Introduction Flashcards
Define anatomy
- study of structure
- Greek for “to cut up” or “cut open”
- often implies function of a structure, things are named after what they do
Define Physiology
- study of function
- anatomy and physiology are interrelated
What are the 2 categories of anatomy?
- microscopic
- gross
Define microscopic anatomy
- structures too small to be seen with the unaided eye
- ex. cytology (cells), and histology (tissues)
Define gross anatomy
structures that can be seen with the unaided eye
What are the different sections of gross anatomy?
- comparative anatomy
- developmental anatomy
- embryology
- regional anatomy*
- surface anatomy
- systemic anatomy*
Describe comparative anatomy
examines similarities and differences in anatomy of different species
Describe developmental anatomy
study of structure changes within an individual from conception through maturity
Describe embryology
study of developmental changes occurring prior to birth
Describe regional anatomy
- study of structures within a single region
- ex. the head and neck, or abdomen
Describe surface anatomy
study of internal structures as their locations relate to regions of skin or other surface markings
Describe systemic anatomy
- study of structures involved with a specific activity
- ex. digestion or reproduction
What are the levels of systems in the human body?
- chemical
- cellular
- tissue
- organ
- organ system
- organismal
How many organ systems are in the human body?
11
Name all of the organ systems
- integumentary system
- skeletal system
- muscular system
- nervous system
- endocrine system
- cardiovascular system
- lymphatic system
- respiratory system
- digestive system
- urinary system
- reproductive system
Define and describe the anatomic position
- standard universal position for comparing structures. Always think in anatomical position
- standing upright
- feet parallel on the floor
- head level, looking forward
- arms at side of body
- palms facing forward (supinated) and thumbs pointing away from the body
Define section
cut or slice through a structure
Define plane
imaginary flat surface passing through the body or an organ
What are the 4 planes?
- coronal (frontal) plane
- transverse (horizontal) plane
- midsagittal (median) plane, sagittal plane
- oblique plane
Describe coronal (frontal) plane
divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts
Describe transverse (horizontal) plane
divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts
Describe midsagittal (median) and sagittal planes
midsagittal: divides the body into equal left and right halves
sagittal: divides the body into unequal left and right parts
Describe oblique plane
passes through specimen at an angle
Define anatomical directions
terms that describe the relative position of one body structure to another
What is anterior (ventral) vs. posterior (dorsal)?
front vs. back
What is superior vs. inferior?
higher (closer to the head) vs. lower (away from the head)
What is medial vs. lateral?
towards/closer to midline vs. away from midline
What is proximal vs. distal?
closer to the attachment of the main skeleton vs. further to the attachment of the main skeleton
What is visceral vs. parietal?
closer to the internal cavity vs. closer to the walls of the cavity
What is internal (deep) vs. external (superficial)?
on the inside vs. on the outside
What are the 2 major regions in the human body and what do they consist of?
- Axial: head, neck, trunk (vertical axis of the body)
- Appendicular: upper and lower limbs/appendages
In the posterior aspect, what is the cranial cavity formed by?
skull bones
In the posterior aspect, what is the vertebral canal formed by?
vertebral column bones
What are the ventral cavities, and which one is superior/inferior?
- thoracic: superior
- abdominalpelvic: inferior
- physically separated by the diaphragm
Ventral cavities are lined by…
serous membrane
What are the 2 continuous parts/layers of the serous membrane?
- parietal layer: lines the internal surface of the body wall
- visceral layer: covers the external surface of specific organs
What is serous fluid?
both the parietal and visceral layer of the serous membrane produce a small amount of this fluid to protect against friction between moving organs
In what cavity is the heart located?
middle compartment of the thoracic cavity called the mediastinum
What are the 2 continuous layers of the pericardium?
- parietal pericardium: on the surface of the heart
- visceral pericardium: outermost layer; forms sac surrounding the heart
What is the name of the space between the 2 layers of the pericardium?
pericardial cavity
What is the pleura?
2 layered serous membrane that lines the lungs
What are the 2 continuous layers of the pleura?
- parietal pleura: on the surface of the lungs
- visceral pleura: outermost layer; lines internal thoracic wall
What is the name of the space between the 2 layers of the pleura?
pleural cavity
What 2 cavities make up the abdominopelvic cavity and how are they separated?
- abdominal cavity (superior)
- pelvic cavity (inferior)
- no physical separation; imaginary horizontal line drawn across the superior border of both hip bones
What is the serous membrane of the abdominopelvic cavity called?
peritoneum
What are the 2 continuous layers of the abdominopelvic cavity?
- parietal peritoneum: lines internal walls of abdominopelvic cavity; not directly in contact with the organs
- visceral peritoneum: covers surface of most digestive organs
What is the name of the space between the 2 layers of the peritoneum?
peritoneal cavity
How is the abdominopelvic cavity divided? (regions)
- 9 abdominopelvic regions
- 4 abdominopelvic quadrants
What are the 4 functions of bone?
- support and protection
- movement
- hemopoiesis (formation of RBC)
- storage of mineral and energy reserves
What is calcification?
deposition of minerals that make the extracellular matrix sturdy and rigid
What is the diaphysis?
elongated, cylindrical shaft
What is the epiphysis?
- knobby, enlarged regions at each end
- strengthens joints
- attachment sites for tendons and ligaments
What is the metaphysis?
- region between diaphysis and epiphysis
- contains epiphyseal (growth) plate
What is the articular cartilage?
- thin layer of hyaline cartilage covering the epiphysis
- reduces friction and absorbs shock in moveable joints
What is the medullary cavity?
- hollow, cylindrical space in diaphysis
- In adults, it contains yellow bone marrow
What is the endosteum?
covers most internal surfaces of bones
What is the periosteum?
- connective tissue
- covers external surfaces of bones (except articular cartilage)
- acts as anchor for blood vessels and nerves
Name 4 cells in bone
- osteoprogenitor cells
- osteoblasts
- osteocytes
- osteoclasts
What is the function of osteoprogenitor cells?
- stem cells found in endosteum and periosteum; can produce more stem cells or osteoblasts
What is the function of osteoblasts?
form bone matrix
What is the function of osteocytes?
- reside in lacunae
- maintain matrix and detect mechanical stress on a bone
What is the function of osteoclasts?
large, multinuclear cells that dissolve bone matrix (bone resorption), releasing Ca++
What is a characteristic of compact bone and where is it found?
- solid and relatively dense
- external surfaces of long and flat bones
What is a characteristic of spongy bone and where is it found?
- open lattice of narrow plates called trabeculae
- internal surface of bones
Which type of bones make up the flat bones within the skull?
two layers of compact bone with spongy bone sandwiched between
Describe long, short, flat, irregular bones, sutural bones, and sesamoid bones.
long bones: greater length than width
short bones: nearly equal length and width
flat bones: thin surfaces
irregular bones: complex shapes
sutural bones: similar structure to flat bones; only exist in certain people
sesamoid bones: sits within a tendon
Name the 9 abdominopelvic regions from left to right, top to bottom.
- right hypochondriac region
- epigastric region
- left hypochondriac region
- right lumbar region
- umbilical region
- left lumbar region
- right iliac region
- hypogastric region
- left iliac region
Name the 4 abdominopelvic quadrants from left to right, top to bottom
- right upper quadrant (RUQ)
- left upper quadrant (LUQ)
- right lower quadrant (RLQ)
- left lower quadrant (LLQ)
