Flashcards Chapter 1
anatomy
the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts:
cell
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all forms of life
physiology
the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
organelle
any of a number of organized or specialized structures within a living cell.
tissue
any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made, consisting of specialized cells and their products:
organ
a part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function, such as the heart or liver in humans:
organ system
An organ system is a group of organs that work together to perform a specific function in an organism’s body
organism
an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form:
metabolism
the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life:
negative-feedback mechanisms
Negative feedback mechanism is a regulatory process in biological systems that helps maintain stability and homeostasis
homeostasis
Homeostasis is the self-regulating process by which biological systems maintain stability while adjusting to conditions optimal for survival
receptor
an organ or cell able to respond to light, heat, or other external stimulus and transmit a signal to a sensory nerve:
control center
a place from which an organization, activity, or system is centrally monitored and directed, or where operational devices and controls are housed:
effector
any organ or tissue that receives information from the integrating center
positive-feedback mechanism
process in which the end products of an action cause more of that action to occur in a feedback loop
anatomical position
Anatomical position refers to the specific body orientation used when describing an individual’s anatomy. In this position, the body stands upright, faces forward, and the legs are parallel to one another
Superior
structures of the body located above a particular structure.
inferior
biology, the term “inferior” refers to structures that are located below or lower than another structure
anterior
Anterior refers to the front of the human body when used to describe anatomy. It is the opposite of posterior, which means the back of the human body.
posterior
Posterior is a term used in biology and medicine to refer to the back side of things
sagittal plane
anatomical boundary that exists between the left and right sides of the body.
transverse plane
A transverse plane (also called a horizontal plane) is easy to remember because it is the only plane that runs horizontally, dividing the body or structure into a top (superior) and bottom (inferior) half.
frontal plane
The frontal plane, also known as the coronal plane, is an anatomical plane that divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections
oblique plane
An oblique plane is a plane that can be any angle other than horizontal or vertical
serous membranes
a mesothelial tissue which lines certain internal cavities of the body, forming a smooth, transparent, two-layered membrane lubricated by a fluid derived from serum. The peritoneum, pericardium, and pleura are serous membranes.
thoracic cavity
Thoracic cavity, the second largest hollow space of the body. It is enclosed by the ribs, the vertebral column, and the sternum, or breastbone, and is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm.
pelvic cavity
cavity within the bones of the pelvis that is continuous above with the abdominal cavity and contains the internal reproductive organs, urinary bladder, sigmoid colon, and rectum.
abdominal cavity
large cavity found in the torso of mammals between the thoracic cavity, which it is separated from by the thoracic diaphragm, and the pelvic cavity
pleural cavity
fluid filled space that surrounds the lungs. It is found in the thorax, separating the lungs from its surrounding structures such as the thoracic cage and intercostal spaces, the mediastinum and the diaphragm.
pericardial cavity
potential space between the opposing layers of the serous pericardium’s parietal and visceral layer.
