Introduction to Bioscience

Question 1

Anterior (or ventral)

Answer 1

Pertaining to the front of the body.

Question 2

Posterior (or dorsal)

Answer 2

Pertaining to the back of the body.

Question 3

Lateral

Answer 3

Away from the midline or middle of the body/

Question 4

Medial

Answer 4

Towards the midline or middle of the body.

Question 5

Superior

Answer 5

Higher than another point of reference.

Question 6

Inferior

Answer 6

Lower than another point of reference.

Question 7

Proximal

Answer 7

Relatively near a point of origin or attachment.

Question 8

Distal

Answer 8

Relatively distant from a point of origin or attachment.

Question 9

Superficial

Answer 9

Relatively close to the body surface.

Question 10

Deep

Answer 10

Relatively far from the body surface.

Question 11

Sagittal plane

Answer 11

The plane that divides the body or an organ vertically into right and left sides.

Question 12

Frontal plane (or coronal)

Answer 12

The plane that divides the body or an organ into an anterior (front) portion and a posterior (rear) portion.

Question 13

Transverse plane

Answer 13

The plane that divides the body or organ horizontally into upper and lower portions.

Question 14

What is anatomy?

Answer 14

Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body.

Question 15

What is physiology?

Answer 15

Physiology is the study of the function of these structures.

Question 16

What are the six levels of organsiation?

Answer 16

1. Chemical (atoms/molecules)
2. Cellular (molecules combined to form cells - basic structural and functional units)
3. Tissue (group of cells that work together)
4. Organ (two or more tissues that have a specific function)
5. System (related organs with a common function)
6. Organismal (all parts of the human body functioning together).

Question 17

What is homeostasis?

Answer 17

A state of dynamic equilibrium (balance) or stability which is maintained within the body.
E.g. body temp, blood glucose, blood pressure, etc.

Question 18

What is a feedback loop?

Answer 18

The response of the system changes the control condition, either by restoring it (negative feedback) or enhancing it (positive feedback).
Stimulus –> controlled condition –> receptors –> Control centre –> Effectors –> Response that alters the controlled condition

Question 19

What is a negative feedback loop?

Answer 19

Reverses the change in the controlled condition. E.g. Change in blood pressure

Question 20

What is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 20

Strengthens the change in the controlled condition. E.g. blood clotting, menstrual cycle.

E.g. childbirth