Topic 1: Concept of Physiology Flashcards
The word physiology is derived from two greek words: (2)
- physis= nature
- logos = study
It is the study of the function of living organisms. It concerns the functioning of the body’s structural machinery: how the parts of the work and carry out their life-sustaining activities.
physiology
What are the three (3) essential concepts of physiology?
- the complementarity of structure and function
- hierarchy of structural organization
- homeostasis
It is the study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.
anatomy
It is study of the functions of the body’s structural machinery; explainable only in terms of the underlying anatomy.
physiology
The principle of complementarity of structure and function states that ____, and that the ____.
function is dependent on structure
form of a structure relates to its function
Structure determines ___.
what function takes place
It is study of the large body structures (visible).
gross/macroscopic anatomy
What are the subdivisions of gross/macroscopic anatomy? (3)
- regional anatomy: all structures in one part of the body such as the abdomen or leg are examined at the same time
- systemic anatomy: gross anatomy of the body studied by system (cardiovascular system- heart, blood vessels)
- surface anatomy: study of internal structures as they relate to the undelying skin surface.
Microscopic Anatomy (invisible)
____: study of cells
____: study of tissues
cytology
histology
____ traces structural changes in an individual from conception
through old age.
developmental anatomy
An example of developmental anatomy is ____, which concerns only the development changes that occur before birth.
embryology
Subdivisions based on organs or organ systems: (5)
- renal physiology: urine production and kidney function
- neurophysiology: explains the workings of the nervous system
- cardiovascular physiology: examines the operation of the heart and blood vessels
- endocrinology: hormones
- pathophysiology: mechanisms of disease
____ is the the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical function of humans, and serves as the foundation of modern medicine. It is based on observations on humans and experiments on animals and model systems in order to understand principles.
human physiology
Research in physiology helps us to understand how the body ___; it also
helps us to realise what goes wrong in disease and to identify new treatments
for disease.
works
It is also a ____ because of the complexity of its problems and its extensive interaction with mathematical, physical, biochemical,
and engineering sciences, as well as with other branches of biology.
pure science of great challenge
Physiology is explained by ___ and ___ principles.
chemical and physical
The hierarchy of structural organization: (6)
- chemicals - atoms combined to form molecules
- cellular - cells are made of molecules
- tissue - consists of similar types of cells
- organ - made up of different types of tissues
- organ system - consists or different organs that work closely together
- organismal - made up of the organ systems
The organ systems of the body: (11)
- integumentary
- skeletal
- muscular
- nervous
- cardiovascular
- lymphatic
- respiratory
- digestive
- urinary
- male reproductive
- female reproductive
It forms the external body covering. It consists of the skin, sweat glands, oil glands, hair, and nails. It deep tissues from injury and synthesizes vitamin D.
integumentary system
It is composed of bone, cartilage, and ligaments [with the joints they make up]. It protects and supports body organs. It provides the framework for muscles. It is the site of blood cell formation (hematopoiesis). It stores minerals.
skeletal system
It is composed of muscles and tendons. It manipulation of the environment, locomotion, and facial expression. It posture. It produces heat. It has only one function: to contract or shorten.
muscular system
It is composed of the brain, spinal column, and nerve. It is the fast-acting control system of the body. It responds to stimuli by activating muscles and glands.
nervous system
It is composed of the heart and blood vessels. It is where the heart pumps blood, the blood vessels transport blood throughout the body, and the blood cells and chemicals in the blood protect the body from foreign substances: bacteria, toxins, tumor cells.
cardiovascular system
It is composed of red bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, and lymphatic vessels. It picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to blood. It disposes of debris in the lymphatic stream. It houses white blood cells involved with immunity.
lymphatic system
It is composed of the nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. It keeps the blood supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. It allows gas exchange between lungs and blood.
respiratory system
It is composed of the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus, and liver. It beeaks down food into absorbable units that enter the blood. It eliminates indigestible food as feces.
digestive system
It is composed of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. It eliminates nitrogenous wastes from the body. It regulates water, electrolyte, and pH balance of the blood.
urinary system
It is composed of prostate gland, penis, testes, scrotum, and ductus deferens. Its main function is the production of offspring. Its testes produce sperm and male sex hormone and the ducts and glands deliver sperm to the female reproductive tract.
male reproductive system
It is composed of mammary glands, ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina. Its main function is the production of offspring. Its ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones. Its remaining structures serve as sites for fertilization and development of the fetus. Its mammary glands produce milk to nourish the newborn.
female reproductive system
Necessary life functions: (8)
- maintaining boundaries
- movement
- responsiveness
- digestions
- metabolism
- excretion
- reproductive
- growth
It must keep the “inside” and “outside” separate.
It utilizes the cell membrane which (1) allows needed substances in while preventing harmful substances entry, (2) allows internal contents, and makes use of the (3) integumentary system: which prevents internal organs from drying out, bacteria, damaging heat, sunlight, and chemicals.
maintaining boundaries
It is done by the muscular system (e.g., walking, swimming). The skeletal system provides the framework for the muscular system. It occurs when blood, food materials, and urine are propelled through the organs of the cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary system.
movement
It had the ability to sense changes in the environment and react to them (e.g, carbon dioxide levels rise in your blood, breathing rate increases to blow off excess carbon dioxide). The nervous system bears majority of the responsibility for this. The body cells are irritable to some extent.
responsiveness (irritability)
___ is the shortening of the muscle.
contractility
It breaks down ingested food so it can be absorbed into the blood. Nutrient-rich blood is distributed to the body cells by the cardiovascular system.
digestion
It refers to all chemical reactions that occur within the body cells. It is when nutrients and oxygen produce molecules of ATP (ATP powers cellular activity), such as during cellular respiration. It is regulated by the endocrine system.
metabolism
Metabolism is subdivided into two: (2)
- the breaking down of complex substances into simpler building blocks (catabolism)
- making larger structures from smaller ones (anabolism)
It is the process of removing waste from the body. The digestive system rids the body of indigestible food residues in feces. While the urinary system disposes of nitrogenous waste in urine.
excretion
It refers to the production of offspring.
In cellular reproduction (mitosis), 2 identical daughter cells are produced for body growth or repair.
Organismal reproduction equates to sexual reproduction.
The organs produce sperm and egg.
This is regulated by the endocrine system.
reproduction
It is the increase in size accompanied by an increase in cell number. For it to occur: cell-constructing activities must occur at a faster rate than cell-destroying activities.
growth
Survival needs: (5)
- nutrients (food)
- oxygen (20% of the air)
- water (60-80% of body weight)
- temperature (37°C or 98.6°F)
- atmospheric pressure (for gas exchange)
The book of ____, ____, describes how the human body maintains steady levels of temperature and other vital conditions.
Walter Cannon (1930)
The Wisdom of the Body
The word homeostasis means: (2)
- homeo = same
- stasis = standing still, static
It describes the body’s ability to maintain relatively internal stable conditions even though there is continuous change in the outside world.
It is any process that living things use to actively maintain fairly stable conditions necessary for survival.
The dynamic equilibrium (balance) of the internal environment (temp. 36.1-37.2C; 95-100%).
It refers to when the body’s needs are met and its functions are occuring smoothly.
homeostasis
The three basic components of the homeostatic system: (3)
- receptor: detects change in environment (stimulus/stress), sends input (information) to the control center.
- control center: determines level to maintain and appropriate action; sends output to effector(s).
- effector: causes a response, i.e., an
“effect” which is triggered by output.
The net effect is that the output of the system decreases or shuts off the original stimulus or reduces its intensity.
It reduces the original stimulus.
It causes the variable to change in a direction opposite to that of the initial change, returning it to its “ideal” value.
Some examples are: body temperature,
breathing rate and depth, blood levels of glucose.
negative feedback mechanism
In a ____, a stimulus—a deviation from a set point—is resisted through a physiological process that returns the body to homeostasis.
negative feedback loop
The ____ is the physiological value around which the normal range fluctuates.
set point
The goal of negative feedback mechanisms is to ____.
prevent severe changes within the body
It is the result or the response of the mechanism enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus so that the activity (output) is accelerated.
It is the change that occurs proceeds in the same direction as the initial disturbance, causing the variable to deviate further and further from the original value or range.
It intensifies the initial stimulus, leading to the enhancement of the response.
Some examples are: blood clotting, labor contractions.
positive feedback mechanism
A ____ results in a change in the body’s status, rather than a return to homeostasis.
positive feedback loop
It is the maintenance of a stable internal environment.
homeostasis
In pathological situations, when the negative feedback loop is overwhelmed, the ____.
positive feedback loop takes over
What is a factor of a homeostatic imbalance?
- age
As we age, our body organs and control systems become less efficient causing a less stable internal condition leading to homeostatic imblanace.
The older we get, the more vulnerable we are to: injury, disease, environmental changes, genetic mutations,
The sensitivity of the system refers to ____ yet it depends on several factors.
how much of a deviation from the set point is tolerated
The factors that can affect the sensitive of a system are: (3)
- Nature of the sensor: how much of a deviation from the set point is needed for the sensor to detect the deviation.
- The time necessary for generation of the effector signals.
- How rapidly the effector organs respond to the effector signals.
