Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology

Question 1

What are the 7 common characteristics of life?

Answer 1

cells
organization
responsiveness
regulation
growth and development
reproduction
metabolism

Question 2

What are the four main processes of life?

Answer 2

respiration
digestion
circulation
excretion

Question 3

Briefly explain what each main process of life is:

Answer 3

respiration - exchange of oxygen for chemical processes that can release energy in a suitable form to be used (eg: air exchange in the alveoli or body tissues)

digestion - mechanical and chemical process of breaking down nutrients into substances that the body can use (eg: chewing of food, peristalsis, use of enzymes to chemically break down substances)

circulation -internal movement and distribution of oxygen, cellular wastes, and products of digestion (done by the cardiovascular system in humans)

excretion - removal of wastes and undigested/unwanted toxins, substances… (removal of waste can be done by the respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems)

Question 4

What is anatomy?

Answer 4

study of structure (gross anatomy/macroscopic anatomy, microscopic anatomy)

Question 5

What is physiology?

Answer 5

study of function

Question 6

How are anatomy and physiology related?

Answer 6

structure and function are interrelated in that structure determines or predicts function

(think about the structure of our bones in our feet vs. hands… how do they differ in structure and how are they developed in a way to better suit their function?)

Question 7

What are trade-offs?

Answer 7

trade-offs are like a compromise… when multiple competing functions must be carried out by a single structure

Question 8

What are the 6 levels of organization?

Answer 8

organism level, organ system level, organ level, tissue level, cellular level, and chemical level

Question 9

Organism level

Answer 9

highest level of organization (contains everything below it)

Question 10

Organ system level

Answer 10

organs interacting in organ systems in a coordinated manner to carry out functions (11 in the human body)

Question 11

Organ level

Answer 11

consists of two or more tissues working together to perform several functions

Question 12

Tissue level

Answer 12

composed of similar cells working together to perform one or more specific function(s)

Question 13

Cellular level

Answer 13

the cell is the smallest living unit in the body

Question 14

Chemical level

Answer 14

atoms are the smallest stable units of matter that can combine to form molecules with complex shapes

Question 15

Organs and organ systems are ___________

Answer 15

INTERDEPENDENT

meaning that something that affects one organ will affect the functioning of the body as a whole… nothing in the body functions in isolation!

Question 16

What is homeostasis?

Answer 16

presence of a stable internal environment - the ability to maintain a stable internal environment

• majority of your body’s energy is used to keep it just the way it is
• actively doing work to maintain the body’s conditions

Question 17

What is homeostatic regulation?

Answer 17

the adjustment of physiological systems to preserve physiology
- when your body makes changes so that you can continue carrying out functions
- allows you to predict the body’s responses to normal and abnormal conditions
- maintained in a range rather than an absolute value

Question 18

What are the three components of homeostatic regulation?

Answer 18

1. receptor/sensor
2. a control center or integration center
3. effector

Question 19

Given a complete analogy of homeostatic regulation

Answer 19

1. a water jug has a sensor that detects when the water levels have decreased (receptor)
2. when low water levels are detected, the water jug knows how much water it SHOULD have (integration/information center)
3. a command is sent to the pipes/hose to refill the water levels back to its original/full amount (effector)
4. homeostasis (full water jug) is restored!
   …but idk (just in case this analogy ruins your life)

Question 20

What is negative feedback?

Answer 20

negative feedback provides stability…

it is a method of homeostatic regulation where the effector (activated by the control center) opposes, negates, or undoes the original stimulus
- the purpose of this is to minimize changes in the key body systems for our long-term survival
- provides long-term control over the body’s internal conditions and systems

Question 21

What is positive feedback?

Answer 21

positive feedback accelerates a process to completion!

this method of homeostatic regulation occurs when the initial stimulus triggers a response that enhances and amplifies the change in the original conditions (rather than opposing it)
- a type of escalating cycle
- AMPLIFIES or ENHANCES changes

Question 22

Differentiate negative feedback from positive feedback

Answer 22

negative feedback: inhibits or slows down the trigger/stimulus, maintain homeostasis

positive feedback: results in amplification or growth of stimulus/output signal

Question 23

How does negative feedback connect to homeostasis?

Answer 23

homeostasis and negative feedback are always linked together!
- homeostasis brings conditions back to their initial set point, which is done through negative feedback loops

Question 24

What is allostasis?

Answer 24

the body’s ability to adapt our set points/behaviours to meet different conditions - maintaining homeostasis even when there are external stressors present

• there are two types of FEED FORWARD allostasis

Question 25

What are the two types of FEED FORWARD allostasis?

Answer 25

FEED FORWARD allostasis means that it ANTICIPATES A FUTURE PHYSIOLOGICAL NEED

1. physiological allostasis
   and
2. behaviour allostasis

Question 26

Describe physiological allostasis and give an example of it.

Answer 26

Physiological Allostasis - set points can automatically reset during specific states
eg) Marathon runners often experience a moderate increase in heart rate as they line up waiting for the starting gun
your body knows you’re about to do something so it’s preparing you for the change

Question 27

Describe behaviour allostasis and give an example of it.

Answer 27

Behaviour Allostasis - doing things ahead of time, occurs when we choose to perform behaviours that aren’t currently needed (but may be needed in the future)
eg) Marathon runners carbo-loading the night before
the excessive carbs are not needed at that current moment, but it will be needed in the future so you prepare yourself for that future need