Organization of the Human Body Flashcards
Anatomy
study of the structure of the body
Physiology
study of the function of the body
Disease
illness or abnormal state in which part or all of the body does not function normally
Pathology
study of disease
Organization - Chemical level
cells are composed of chemicals (eg water, proteins, fats, carbs)
Organization - Cellular level
- smallest level considered alive
- different cell types carry out different functions
- eg epithelial cells form barrier in skin
Organization - Tissue level
- tissues composed of groups of cells that work together to carry out a common function
- four types: epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous
- eg epithelial tissue contains number of cell types such as ones that fill w/ tough keratin and others that lay down pigment
Organization - Organs
- composed of groups of tissues working together to serve a common function
- eg epithelial tissue (epidermis) works w/ connective tissue (dermis) to form skin
- stomach composed of all four tissue types
Organization - Systems
- organs that function together for the same general purpose
- eg integumentary system with skin, hair, glands, nails
- eg digestive system with stomach, liver, mouth, etc
Organization - Body as a whole
organ systems working together to maintain the body
Integumentary System (Dermatology)
- skin: superficial (outer) epidermis and deep dermis
- includes hair, nails, sweat and oil glands
- largest organ in body
Skeletal System (Orthopedics/Rheumatology)
- includes bones & joints
- 206 bones
- framework of body; protects internal organs; attachment for muscles; site of blood cell formation; mineral storage - calcium, phosphate
Muscular System (Orthopedics)
- includes skeletal muscles used for locomotion, posture, chewing, speech
- skeletal muscles also generate heat
- tendons attach muscles to bones
- electrically excitable and contractile
Nervous System (Neurology)
- CNS: brain and spinal cord
- nerves: peripheral nervous system (sensory system - vision, olfactory, taste, touch, hearing)
- fast communication between cells and organs
- involves detection of a stimulus and determination of response
Endocrine System (Endocrinology)
- glands which release hormones into blood
- hormones travel through body to target cells & tissues w/ specific receptors
- important for communication between cells & organs
- eg pituitary gland produces human grown hormone (stimulated growth of bone & other tissues)
- eg thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolic rate
Cardiovascular System/Lymphatic System (Cardiology, Hematology, Immunology)
- heart, blood vessels, lymph nodes and vessels
- transport of gases, nutrients, wastes
- lymphatic system involved in immunity or resistance to disease
Respiratory System (Respirology)
- pair of lungs for exchange of O2 and CO2
- passageways such as trachea, bronchi, bronchioles to transport air to & from lungs
- gas exchange at tiny air sacs called alveoli
- sheet of skeletal muscle called diaphragm involved in ventilation (moving air in & out of lungs)
Digestive System (Gastroenterology)
- all organs involved in taking in food & converting to substances body uses
- teeth, tongue, salivary glands, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, colon, etc
Urinary System (Nephrology/Urology)
- organs that filter wastes & maintain fluid balance & pH in body
- kidneys, urinary bladder, ureters, urethra
Reproductive System (Gynecology - Female/Urology - Male)
- production of gametes (eggs & sperm)
- production of sex hormones (testosterone M, estrogen/progesterone F)
- development of fetus
- internal and external sex organs (ovary, vagina, uterus/testes, glands, ducts, penis)
Metabolism
the sum of all of the chemical reactions occurring in the body - catabolism and anabolism
Catabolism
breaking down of complex molecules (eg nutrients) into simpler compounds for use by the cells resulting in the formation of ATP (energy containing compound)
Anabolism
manufacture of large complex molecules such as enzymes & structural proteins needed for growth, function and repair of tissues - requires energy int he form of ATP
Homeostasis
a dynamic condition of equilibrium in the body’s internal environment (internal balance) produced by the interplay of the body’s regulatory processes
Blood pressure
regulated by nervous system & endocrine system to stay near a set point (varies throughout day so is dynamic)
Controlled Condition
each thing that is monitored in body (blood pressure, body temp, blood pH, blood CO2, blood glucose)
Stimulus/Stressor
any disruption that changes a controlled condition
Negative Feedback System
Reverses the body condition returning to homeostasis
Hypothalamus
Regulates body temperature - if too high triggers sweat glands, too low triggers shivering of skeletal muscles
Insulin
hormone that stimulates glucose uptake into cells so that blood glucose levels do not reach toxic levels for the brain
Positive Feedback System
- a stimulus enhances the original condition - stimulus increases something & response increases further until outcome achieved
- eg labour contractions (begin & PF mechanisms continue smooth muscle contractions until baby delivered)
- eg blood clotting (vessel punctures, clotting process continues until damaged vessel sealed)
Anatomical Position
Body in upright, standing position, face front, arms at sides, palms out, feet parallel
- directional terms apply (don’t if person is prone or supine or arms raised)
Prone
lying on stomach
Supine
lying on back
Superior
(cephalic, cranial)
above; higher than; towards head; upper part
Anterior
(ventral)
before; in front of; nearer to front
Posterior
(dorsal)
towards rear; behind; back of body
Medial
pertaining to middle; nearer to midline
Lateral
pertaining to side; farther from midline
Proximal
nearest the point of attachment; center of body or point of reference
Distal
farthest from center, from medial line or from trunk
Superficial
structure is nearer to the surface
Deep
structure is farther from the surface
Frontal plane
(coronal)
divides body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions
Sagittal plane
divides the body into right and left (midsagittal equal right/left portions)
Transverse
(cross sectional, horizontal)
divides the body into superior and inferior portions
Tissue sections
- cross (or transverse) section, used for CT & MRI scans
- longitudinal section
- oblique section
- all three used for tissue sectioning & viewing under microscope
Body Cavities
- Dorsal cavity
- cranial (brain) & vertebral (spine) cavities
- Ventral cavity
- thoracic (chest - heart & lungs) cavity, diaphragm (sheet of skeletal muscle dividing thoracic & abdominal cavities & important for changing pressures in these cavities helping with ventilation of the lungs & return of blood to heart, abdominopelvic (abdominal & pelvic cavities - stomach, liver, bladder, etc)
Thoracic Cavity
(chest)
- two pleural cavities containing lungs and one pericardial cavity containing heart
- mediastinum (central region between two pleural cavities which contains heart, esophagus, trachea, thymus gland and blood and lymphatic vessels)
Abdominopelvic cavity
- subdivided into two regions based on location of structures
- abdominal cavity (four quadrants, contains stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, most of large intestine)
- pelvic cavity (contains urinary bladder, part of large intestine and reproductive organs)
