Structures of the Body Flashcards
What are cells?
The basic structural and functional units of the body
What are tissues and organs made up of?
Cells
What is cytology?
study of the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the cell
What is a cell membrane?
tissue that surrounds and protects the contents of a cell from the external environment
What is cytoplasm?
material within the cell membrane that is NOT part of the nucleus
What is the nucleus?
a structure within the cell, surrounded by the nuclear membrane, that controls cell activity and helps cells divide
What are stem cells?
unspecialized cells that can renew themselves for a long period of time by dividing
How are stem cells different from other cells?
they do not have a set lifespan and under certain conditions they can be transformed into specialized cells
What are somatic stem cells?
undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in a tissue or an organ
What is the goal of somatic stem cells?
to maintain and repair the tissue or organ that they are in
What type of cell can be transferred from one individual to another?
Somatic stem cells
What is it called when the body rejects a stem cell transfer?
graft-versus-host disease
What are embryonic stem cells?
undifferentiated cells that can form any adult cell
Where do embryonic stem cells come from?
blood from the umbillical cord or placenta of a newborn
What is a gene and what do they do?
a fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity, they control hereditary disorders and all physical traits
What is a genome?
the complete set of genetic information of an organism
What is a chromosome and what does it do?
it’s a genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell, they are made up of DNA molecules and contain the body’s genes
What are somatic cells?
any cell in the body except the gametes
How many chromosomes are in each somatic cell?
46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs
What is a gamete?
the sex cells, have 23 single chromosomes
What is the spiraling strand shape of DNA called?
a double helix
What is DNA?
short for deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that contains the biological instructions that make each species unique
What is a genetic mutation?
a change of the sequence of a DNA molecule
What is somatic cell mutation?
a change within the cells of the body, they affect the individual but cannot be transmitted to the next generation
What is a gametic cell mutation?
a change within the genes in a gamete that can be transmitted by a parent to their kids
What is genetic engineering?
the manipulation or splicing of genes for scientific or medical purpose
What are genetic disorders?
pathological conditions caused by an absent or defective gene
What is tissue?
a group of similarly specialized cells that join together to preform certain specific functions
What is the study of tissue called?
Histology
What are the four main types of tissue?
Epithelial, Connective, Muscle, and Nerve
Which tissue forms a protective covering over all of the internal and external surfaces of the body?
Epithelial
What is the epithelium?
the specialized epithelial tissue that forms the epidermis of the skin and the surface layer of mucous membranes
What type of epithelial tissue lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands and organs?
Endothelium
What tissue supports and connects organs and other body tissues?
Connective
What does dense connective tissue do?
form the joints and framework of the body
What does adipose tissue do?
provides protection, insulation, and support
What tissue is also referred to as “fat”?
Adipose tissue
What is the purpose of loose connective tissue?
it surrounds various organs, supports both nerve cells and blood vessels
What does liquid connective tissue do?
helps transport nutrients and waste products throughout the body
Which tissue contains cells with the specialized ability to contract and relax?
Muscle tissue
Which tissue contains cells with the specialized ability to react to stimuli and conduct electrical impulses?
Nerve tissue
What is aplasia?
the defective development or the congenital absence of an organ or tissue
What is hypoplasia?
incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells
What is anaplasia?
a change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other
What is dysplasia?
the abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, and organs
What is hyperplasia?
the enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells in the tissues
What is hypertrophy?
a general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size, but not number, of cells
What is a gland?
a group of specialized epithelial cells that are capable of producing secretions
What is a secretion?
a substance produced by a gland
What kind of gland secretes chemical substances?
an exocrine gland
What is a pathogen?
a disease producing microorganism such as a virus
What does it mean when something is contaminated?
there is possibly a pathogen present
What is a communicable disease?
any condition that is transmitted from one person to another either directly or by indirect contact
What kind of disease is the common cold?
a communicable disease
What are the six types of disease transmission?
indirect contact, blood-borne, droplet, airborne, food-borne and waterborne, and vector-borne
What type of transmission can occur when you touch a doorknob after someone who has had the flu?
indirect contact
What type of transmission can occur when another person’s blood touches you?
blood-borne
What type of transmission can occur when someone sneezes or coughs in your direction without covering their face?
airborne
What type of transmission can occur when you drink out of another person’s water bottle?
food-borne and water-borne
West Nile Virus was commonly spread through mosquitos with this type of transmission
vector-borne
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
a pandemic is over a large geographic area or worldwide while an epidemic is over a specific population or area
What is a functional disorder?
a disease that produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified
What is it called when you have an adverse reaction to prescribed medication?
iatrogenic illness
What is an idiopathic disorder?
an illness without known cause
What is a disease caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and viruses called?
infectious disease
What is a nosocomial infection?
a disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting
What disorder produces symptoms caused by detectable physical changes in the body?
an organic disorder
When do congenital disorders occur?
while a baby is forming or during the birthing process
What are developmental disorders?
a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas
What is the absence of a normal body opening called?
atresia
At what time is a birth considered premature?
if it occurs earlier than 37 weeks of development
