Terms and Definitions Flashcards
What is anatomy?
structure of body parts
What is physiology?
function of body parts; what they do and how
What is homeostasis?
tendency of the body to maintain a stable, balanced, internal environment, “sameness”
What is differentiation?
the process by which a cell becomes specialized to perform a specific function (by activating and deactivating genes)
What is metabolism?
all physical and chemical changed occurring in an organism; requires ENERGY (comes from carbohydrates)
What are feedback loops?
how the body makes adjustments when the environment changes and maintains homeostasis
What is normal range?
indicates where the body can function, or what is optimal
What is the set point?
the value around which the range functions
What are sensors?
detect conditions within the body such as temperature (also called receptors)
What are effectors?
muscles or glands that respond to deviation from the set point
What is a positive feedback loop?
amplify or increase the occurrence of events
What is a negative feedback loop?
a reaction that causes a decrease in function
What is hyponatremia?
decreased levels of sodium
What is a seroma?
a pocket of clear serous fluid
What is a vital sign?
observable body functions that reflect necessary metabolic functions
