Question | Answer |
anatomy | structure of an organism |
physiology | the study of the functions of an organism |
homeostasis | the relatively stable state of equilibrium of an organism and its parts |
anatomical position | standard position in which the body is facing forward, feet are parallel, and the arms are at the sides with palms facing forward |
pathology | the study of disease |
negative feedback | mechanism of homeostasis that tends to stabilize a process by reducing its rate or output |
positive feedback | mechanism of homeostasis feedback that tends to magnify a process or increase its output |
frontal plane | plane that divides the body into front and back sections |
transverse plane | plane that divides the body into top and bottome sections |
sagittal plane | plane that divides the body into left and right sections |
midsagittal plane | plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves |
body cavity | a hollow place or space within the body or one of its organs |
receptor | a sensory nerve ending that receives information about a stimulus |
effector | an organ that produces a response based on information from the control center |
control center | brain or spinal cord, where information from a stimulus is processed and a response generated |
supine | lying on the back, palms and face upward |
prone | lying on the stomach, palms and face downward |
x-ray | image created by sending electromagnetic radiation through body parts, solid parts appear white |
MRI | abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging, uses a large circular magnet and radio waves to generate signals from atoms in the body creating images of internal structures |
CAT Scan | abbreviation for computerized axial tomography, uses a computer and a rotating x-ray device to create detailed, cross-sectional images, or slices, of organs and body parts |
ultrasound | sound waves pass through the body producing echoes, which can identify distance, size and shape of internal structures |
abdominopelvic quadrant | two lines intersecting through the bellybutton creating four equal regions of the torso below the diaphragm |
superior | above or on top |
inferior | below or under |
cranial | toward the head, a.k.a. cephalic |
cephalic | toward the head, a.k.a. cranial |
caudal | toward the tailbone |
anterior | front, a.k.a. ventral |
posterior | back, a.k.a. dorsal |
ventral | stomach side |
dorsal | back side |
medial | toward the midline of the body |
lateral | away from the midline of the body |
proximal | toward the point of attachment or origin (used for limbs only) |
distal | away from the point of attachment or origin (used for limbs only) |
superficial | toward the skin or surface |
deep | toward the internal organs or away from the surface |
sural | region of the calf |
gluteal | region of the buttocks |
pelvic | region between the front of the hips |
inguinal | region where legs attach to the torso |
umbilical | region of the bellybutton |
carpal | region of the wrist |
digital | region of the fingers |
pubic | region just above the genitals |
metabolism | sum of all the chemical processes that build up and break down cells |
organism | single living thing |
organ system | organs working together to perform a specific function |
organ | multiple tissues working together to perform a specific function |
tissue | cells working together to perform a specific function |
cell | living matter surrounded by a membrane |
reproductive system | organ system which functions in creating offspring (penis and testes in males, ovaries, uterus, and vagina in females) |
urinary system | organ system which functions in maintaining water balance and eliminating nitrogen wastes (kidneys, urinary tract) |
digestive system | organ system which breaks down and absorbs nutrients (stomach, intestines, liver) |
respiratory system | organ system that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide (trachea, lungs, bronchi, alveoli) |
lymphatic system | organ system that returns fluids that have escaped from cells to the blood and also assists with immunity (spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils) |
cardiovascular system | organ system responsible for transporting gases, nutrients, and wastes through the blood (heart, blood vessels) |
endocrine system | organ system that releases hormones to control metabolism (glands) |
nervous system | organ system that receives and interprets stimuli and generates responses to effector organs (brain, spinal cord, nerves) |
muscular system | organ system that creates movement (muscles, tendons) |
skeletal system | organ system that provides protection and support for body parts (bones, cartilage, ligaments) |
integumentary system | organ system that provides protection for the body (skin, hair, nails) |
crural | region of the shin |
orbital | region around they eye |
axillary | region of the armpit |
popliteal | region behind the knee |
sacral | region of the tail bone |
coxal | region of the hip bones |
sternal | region of the breast bone |
fibular | region of the outside of the lower leg |
tarsal | region underneath the ankle |
brachial | region of the upper arm |
vertebral | region over the entire spine |
thoracic | region of the rib cage |
abdominal | region below the bellybutton |
lumbar | region of the lower spine |
antecubital | region of the front of the elbow |
oral | region of the mouth |
deltoid | region of the shoulder |
femoral | region of the front of the thigh |
patellar | region of the kneecap |
scapular | region of the shoulder blade |
occipital | region of the back of the head |
buccal | region of the cheeks |
nasal | region of the nose |
cervical | region of the neck |
acromial | region of the top of the shoulder |