BackAnatomy & Physiology Unit 1 Key Terms
Terms in this set (26)
Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.
Physiology is the study of the function of the body and how its parts work together.
The standard body position used as a reference in anatomy: standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward, thumbs pointed away from body.
Study of body structures visible to the naked eye, such as organs and organ systems.
Study of structures too small to be seen without a microscope, including cytology and histology.
The study of cells, their structure, and function.
The study of tissues and how cells group together to form them.
Superior means above; Inferior means below another structure.
Anterior means toward the front; Posterior means toward the back of the body.
Medial means toward the midline; Lateral means away from the midline.
Proximal means closer to the point of attachment; Distal means farther from the point of attachment.
Coronal (frontal) divides body into front and back; Sagittal divides into left and right; Transverse divides into top and bottom.
Includes the cranial cavity (brain) and spinal cavity (spinal cord).
Includes the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity, housing vital organs.
The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.
A homeostatic mechanism where the response reverses the original stimulus to maintain balance.
A mechanism that amplifies a response, moving the system further from its starting state.
The smallest unit of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
A chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms, creating ions.
A bond where atoms share one or more pairs of electrons; can be polar or nonpolar.
A weak bond between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom, important in water and biomolecules.
Macromolecules made of monosaccharides; primary energy source for cells.
Hydrophobic macromolecules including triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
Polymers of amino acids that perform structural, enzymatic, and regulatory functions.
DNA and RNA, polymers of nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.
Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in cells.