- abdominopelvic cavity
- division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses the abdominal and pelvic viscera
- anabolism
- assembly of more complex molecules from simpler molecules
- anatomical position
- standard reference position used for describing locations and directions on the human body
- anatomy
- science that studies the form and composition of the body’s structures
- anterior
- describes the front or direction toward the front of the body; also referred to as ventral
- anterior cavity
- larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal) body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities for the lungs, pericardial cavity for the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs; also referred to as ventral cavity
- catabolism
- breaking down of more complex molecules into simpler molecules
- caudal
- describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column); also referred to as inferior
- cell
- smallest independently functioning unit of all organisms; in animals, a cell contains cytoplasm, composed of fluid and organelles
- computed tomography (CT)
- medical imaging technique in which a computer-enhanced cross-sectional X-ray image is obtained
- control center
- compares values to their normal range; deviations cause the activation of an effector
- cranial
- describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper; also referred to as superior
- cranial cavity
- division of the posterior (dorsal) cavity that houses the brain
- deep
- describes a position farther from the surface of the body
- development
- changes an organism goes through during its life
- differentiation
- process by which unspecialized cells become specialized in structure and function
- distal
- describes a position farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body
- dorsal
- describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as posterior
- dorsal cavity
- posterior body cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord; also referred to the posterior body cavity
- effector
- organ that can cause a change in a value
- frontal plane
- two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior portions
- gross anatomy
- study of the larger structures of the body, typically with the unaided eye; also referred to macroscopic anatomy
- growth
- process of increasing in size
- homeostasis
- steady state of body systems that living organisms maintain
- inferior
- describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column); also referred to as caudal
- lateral
- describes the side or direction toward the side of the body
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- medical imaging technique in which a device generates a magnetic field to obtain detailed sectional images of the internal structures of the body
- medial
- describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body
- metabolism
- sum of all of the body’s chemical reactions
- microscopic anatomy
- study of very small structures of the body using magnification
- negative feedback
- homeostatic mechanism that tends to stabilize an upset in the body’s physiological condition by preventing an excessive response to a stimulus, typically as the stimulus is removed
- normal range
- range of values around the set point that do not cause a reaction by the control center
- nutrient
- chemical obtained from foods and beverages that is critical to human survival
- organ
- functionally distinct structure composed of two or more types of tissues
- organ system
- group of organs that work together to carry out a particular function
- organism
- living being that has a cellular structure and that can independently perform all physiologic functions necessary for life
- pericardium
- sac that encloses the heart
- peritoneum
- serous membrane that lines the abdominopelvic cavity and covers the organs found there
- physiology
- science that studies the chemistry, biochemistry, and physics of the body’s functions
- plane
- imaginary two-dimensional surface that passes through the body
- pleura
- serous membrane that lines the pleural cavity and covers the lungs
- positive feedback
- mechanism that intensifies a change in the body’s physiological condition in response to a stimulus
- positron emission tomography (PET)
- medical imaging technique in which radiopharmaceuticals are traced to reveal metabolic and physiological functions in tissues
- posterior
- describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as dorsal
- posterior cavity
- posterior body cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord; also referred to as dorsal cavity
- pressure
- force exerted by a substance in contact with another substance
- prone
- face down
- proximal
- describes a position nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body
- regional anatomy
- study of the structures that contribute to specific body regions
- renewal
- process by which worn-out cells are replaced
- reproduction
- process by which new organisms are generated
- responsiveness
- ability of an organisms or a system to adjust to changes in conditions
- sagittal plane
- two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or organ into right and left sides
- section
- in anatomy, a single flat surface of a three-dimensional structure that has been cut through
- sensor
- (also, receptor) reports a monitored physiological value to the control center
- serosa
- membrane that covers organs and reduces friction; also referred to as serous membrane
- serous membrane
- membrane that covers organs and reduces friction; also referred to as serosa
- set point
- ideal value for a physiological parameter; the level or small range within which a physiological parameter such as blood pressure is stable and optimally healthful, that is, within its parameters of homeostasis
- spinal cavity
- division of the dorsal cavity that houses the spinal cord; also referred to as vertebral cavity
- superficial
- describes a position nearer to the surface of the body
- superior
- describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper; also referred to as cranial
- supine
- face up
- systemic anatomy
- study of the structures that contribute to specific body systems
- thoracic cavity
- division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses the heart, lungs, esophagus, and trachea
- tissue
- group of similar or closely related cells that act together to perform a specific function
- transverse plane
- two-dimensional, horizontal plane that divides the body or organ into superior and inferior portions
- ultrasonography
- application of ultrasonic waves to visualize subcutaneous body structures such as tendons and organs
- ventral
- describes the front or direction toward the front of the body; also referred to as anterior
- ventral cavity
- larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal) body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities for the lungs, pericardial cavity for the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs; also referred to as anterior body cavity
- X-ray
- form of high energy electromagnetic radiation with a short wavelength capable of penetrating solids and ionizing gases; used in medicine as a diagnostic aid to visualize body structures such as bones