Human Physiology and Anatomy Quiz

Human Body Overview

• The course is titled "The Human Body" and is taught by Professor Frazier in Biol 161 at Community College of Allegheny County.
• Students will be able to identify the organizational hierarchy of the human body.
• Students will be able to identify the eleven different body systems and how they interact.
• Students will be able to identify and explain the characteristics of life.
• Students will be able to explain homeostasis and feedback loops.
• Students will be able to identify body regions and explain directional terms and anatomical positions.

Anatomy and Physiology

• Anatomy is the scientific discipline that investigates the body's structure, categorized as gross or microscopic.
• Gross Anatomy is the study of structures without a microscope. It includes regional, systemic, and surface anatomy. Regional is studying an area by area; Systemic is studying a system at a time; and Surface anatomy is studying the external form in relation to internal structures using imaging.
• Microscopic anatomy uses microscopes to study structures too small to see otherwise. It includes cytology (cellular anatomy) and histology (study of tissues).
• Physiology is the scientific investigation of the processes or functions of living things. This includes cell physiology, systemic physiology, neurophysiology, and cardiovascular physiology amongst others.

Anatomical Imaging

• X-ray imaging uses electromagnetic waves.
• Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves.
• Computed Tomography (CT) uses computer-analyzed x-ray images.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses radio waves.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) uses radioactively labeled glucose.

Organ Systems of the Human Body

• Integumentary System: Protection, temperature regulation, water loss prevention, and vitamin D production. Composed of skin, hair, nails, and sweat glands.
• Skeletal System: Protection, support, body movement, blood cell production, and storage of minerals and fat. Composed of 206 bones, cartilages, ligaments, and joints.
• Muscular System: Body movements (including posture) and body heat production. Composed of muscles and tendons.
• Lymphatic System: Removes foreign substances, combats disease, maintains tissue fluid balance, and absorbs fats. Made up of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphatic organs.
• Respiratory System: Exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide. It regulates blood pH and consists of the lungs, respiratory passages (pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles).
• Digestive System: Chemical and mechanical digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination. Composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines (small and large), colon, anus, and accessory organs.
• Nervous System: Detects sensations, controlling movements, physiological processes, and intellectual functions. Composed of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory receptors.
• Endocrine System: Controls metabolism, growth, and reproduction through glands (hypothalamus, pituitary, thymus, thyroid, pancreas, and gonads).
• Cardiovascular System: Transports nutrients, gases, waste products, hormones, regulates body temperature, and plays a role in immunity. Composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
• Urinary System: Removes waste from the blood, regulates blood pH and maintain ion balance and water balance, composed of kidneys, urinary bladder, ureters, and urethra.
• Female Reproductive System: Produces oocytes for fertilization and development, produces milk, and influences sexual functions and behaviors. Consists of ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands.
• Male Reproductive System: Produces and transfers sperm cells to the female, produces hormones that influence sexual functions and behaviors. Consists of testes, accessory structures (ducts, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis).

Homeostasis and Feedback

• Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment.
• Variables fluctuate around a set point (ideal normal value) to establish a normal range.
• Any major deviation from the setpoint range results in death (e.g., nutrient, oxygen, water, body temperature, atmospheric pressure).
• Feedback loops are mechanisms that maintain homeostasis. Negative feedback reduces or stops an original stimulus, while positive feedback enhances the original stimulus (and is usually for infrequent events).

Characteristics of Life and Organizational Hierarchy

• Living things exhibit metabolism (all chemical reactions), responsiveness, growth, evolution/development, reproduction, and organization (specific relationships & functions).
• The organizational hierarchy includes chemical (atoms and molecules), cell, tissue, organ, organ system, and organism levels.

Anatomical Position, Directional Terms, and Body Regions

• Anatomical Position: the body is erect, facing forward, feet together, palms forward.
• Directional Terms: Superior/inferior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep, anterior/posterior.
• Body Regions: specific anatomical subdivisions of the body. Examples include right hypochondriac region, epigastric region, and right iliac (inguinal) region. There are also quadrants.
• Body Cavities: Cranial, Vertebral, Thoracic, Pleural cavities, mediastinum, Abdominopelvic, Abdominal, and Pelvic cavities.