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Questions and Answers
What percentage of the average young adult male's body weight is water?
Which of the following is primarily used as a storage form of fuel in the human body?
What is the primary function of the digestive system?
Which system in the body is primarily responsible for excreting metabolic wastes?
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What is the role of carbohydrates in the human body?
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What is the primary focus of physiology?
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Which of the following is NOT a level of structural organization in the body?
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What do tissues consist of?
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What are cells considered in the context of living organisms?
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What role does muscle tissue play in the body?
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How are organs defined in terms of structural organization?
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At which level of structural organization do molecules contribute to cellular function?
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Which of the following combines to form organ systems?
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What is the primary function of skeletal muscles?
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Which type of muscle is not under voluntary control?
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What are intercalated discs primarily found in?
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What type of tissue is specialized for the conduction and transmission of electrical impulses?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of epithelial tissue?
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What is the primary role of connective tissue?
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Which life process involves the ability to sense changes in the environment?
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Which organs secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Human Physiology
- Physiology is the study of how living organisms work.
- It encompasses both gross and microscopic structures.
- Structure and function are intertwined at all levels, from the cellular to the molecular to the organism.
Levels of Structural Organization
- Cells are the fundamental units of life.
- Humans have multiple levels of structural organization, each building upon the previous one.
- These levels include:
- Chemical Level: Made up of essential chemicals like atoms and molecules.
- Cellular Level: Cells are the basic building blocks composed of various molecules.
- Tissue Level: Tissues are groups of similar cells working together to perform specific functions.
- Organ Level: Organs are composed of different tissues that work together for specialized functions.
- Organ System Level: Organ systems are groups of organs working in coordination.
- Organism Level: The complete, living individual.
Types of Tissues
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Muscle Tissue:
- Specialized for contraction and generating tension.
- Three types:
- Skeletal muscle: Voluntary muscle responsible for movement.
- Cardiac muscle: Involuntary muscle responsible for heart contraction and blood circulation.
- Smooth muscle: Involuntary muscle found in soft organs, responsible for movement within these organs.
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Nervous Tissue:
- Specialized for conduction and transmission of electrical impulses.
- Composed of neurons (nerve cells).
- Neurons have a cell body, a nucleus, and specialized processes called axons and dendrites.
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Epithelial Tissue:
- Forms coverings, linings, and glands.
- Provides barrier between the body and the environment.
- Modified epithelial cells can act as sensory receptors.
- Forms both endocrine (hormone-producing) and exocrine (duct-secreting) glands.
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Connective Tissue:
- Provides support, connection, and transport.
- Characterized by more extracellular material (matrix) than cells.
- Contains fibers, including collagen and elastic fibers.
Life Processes
- Humans exhibit various life processes, including:
- Metabolism: The sum of all chemical reactions in the body, including anabolism (building up) and catabolism (breaking down).
- Excitability: The ability to respond to stimuli.
- Conductivity: The ability to transmit the effects of stimuli from one part of the cell to another.
- Contractility: The ability to shorten or contract in response to stimuli.
- Growth: An increase in size or mass.
- Differentiation: The process of cells becoming specialized for specific functions.
- Reproduction: The ability to produce offspring.
Composition of the Human Body
- Approximately 60% of the body weight of a young adult male is water, with the remaining portion consisting of minerals, fat, and proteins.
- Major Organic Compounds:
- Lipids: Important for energy storage, insulation, and membrane structure.
- Carbohydrates: A less significant form of fuel storage.
- Proteins: Essential structural components, enzymes, and muscle tissues.
Elements in the Human Body
- The human body is composed of numerous essential elements, including:
- Oxygen (O): The most abundant element, involved in respiration and many metabolic processes.
- Carbon (C): Essential for all organic molecules.
- Hydrogen (H): Involved in water and many organic molecules.
- Nitrogen (N): Component of proteins and nucleic acids.
- Calcium (Ca): Essential for bones, teeth, muscle contraction, and nerve function.
- Phosphorus (P): Found in bones, teeth, and nucleic acids.
- Potassium (K): Important for nerve and muscle function.
- Sodium (Na): Important for fluid balance and nerve function.
- Chlorine (Cl): Essential for fluid balance and digestion.
- Magnesium (Mg): Essential for enzyme function and muscle contraction.
- Sulfur (S): Component of some amino acids and proteins.
- Iron (Fe): Component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in the blood.
Components of Body Systems
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Circulatory System:
- Components: Heart, blood vessels, and blood.
- Functions: Transports materials, defends against disease.
-
Digestive System:
- Components: Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, salivary glands, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.
- Functions: Ingests and digests food, absorbs nutrients into the blood.
-
Respiratory System:
- Components: Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
- Functions: Exchanges gases between the blood and the external environment.
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Urinary System:
- Components: Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.
- Functions: Excretes metabolic waste, regulates fluid balance, and maintains acid-base balance.
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