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Anatomy & Physiology Exam 1 Key Concepts

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  • Anabolism vs Catabolism
    Anabolism builds complex molecules for growth; catabolism breaks down molecules for energy.
  • Levels of Structural Organization
    From smallest to largest: chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.
  • Histology vs Gross Anatomy
    Histology studies tissues microscopically; gross anatomy studies structures visible to the naked eye.
  • Anatomical Position
    Body standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward.
  • Directional Terms
    Terms like anterior/posterior, superior/inferior, medial/lateral describe locations relative to the body.
  • Body Planes
    Frontal divides front/back, sagittal divides left/right, transverse divides top/bottom.
  • Body Cavities and Organs
    Major cavities: cranial, thoracic, abdominal, pelvic; each contains specific organs.
  • Serous Membranes
    Thin membranes lining cavities and organs; reduce friction with parietal and visceral layers.
  • Homeostasis
    Maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes.
  • Negative vs Positive Feedback
    Negative feedback reverses a change; positive feedback amplifies a change.
  • Five Parts of a Feedback Loop
    Receptor, control center, effector, stimulus, response.
  • Complementarity of Structure and Function
    Function depends on structure; form fits function in anatomy and physiology.
  • Gradient
    A difference in concentration, pressure, or temperature that drives movement.
  • Cell-Cell Communication Example
    Cells communicate via chemical signals like hormones or neurotransmitters.
  • Parts of an Atom
    Protons (+), neutrons (neutral), electrons (-); protons define element.
  • Octet Rule
    Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to have 8 valence electrons.
  • Ionic vs Covalent Bonds
    Ionic bonds transfer electrons; covalent bonds share electrons.
  • Hydrophilic vs Hydrophobic Molecules
    Hydrophilic molecules interact with water; hydrophobic repel water.
  • Polar vs Nonpolar Covalent Bonds
    Polar bonds have unequal electron sharing; nonpolar bonds share electrons equally.
  • Enzymes and Reaction Rates
    Enzymes lower activation energy and speed up chemical reactions.
  • Water as Universal Solvent
    Water dissolves many substances due to its polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds.
  • pH Scale Range
    Measures acidity from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic), with 7 as neutral.
  • Buffers in Solution
    Buffers maintain stable pH by binding or releasing hydrogen ions.
  • Monomers of Biomolecules
    Carbohydrates: monosaccharides; proteins: amino acids; nucleic acids: nucleotides.
  • Cell Membrane Functions
    Controls entry/exit, provides protection, and facilitates communication.
  • Diffusion vs Facilitated Diffusion
    Diffusion is passive movement; facilitated diffusion uses proteins to move molecules.
  • Osmosis
    Movement of water across a membrane from low to high solute concentration.
  • Hypertonic, Hypotonic, Isotonic Solutions
    Hypertonic shrinks cells; hypotonic swells cells; isotonic causes no change.
  • Active Transport
    Energy-requiring process moving substances against their gradient.