Medical Terminology & Physiology: Key Concepts

Medical Terminology and Physiology Study Notes

• Etiology: The cause of a disease.
• Sign: An objective finding that can be observed by a healthcare professional, like fever.
• Midsagittal plane: Divides the body into left and right halves.
• Atomic Nucleus: Composed of protons and neutrons.
• Water Heat Capacity: Water's high heat capacity causes faster body temperature loss in water than in air.
• Cell Membrane: Selectively permeable, regulating what enters and exits the cell.
• Cellular Respiration Substrate: Glucose is broken down during cellular respiration.
• Serous Membranes: Line body cavities and cover organs within.
• Cardiac Muscle: Interlocking cells allow for efficient contraction.
• Epiphysis: The end of a long bone.
• Voluntary Muscle: Another name for skeletal muscle.
• Peripheral Blood Vessel Response to Cold: Vasoconstriction to conserve heat.
• Sensory Nervous System: The input side of the nervous system.
• Spinal Nerve Composition: Carry mixed sensory and motor information.
• High Touch Receptor Density: Fingers have the highest concentration of touch receptors.
• Glucagon's Role: Opposite action of insulin.
• Tricuspid Valve: Valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.
• Atrioventricular Valve Closure: Occurs during ventricular systole.
• Cardiac Output and Blood Pressure: Increased cardiac output leads to increased blood pressure.
• ECG QRS Wave: Represents ventricular depolarization.
• External Respiration: Gas exchange between the alveoli and capillaries.
• AV Node Pathway: Electrical signal travels down the AV bundle after leaving the AV node.
• Upper Airway Function: Not responsible for gas exchange.
• Epiglottis Role: Prevents food and liquid from entering the lungs.
• Hepatic Blood Supply: Liver receives blood from the hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein (approximately 1.5 quarts/minute)
• Collecting Ducts Location: Found in the renal pelvis of the kidney.
• Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): Released by the hypothalamus when blood pressure decreases, promoting water reabsorption.
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH): Stimulates ovulation.
• Pregnancy Hormone Elevation: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) levels are elevated during pregnancy.
• Innate Immunity and Antigens: Innate immunity is not antigen-specific.
• Fever and Inflammation: Part of innate immunity.
• Ventricular Contraction on ECG: Ventricles contract during the QRS complex on the ECG.
• Neutrophils: An innate immune cell.
• ATP Production and Oxygen: Cells need oxygen to produce ATP.

Concise study notes covering essential medical terminology and physiology. Topics include etiology, anatomical planes like the midsagittal, cellular respiration, muscle types (cardiac, skeletal), and the nervous system. Key concepts regarding the structure and function of the human body are discussed.