Week 1: What is life? Flashcards
Homeostasis
The maintenance of a constant and stable environment inside the body
Macroscopic
Structures (such as tissue and organs) that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye
Microscopic
Structures (such as tissues and cells) that are so small they must be visualised using a microscope
Organism
A living thing
Anatomical Position
When a person is standing upright, with their head facing forward, feet forward, hands by their sides and palms facing forward
Anterior
A directional term meaning closer to the front of the body
Posterior
A directional term meaning closer to the back of the body
Superior
A directional term meaning above, relative to another structure
Inferior
A directional term meaning below, relative to another structure
Medial
A directional term meaning closer to the midline of the body
Lateral
A directional term meaning further away from the midline of the body
Sagittal
A plane running vertically through the body separating it into a left and right half
Transverse
A plane running horizontally through the body separating it into a superior and inferior half
Diaphragm
A thin skeletal muscle involved in breathing, it separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity
Visceral
Relating to the internal organs
Parietal
Relating to the wall of a cavity
Serous Membrane
A thin cellular sheet that lines organs and cavities of the body
Medulla
The inner (or middle) part of an organ
Cortex
The outer (or peripheral) part of an organ
The left and right sides of the thoracic cavity are separated by the middle part. What is it called and what are its contents?
Mediastinum; Heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, blood vessels and nerves
Abdominal cavity’s cotents?
Stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, spleen and kidneys
Pelvic cavity’s contents?
Urinary bladder, parts of the large intestine and reproductive organs
Gross anatomy (macroscopic)
structures examined without the aid of a microscope
systemic: body is studied system by system regional: body is studied area by area
Microscopic anatomy
structures examined with the aid of a microscope
Microscopic anatomy
Structures examined with the aid of a microscope
Anatomy
Scientific discipline that investigates the structure of body parts and how they relate to each other
Surface anatomy
Study of the external form of the body and its relation to deeper structures
What is physiology?
Study of the function of living things
Gross anatomy (macroscopic)
Structures examined without the aid of a microscope
Developmental anatomy
Structural changes that occur in the body throughout the life span
What is physiology?
Study of the function of living things
