Human Anatomy and Physiology Quiz

The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes. It involves various mechanisms to keep vital parameters within a narrow range.

A mechanism where the body responds to a change by counteracting it, bringing the variable back to its set point. It's like a seesaw balancing.

The process by which the body controls and coordinates its internal functions to maintain stability. It involves various systems working together.

The study of the structure of the body, its parts and their organization.

The study of the functions of body parts and how they work together. It's about the 'why' behind the structure.

When blood sugar rises after a meal, insulin is released from the pancreas to lower sugar levels back to normal. This is a negative feedback loop.

Your body uses sweating (cooling mechanism) and shivering (warming mechanism) to maintain a stable core temperature despite external changes.

Specific anatomical terms used to precisely locate and describe the position of body parts relative to each other.

The most medial digit of the foot, also known as the 'great toe.'

The middle bone in a finger, located between the proximal and distal phalanges.

The bony structure composed of the thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and sternum that protects the heart and lungs.

The first seven pairs of ribs that attach directly to the sternum through their costal cartilages.

The eleventh and twelfth pairs of ribs that have no anterior attachment to the sternum.

The bony prominence on the outside of the ankle, formed by the distal end of the fibula.

The bony prominence on the inside of the ankle, formed by the distal end of the tibia.

A roughened area on the anterior surface of the tibia, just below the knee, where the patellar ligament attaches.

The membrane of the neuron that releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.

The space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes where neurotransmitters diffuse.

The membrane of the neuron that receives neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft.

A neuron that transmits sensory information from the periphery to the CNS.

A neuron that transmits motor commands from the CNS to muscles and glands.

A neuronal circuit where multiple neurons converge onto a single neuron.

A neuronal circuit where a single neuron sends signals to multiple neurons.

A neuronal circuit with a feedback loop that allows signals to reverberate or cycle through the circuit.

A circular movement of a limb where the distal end moves in a cone shape while the proximal end stays relatively still. It involves a sequence of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction.

A multiaxial joint where the spherical end of one bone fits into a cup-like socket of another bone, allowing for wide range of motion.

The shoulder joint is prone to instability due to a loose articular capsule, lack of support from rotator cuff muscles, and the destabilizing effect of biceps brachii muscle tendons.

Movement of a bone around its longitudinal axis.

A lever where the effort is farther from the fulcrum than the resistance. This setup requires more effort to move the resistance.

The glenohumeral (shoulder) joint is the least stable joint among the options due to its loose capsule and limited bony support.

A type of smooth muscle found in the walls of internal organs, blood vessels, and other structures. It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and has a rhythmic, involuntary contraction.

Muscle fibers that contract quickly and powerfully, but fatigue quickly. They are ideal for activities requiring bursts of energy, like sprinting.

Calcitonin is a hormone that helps to decrease blood calcium levels by inhibiting osteoclast activity, which are cells that break down bone. It's more effective in children than adults because bone remodeling is more active during growth.

Endochondral ossification is a process that forms bone from a cartilage model. It involves the formation of a medullary cavity, the appearance of bone marrow, and the ossification of the epiphyseal plate.

Bone remodeling is a continuous process of bone deposition (building) and resorption (breaking down) that happens throughout life. It adapts bones to the stresses they experience, ensuring strength and shape changes.

The hard palate, the roof of the mouth, is made up of two bones: the maxillary bones (front) and the palatine bones (back).

The acetabulum is a deep socket in the hip bone that receives the head of the femur (thigh bone), forming the hip joint.

The os coxae (hip bone) has several prominent landmarks, including the obturator foramen (an opening), the arcuate line (a curved line), the iliac fossa (a depression), the iliac ala (a wing-like structure), and the iliac crest (the upper edge).

The pelvic inlet, the opening at the top of the pelvis, is covered by muscles and skin forming the perineum, which is the region between the anus and the external genitalia.

The facial skeleton includes the following bones: maxilla, nasal, zygomatic, lacrimal, palatine, and vomer. Note: While the sphenoid and ethmoid are important, they are not considered facial bones, they are cranial bones.

The brachialis is the strongest muscle responsible for flexing the forearm at the elbow joint. It directly pulls the ulna towards the humerus, contributing significantly to elbow flexion.

The corrugator supercilii is a small, paired muscle located above the eyebrow. It's responsible for drawing the eyebrows together, creating the vertical wrinkle between the eyebrows.

Intrinsic tongue muscles are responsible for complex movements needed for speech. They control tongue shape and position, allowing precise articulation.

A multipolar neuron is the most common type of neuron, having many dendrites that receive signals and a single axon that transmits signals away from the cell body.

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) are small depolarizations that bring the neuron closer to the threshold for firing an action potential. EPSPs are caused by neurotransmitters binding to receptors.

Gluteus medius and minimus are key hip abductors, moving the leg away from the midline of the body. These muscles stabilize the pelvis during walking and running.