Week 1 Flashcards
What are anatomy and physiology, and why are they important?
Anatomy: structure and form
Physiology: study of function in the body
- Knowing these is important to identify body parts, understand their roles, and how they function together
What are the two main areas of anatomy and what are their subdivisions?
Gross anatomy: study of visible body structures (examined through sight). can be studied in three ways:
- Regional: examining structures in specific regions (e.g. arm or leg)
- Systemic: examining structures by systems (e.g. cardiovascular)
- Surface: examining internal structures as they relate to the skin’s surface
Microscopic anatomy: study of structures too small to be seen with naked eye. Includes:
- Cytology: study of cells
- Histology: study of tissues
What is the hierarchy of body structure from smallest to largest?
Biochemical level: atoms and molecules (e.g. water, proteins)
Cellular level: cells, the basic unit of life. Cells grow, reproduce and specialise
Tissue level: groups of similar cells performing a common function (e.g. epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous)
Organ level: two or more tissues working together for a specific function (e.g. heart, lungs)
Organ system level: groups of organs working together (e.g. digestive, nervous)
Organism level: the entire human body working as a whole
What are the main organ systems and their functions?
Integumentary: Skin, hair, nails. Functions include protection, temperature regulation, and sensation.
Muscular: Skeletal muscles. Provides movement, posture, and heat.
Skeletal: Bones, joints. Provides support, protection, and movement.
Nervous: Brain, spinal cord, nerves. Controls bodily functions and processes information.
Cardiovascular: Heart, blood vessels. Distributes blood, oxygen, and nutrients.
Respiratory: Lungs, airways. Facilitates gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
Digestive: Mouth, stomach, intestines. Breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.
Urinary: Kidneys, bladder. Removes waste, regulates fluid and electrolyte balance.
Endocrine: Glands (e.g., thyroid, adrenal). Regulates hormones and metabolic processes.
Reproductive: Ovaries, testes. Produces gametes and hormones for reproduction.
Lymphatic: Lymph nodes, spleen. Returns fluids to the bloodstream and supports immune functions.
How are anatomy and physiology related, and why is the hierarchy of structure important?
- Anatomy is the study of the body’s physical structures, while Physiology explains how these structures work together to perform life-sustaining functions.
- The Hierarchy of Structure provides a framework for understanding how complex functions arise from simpler levels, from molecules to the whole organism. Each level builds on the previous to allow the body to function as a whole.
What are the two essential functions of body cavities?
- Protect delicate organs
- Permit significant changes in the size and shape of internal organs
What is the function of the dorsal cavity and what does it include?
protects the fragile nervous system. There are two subdivisions that include the cranial cavity (brain) and the vertebral or spinal cavity (spinal cord).
How is the ventral cavity divided and what organs are found in each part?
Ventral Cavity: Divided by the diaphragm into:
- Thoracic cavity: Contains lungs and heart
Abdominopelvic cavity:
- Abdominal cavity: Liver, stomach, spleen, small intestine, most large intestine
- Pelvic cavity: Last portion of large intestine, urinary bladder, reproductive organs
What is homeostasis and why is it important for the body?
Homeostasis: The maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment despite external changes.
Physiological Responses:
Too cold → shivering
Too hot → sweating
What are the five stages of homeostatic control system?
- Stimulus: Produces change in variable
- Receptor: Detects change
Input: Information sent to control center - Output: Information sent to effector
- Response: Effector reduces the effect of stimulus and returns the variable to homeostasis
What is the difference between negative and positive feedback loops?
Can you give examples of processes that involve negative and positive feedback?
Negative Feedback: Brings the variable back to the set point (e.g., body temperature, heart rate regulation, fluid balance)
Positive Feedback: Enhances or accelerates the original stimulus (e.g., labor contractions, blood clotting)
What role does the hypothalamus play in regulating body temperature?
How does the body use feedback from the skin and the hypothalamus to regulate temperature?
Hypothalamus: Acts as the temperature-regulating center in the brain, sensitive to blood temperature
Feedback: Receives feedback from skin temperature to adjust body temperature regulation
What is the difference between simple and complex feedback loops?
Can you give an example of a complex feedback loop in the body?
Simple Feedback Loops: Involve fewer variables, such as hormone secretion (e.g., simple negative feedback mechanism)
Complex Feedback Loops: Involve multiple organs, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-target gland axis, regulating thyroid hormones
What are organic compounds and why are they important for living organisms?
- Organic compounds are chemicals built around carbon, essential for life.
- They form large macromolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids) made of smaller building blocks (monomers).
What are carbohydrates and their forms?
Carbohydrates store energy and exist as:
Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
Disaccharides (two monosaccharides)
Polysaccharides (long chains of sugars)
What are the functions and examples of monosaccharides and disaccharides?
Monosaccharides: Simple sugars, e.g., glucose, fructose.
Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides joined by dehydration, e.g., sucrose, lactose.
What are polysaccharides and their functions?
Long chains of monosaccharides.
Examples: Starch (plant glucose storage), glycogen (human glucose storage).
What are proteins made of and their function?
Proteins are made of amino acids.
Functions: immune defense (antibodies), movement (contractile), biochemical reactions (enzymes), support (structural proteins).
What are the levels of protein structure?
Primary: Sequence of amino acids
Secondary: Coiling/folding (alpha helix, beta sheet)
Tertiary: 3D shape
Quaternary: Multiple polypeptide chains
What are lipids and their major types?
Lipids are diverse and insoluble in water.
Major types: triglycerides (energy storage), phospholipids (cell membranes), steroids (hormones).
What are the functions of triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids?
Triglycerides: Store energy, insulate, protect.
Phospholipids: Form cell membranes.
Steroids: Regulate hormones, support cell membranes, aid fat digestion (cholesterol, vitamin D).
What is the role of cells in living organisms?
Cells are the basic structural, functional, and biological units of all living organisms.
Understanding how cells function is key to understanding how the body works.
How do cells specialize in structure and function?
Cells specialize through differentiation.
They can vary in size, shape, and function based on their specific roles.
What are the four main types of organic macromolecules?
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Nucleic acids
Lipids
What are the different forms of carbohydrates and their functions?
Monosaccharides: Simple sugars like glucose.
Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides, e.g., sucrose.
Polysaccharides: Long chains, e.g., starch, glycogen for energy storage.
What are the key components and functions of lipids?
Triglycerides: Store energy, provide insulation, protect.
Phospholipids: Make up cell membranes.
Steroids: Include cholesterol, vitamin D, and hormones
What is the function of the plasma membrane and its components?
Defines the cell’s boundary, separating internal and external environments.
Made of a phospholipid bilayer with cholesterol for fluidity.
Contains membrane proteins for transport, enzymes, receptors.
What are the four main types of cell junctions?
Desmosomes: Strengthen tissues, found in skin.
Tight junctions: Prevent leakage, found in intestinal cells.
Gap junctions: Allow communication via protein channels, found in cardiac muscle.
How are muscle, nerve, red blood, and sperm cells specialized?
Muscle cells: Elongated for movement, mitochondria for energy.
Nerve cells: Long axon for signal transmission, dendrites for receiving signals.
Red blood cells: Biconcave for oxygen transport, no nucleus.
Spermatozoon: Flagella for movement, acrosome for fertilization.
