Levels of structural organisation, body systems and organism characteristics Flashcards
Define anatomy and physiology; describe the body's six levels of structural organisation; list the 11 systems of the human body, representative organs in each, and their general functions; define the important life processes of the human body
Define anatomy
The science of body structures and the relationships among them
Define physiology
The science of body functions i.e. how the body parts work
The body is made up of 6 levels of structural organisation.
Can you list the levels from smallest to largest?
- Chemical
- Cellular
- Tissue
- Organ
- System
- Organismal
The chemical level of organisation is the smallest and most basic.
Describe the chemical level of organisation
Atoms e.g. carbon, oxygen, which participate in chemical reactions and molecules e.g. DNA, glucose
Name the seven atoms which are essential for maintaining life
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Calcium, Sulphur
(CHONPCaS!)
Describe the cellular level of organisation
Combinations of molecules forming the smallest living units in the body, e.g. nerve cells, epithelial cells
Describe the tissue level of organisation
Groups of cells and the materials surrounding them that work together to form a particular function
What are the four basic types of tissues in the body?
- Epithelial tissue
- Connective tissue
- Muscular tissue
- Nervous tissue
What are the three functions of epithelial tissue?
- It covers body surfaces
- Lines hollow organs and cavities
- Forms glands
What are the two functions of connective tissue?
- It connects, supports, and protects body organs
- It distributes blood vessels to other tissues
What are the two functions of muscular tissue?
- It contracts to make body parts move
- It generates heat
What is the function of nervous tissue?
It carries information from one part of the body to another through nerve impulses.
What are organs?
Structures made of two or more types of tissue which have a specific function and usually have recognisable shapes, e.g. liver, heart
Describe the system level of organisation. A system…
Consists of related organs with a common function e.g. the digestive system which involves many organs including the stomach, liver and pancreas
Name the eleven systems of the human body
- Integumentary system
- Skeletal system
- Muscular system
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Cardiovascular system
- Lymphoid system
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Urinary system
- Genital (Reproductive) system
Can organs be part of more than one (organ) system?
Yes
E.g. the pancreas is part of both the digestive system and the endocrine system
Name the six components of the integumentary system
- Skin
- Hair
- Fingernails
- Toenails
- Sweat glands
- Oil glands
List the six general functions of the integumentary system
- Protects the body
- Helps regulate body temperature
- Eliminates some wastes
- Helps make vitamin D
- Detects sensations such as touch, pain, warmth and cold
- Stores fat and provides insulation
Name the three components of the skeletal system
- Bones
- Joints and 3. Associated cartilages
List the five general functions of the skeletal system
- Supports and protects the body
- Provides surface area for muscle attachments
- Aids body movements
- Houses cells that produce blood cells
- Stores minerals and lipids
Identify the key component of the muscular system
Skeletal muscle tissue
List the three general functions of the muscular system
- Participates in body movements such as walking
- Maintains posture
- Major source of heat production
Name the four components of the nervous system
- Brain
- Spinal cord
- Nerves
- Special sense organs (e.g. eyes and ears)
List the three general functions of the nervous system
- Generates action potentials to regulate body activities
- Detects changes in body’s internal and external environments
- Interprets changes and responds by causing muscular contractions or glandular secretions
Name the ten hormone producing glands of the endocrine system
- Pineal gland
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- Thymus
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid gland
- Suprarenal (adrenal) glands
- Pancreas
- Ovaries
- Testes
Besides the ten hormone producing glands, what are the other components of the endocrine system?
Hormone-producing cells in several other organs
What is the key function of the endocrine system?
What it aims to achieve and how it does it
To regulate body activities by releasing hormones
Name the three components of the cardiovascular system
- Heart
- Blood
- Blood vessels
List the four general functions of the cardiovascular system
- Heart pumps blood through blood vessels
- Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells and carbon dioxide and wastes away from cells
- Blood helps regulate acid-base balance, temperature and water content of body fluids
- Blood components help defend against disease and repair damaged blood vessels
Name the seven components of the lymphoid system
- Lymphatic fluid
- Lymphatic vessels
- Spleen
- Thymus
- Lymph nodes
- Tonsils
- Cells which carry out immune responses (B and T cells)
List the three general functions of the lymphoid system
- Returns proteins and fluid to blood
- Carries lipids from the GI tract to blood
- Contains sites of maturation and proliferation of B and T cells that protect against disease-causing microbes
Name the five components of the respiratory system
- Lungs
- Pharynx
- Larynx
- Trachea
- Bronchial Tubes
List the three general functions of the respiratory system
- Transfers oxygen from inhaled air to blood and carbon dioxide from blood to exhaled air
- Helps regulate acid-base balance of body fluids
- Air flowing out of the lungs through vocal cords produces sounds
Name the eleven components of the digestive system
Seven organs of the digestive canal and 4 accessory organs
- Mouth
- Pharynx
- Oesophagus
- Stomach
- Small Intestine
- Large Intestine
- Anus
Accessory organs:
8. Salivary glands
9. Liver
10. Gallbladder
11. Pancreas
List the three general functions of the digestive system
- Physical and chemical breakdown of food
- Absorbs nutrients
- Eliminates solid waste
Name the four components of the urinary system
- Kidneys
- Ureters
- Urinary bladder
- Urethra
List the five general functions of the urinary system
- Produces, stores and eliminates urine
- Eliminates wastes and regulates volume and chemical composition of blood
- Helps maintain the acid-base balance of body fluids
- Maintain’s body’s mineral balance
- Helps regulate the production of red blood cells
Name the one component of the genital system which is common to both males and females
- Gonads (testes/ovaries)
Name the five associated organs of the genital system which are exclusive to females
- Uterine tubes
- Uterus
- Vagina
- Clitoris
- Mammary Glands
Name the five associated organs of the genital system which are exclusive to males
Excludes testes which are grouped under gonads common to males + females
- Epididymis
- Ductus Deferens
- Seminal Glands
- Prostate
- Penis
List the four general functions of the genital system
- Gonads produce gametes (sperm or oocytes) that unite to form a new organism
- Gonads release hormones that regulate reproduction and other body processes
- Associated organs transport and store gametes
- Mammary glands produce milk
What is an organism?
Describe the organismal level of organisation
Any living thing
All the parts of the human body functioning together
What six processes distinguish organisms (living things) from non-living things?
- Metabolism
- Responsiveness
- Movement
- Growth
- Differentiation
- Reproduction
What is metabolism?
The sum of all chemical processes that occur in the body
What are the two phases of metabolism?
- Catabolism (break down)
- Anabolism (build up)
What is responsiveness?
The body’s ability to detect and respond to changes
Does the heartbeat count as movement as a basic life process?
Yes
Motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells and tiny structures inside cells all count as movement
What is growth?
Increase in body size from cells becoming larger and/or more numerous
What is differentiation?
Undifferentiated cell (stem cells) > Differentiated cell
What are the two types of reproduction?
- Formation of new cells for growth, repair and replacement
- The production of a new individual
What are the three different losses of function which clinically indicate death in the human body?
- Loss of the heartbeat
- Loss of spontaneous breathing
- Loss of brain functions
