A&P 1 - Unit 1 & 2 Key Concepts

A&P 1 - Unit 1 & 2 Key Concepts

• Anatomy: The structure of the body.
• Physiology: The functions of the body's organs and systems.
• Atom: The smallest unit of matter.
• Cell: The smallest unit of life.
• Organelle: Specialized structures within a cell.
• Molecule: A group of bonded atoms.
• Tissue: A group of specialized cells.
• Organ: A group of specialized tissues.
• Organ System: A group of organs working together.
• Organism: An individual living thing.
• Homeostasis: Maintaining internal stability despite environmental changes.
• Dynamic Equilibrium: The body's internal state.
• Negative Feedback: A process where the body reverses a change. Example: Thermoregulation.
• Vasodialation: Widening of blood vessels.
• Vasoconstriction: Narrowing of blood vessels.
• Positive Feedback: A process where the body amplifies a change. Example: Childbirth.
• Integumentary System: Skin, hair, nails, glands, and nerves; protects, regulates temperature, retains fluids, and eliminates waste.
• Skeletal System: Bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons; supports, moves, protects, produces blood cells, stores calcium, and regulates hormones.
• Muscular System: Skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles; enables movement, maintains posture, and circulates blood.
• Nervous System: Network of nerve cells and fibers; transmits nerve impulses.
• Endocrine System: Glands that produce hormones; regulates many body functions (metabolism, growth, development, mood, etc.).
• Cardiovascular System: Heart, blood vessels, blood, lymph; circulates blood and lymph.
• Lymphatic System: Network of vessels draining lymph; part of the immune system.
• Digestive System: Processes ingested food; provides nutrients and eliminates waste.
• Respiratory System: Enables breathing and gas exchange; includes mouth, nasal passages, trachea, lungs.
• Urinary System: Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra; eliminates waste, regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.
• Reproductive System: Enables reproduction; different systems for males and females.
• Scientific Method: A systematic approach to investigation: observation, hypothesis, experimentation, data analysis, conclusion.
• Inductive Method: Making numerous observations to draw generalizations.
• Experimental Group: The group receiving the experimental treatment.
• Control Group: A comparable group not receiving the treatment.
• Controlled Variable: Kept constant in an experiment to isolate effects.
• Dependent Variable: The variable being measured in response to the independent variable.
• Independent Variable: The variable being manipulated in an experiment.
• Hypothesis: A proposed explanation to be tested.
• Matter: Anything that occupies space and has mass.
• Bond: An attraction between atoms.
• Isotope: Atoms of the same element with different neutron numbers.
• Cation: A positively charged ion.
• Hydrogen Bond: A weak bond between molecules.
• Element: A substance that cannot be broken down chemically.
• Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together.
• Anion: A negatively charged ion.
• pH: A measure of acidity/alkalinity.
• Acid: A substance with a pH below 7.
• Diatomic Molecule: A molecule composed of two atoms.
• Free Radical: Atoms with an unpaired electron.
• Subatomic Structure: Parts of an atom (protons, neutrons, electrons).
• Compound: A substance made up of two or more elements.
• Antioxidant: Neutralizes free radicals.
• Base: A substance with a pH above 7.
• Atomic Number: Number of protons in an atom.
• Polar Molecule: Unequal distribution of charge.
• Ionic Bond: Formed by the attraction of oppositely charged ions.
• Salt: An ionic compound formed by the reaction of an acid and a base.
• Atomic Mass: Mass of an atom (protons + neutrons).
• Ion (electrolyte): An atom or molecule with a charge.
• Covalent Bond: Formed by sharing electrons.
• Capillary Action: Liquid flow in narrow spaces.
• Surface Tension: Tendency of a liquid surface to resist stretching.
• Vaporization: Liquid changing to gas, important for cooling the body.
• Polarity: Unequal distribution of charge in a molecule.
• Adhesion: Tendency of different substances to cling to each other.
• Cohesion: Tendency of like molecules to cling to each other.
• Chemical Reactivity: Ability to participate in chemical reactions.
• Solvency: Ability to dissolve other substances.
• Carbohydrates: Energy source, hydrophilic.
• Monosaccharides: Simple sugars (glucose, fructose).
• Lipids: Hydrophobic, diverse functions (energy storage, hormones).
• Fatty Acids: Building blocks of lipids.