introduction to the human body Flashcards
Anatomy
the study of the body’s various parts and the parts’ relationship to each other (the WHAT)
- terminology
- observing
- manipulating
- palpating (touch)
- auscultating (listening)
Physiology
The study of the functions of the parts of the body, how the parts work to sustain life (the HOW)
- understanding basic principles (electrical currents, pressures, movements)
- understanding basic chemistry principles
Subdivisions of Anatomy
- gross / macroscopic anatomy
- microscopic anatomy
- developmental anatomy
Gross / Macroscopic Anatomy
The study of large, visible structures
- regional anatomy
- system anatomy
- surface anatomy
Regional Anatomy
study of all of the structures in a particular region of the body (upper limbs, lower limbs, trunk, head, and neck)
System Anatomy
study of all of the structures in a particular body system (there are 11 - for example, the muscular system)
Surface Anatomy
the study of internal structures as they relate to overlying structures
Cytology
study of cells and often their abnormalities (sometimes leading to cancer diagnosises)
Histology
Study of tissues (groups of cells)
Developmental anatomy
the study of anatomical and physiological development throughout life (growth)
- embryology
Embryology
study of development before birth
complementary structure and function
How parts are arranged makes them ideal to carry out a function
*examples: teeth
- sharp edges of our front teeth (STRUCTURE) makes them perfect for cutting (FUNCTION)
- flat surfaces of molars (STRUCTURE) make them ideal for grinding/chewing (FUNCTION)
Structural Organization
Starts from chemical level and extends to the whole organism
- chemical level
- cellular level
- tissue level
- organ level
- organ system level
- organismal level
Chemical level
the first level in the human body’s structural organization
- atoms –>
- molecules –>
- organelles
Cellular level
the second level in the human body’s structural organization
- a single cell
Tissue level
the third level in the human body’s structural organization
- groups of similar cells working together
Organ Level
the fourth level in the human body’s structural organization
- groups of 2+ tissue types working together
Organ system level
the fifth level in the human body’s structural organization
- groups of 2+ organs working together
Organismal level
the sixth and final level in the human body’s structural organization
- all organ systems combined
- ex: a human
Requirements of life
- maintaining boundaries
- movement
- responsiveness
- digestion
- metabolism
- excretion
- reproduction
- growth
(8 total)
Maintaining boundaries
requirement of life
- separation between internal and external environments
- ex: skin separates organisms
Movement
requirement of life
- muscular systems allow movement of body parts and/or substances
Responsiveness
requirement of life
- ability to sense and respond to stimuli
- ex: withdrawal reflex (moving away from danger)
- ex: regulation of respiratory rate (your breathing might change depending on the situation you’re in)
Digestion
requirement of life
- breakdown of ingested foodstuffs followed by absorption into blood
Metabolism
requirement of life
- sum of all chemical reactions occurring in the body
- catabolism (breakdown of complex molecules to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy)
- anabolism (simple molecules combine to create complex ones using the released energy from catabolism)
Excretion
requirement of life
- removal of waste from metabolism and digestion
- ex: co2 when we breathe
- ex: feces
Reproduction
requirement of life
- production of offspring
- division of cells for growth or repair
growth
requirement of life
- increase in size of a body part or an organism
interrelationships of organ systems
- 11 different organ systems
- organ systems are designed to service and maintain the survival of individual cells
Human survival needs
- nutrients
- oxygen
- water
- normal body temp
- appropriate atmospheric pressure
Nutrients
chemicals for energy and cell building
- carbohydrates
- proteins
- fats/lipids
- vitamins+minerals
oxygen
essential for creation of energy from nutrients
water
- provides environment needed for chemical reactions
- fluid base for secretions/excretions
Normal body temp
37 degrees celsius or 98.6 F
- essential for chemical reactions
Appropriate atmospheric pressure
essential for ventilation + gas exchange
homeostasis
“unchanging standing”
- maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite changing external conditions - dynamic state of equilibrium
- variables: blood sugar, blood volume, blood pressure, body temp
Homeostatic control of variables
- receptor
- control center
- effector
Receptor
(1)
monitors environment and responds to stimuli / recognizes issue, tells control center
Control Center
(2)
brain, determines set point of each variable, receives input from receptor and employs effector
Effector
receives output from control center and provides a means to respond - either reducing or enhancing the stimulus
- ex: sweating when the body temp is too hot
negative feedback
- reduces or shuts off stimulus
- the variable changes in the opposite direction of the initial change
- ex: regulation of body temp or blood sugar
- more commonly used than positive feedbad
Positive feedback
- less common
- enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus
- variable continue to change in the same direction as the initial change
- ex: enhancement of labor contractions by oxytocin
homeostatic imbalance
- disturbances in homeostasis can lead to increased risk of disease and aging
- w age body’s control systems weaken
- when negative feedback systems become overwhelmed, destructive positive feedback may take over (ex - diabetes mellitus)
