WEEK 1 - Directional Terms and Tissues Flashcards
homeostasis
the maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite continuous changes in the environment, readjusting as needed
3 components of homeostatic regulation
- receptor
- control center
- effector
receptor
receives the information that something in the environment is changing
control center
receives and processes the information from the receptor through an afferent pathway (arrives to the brain)
effector
responds to the commands of the control center by either opposing (negative feedback) or enhancing (positive feedback) the stimulus through an efferent pathway (exits the brain)
negative feedback loop
a feedback mechanism resulting in the inhibition/slowing down of a process
- stimulus is not allowed to operate or continue as it did before the receptor sensed it
positive feedback loop
a feedback mechanism resulting in the amplification/growth of the output signal
- found in processes that need to be pushed to completion, not when it needs to be maintained
positive feedback childbirth example
- baby’s head presses on the cervix
- activates neurons through the afferent pathway
- neurons impulses from the cervix are transmitted to the brain where it enters the control center
- brain stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete oxytocin through an efferent pathway
- oxytocin increases uterine contractions, thus pressure on the cervix
- positive feedback loop continues until the baby is born
homeostatic imbalance leads to
a disturbance of homeostasis increases the risk of disease
- contributes to changes associated with aging as the control systems become less efficient
orientation of the human body
the anatomical position is used to describe anatomical planes or sections and directional terms:
- provides a universal, consistent way of discussing anatomy
- creates a clear reference point when describing anatomical positions
standard anatomical position
- standing upright
- head and eyes directed straight ahead
- upper limbs handing down at the sides
- upper limbs slightly away from the trunk
- palms facing forward
- thumbs pointing away from the body
- lower limbs together
- feet are flat on the ground and facing forward
- right and left sides of the body are referred as the patient’s right and left side
3 body planes
SCT
- sagittal plane (vertical)
- coronal plane (vertical)
- transverse plane (horizontal)
sagittal plane (sides)
- line from top to bottom, front to back
- divides the body into a right and a left section
- midsagittal plane: divides the body into equal left and right portions through the midline of the body
- parasagittal: any sagittal planes off-center form the midline into unequal portions of the body fr
coronal (frontal) plane (front view)
- line from top to bottom, right to left
- divides the body into a front (anterior) and a back (posterior) section
transverse plane (top view)
- runs from right to left, and front to back
- divides the body into a top (superior) and a bottom (inferior) section