatic imbalance
The fine control of a factor in the internal environment is inadequate and the level of the factor falls outside the normal range
Transport systems
Ensure that all cells have access to the internal and external environments;
- the blood,
- the circulatory system and
- lymphatic system
Communication systems
Involve receiving, collating and responding to appropriate information
- internal environment - nervous and endocrine
- external environment - special senses, non verbal activities and nervous
Transports substances around the body through a large network of vessels
Blood
Plasma
Mainly water with substances dissolved in it such as
- nutrients
- oxygen
- hormones
- waste material for excretion
Types of blood cells
Erythrocytes
Leukocytes
Platelets
Red blood cells
Erythrocytes
Transport oxygen and CO2 from lungs and all body cells
Leukocytes
White blood cells
Protect the body against infection and foreign substances
Platelets
Thrombocytes
Tiny cell fragments that help in blood clotting
Circulatory system
Consists of blood vessels and the heart
Types of Blood vessels
Arteries
Veins
Capillaries
Arteries
Carry blood away from the heart
Veins
Carry blood towards the heart
Capillaries
Link the arteries and veins
Pulmonary circulation
Involves the lungs where oxygen is absorbed from the air into the lungs and at the same time carbon dioxide is excreted from the blood to the air
General or systemic circulation
Involves cells in all other parts of the body
(other than the lungs)
Muscular sac which pumps blood round the body and maintains the blood pressure
Heart
The rate at which the heart beats
Can be detected by feeling the pulse
Aetiology
Cause of disease
Pathogenesis
The nature of the disease process and it’s effect on normal body functioning
Complications
Other consequences which might arise if the disease progresses
Prognosis
The likely outcome
Acute
A disease with a sudden onset often requiring urgent treatment
Acquired
A disorder which develops any time after birth
Chronic
A long standing disorder which cannot usually be cured
Congenital
A disorder which one is born with
Sign
An abnormality seen or measure 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
Inflammation
Tissue response to any kind of tissue damage such as trauma or infection
Tumour
These arise when abnormal cells escape body surveillance and proliferate
Abnormal immune mechanisms
These are responses of the normally protective immune system that cause undesirable effect
Thrombosis, embolism and infarction
These are the effects and consequences of abnormal changes in the blood and or blood vessels
Degeneration
Often associated with normal ageing but may arise prematurely when structures arise and impair function
Metabolic abnormalities
These cause undesirable metabolic effects eg diabetes mellitus
Genetic abnormalities
These may be inherited or caused by environmental factors such as exposure to ionising radiation
