Introduction to anatomy and physiology

Question 1

What is the difference between anatomy and physiology (2)

Answer 1

1. Anatomy is the map of the body, names of regions and language used to describe the body
2. Physiology is how the body works, regulates and fits together to achieve biological functions and homeostasis.

Question 2

what is the supine position

Answer 2

body laying face up, palms down

Question 3

what is the prone position

Answer 3

body lying face down, palms up

Question 4

what is the definition of medial and lateral

Answer 4

Medial - towards the midline of the body (e.g. heart is medial to the arm)

Lateral - away from the midline of the body (e.g. arms lateral from the heart)

Question 5

what is the definition of distal

Answer 5

further from the origin of the body part (e.g. forearm)

Question 6

what are the 3 planes of the body

Answer 6

1. Sagittal plane - from top of head to bottom of pelvis.
2. Frontal plane - the imaginary line separating the anterior from the posterior.
3. Traverse plane - the imaginary line separating the top half of the body from the bottom

Question 7

what are the 2 dorsal cavities of the body

Answer 7

1. Cranial cavity
2. Spinal cavity

Question 8

what are the 3 ventral body cavities

Answer 8

1. Thoracic cavity - above diaphragm
2. Abdominal cavity - below diaphragm
3. Pelvic cavity

Together these are known as the abdominopelvic cavity.

Question 9

what is homeostasis

Answer 9

The physiological processes the body undertakes to maintain a relatively stable internal environment towards a steady equilibrium between independent elements.

Changes to the homeostatic balance in organisms can result in disease

Question 10

how does homeostatic control work (3)

Answer 10

1. The receptor acts as a biological sensor monitoring and responding to stimuli caused by changes around it then sends signals to the control centre via the afferent pathway.
2. The control centre determines a level to be maintained, setting the parameters that the system runs at. It analyses the signals to see what action needs to be taken
3. The effector receives the instruction from the control centre via the efferent pathway. The results of the action taken are feedback to influence the receptor.