Chapter 1: Foundation of Human Anatomy
and Physiology
abdominal cavity - ANS space bounded by the abdominal walls, the diaphragm, and the pelvis
abdominopelvic cavity - ANS continuous internal opening that includes the abdominal and
pelvic cavities
anatomical position - ANS erect standing position with arms at the sides and palms facing
forward
anatomy - ANS the study of the form or structure of living things, including plants, animals, and
humans
anterior (ventral) body cavity - ANS continuous internal opening that includes the thoracic and
abdominopelvic cavities
cranial cavity - ANS opening inside the skull that holds the brain
frontal plane - ANS an invisible, vertical, flat surface that divides the body into front and back
halves
metric system - ANS international system of measurement that is used in all fields of science
middle ear cavities - ANS openings in the skull that serve as chambers for transmitting and
amplifying sounds
nasal cavity - ANS opening within the nose
oral cavity - ANS opening within the mouth
orbital cavities - ANS openings that hold the eyes
pelvic cavity - ANS internal opening that holds the reproductive and excretory organs
physiology - ANS the study of how living things function or work
posterior (dorsal) body cavity - ANS continuous internal opening located near the back of the
body that includes the cranial and spinal cavities
, sagittal plane - ANS an invisible, vertical flat surface that divides the body into right and left
halves
spinal cavity - ANS the internal opening that houses the spinal cord
thoracic cavity - ANS the internal opening that houses the heart and lungs
transverse plane - ANS an invisible, horizontal flat surface that divides the body into top and
bottom halves
atoms - ANS tiny particles of matter
cells - ANS the smallest living building blocks of all organisms
control center - ANS system that receives and analyzes information from sensory receptors,
then sends a command stimulus to an effector to maintain homeostasis
effector - ANS unit that receives a command stimulus from the control center and causes an
action to help maintain homeostasis
homeostasis - ANS a state of regulated physiological balance
homeostatic imbalance - ANS a state in which there is a diminished ability for the organ
systems to keep the body's internal environment within normal ranges
homeostatic mechanisms - ANS the processes that maintain homeostasis
metabolic rate - ANS the speed at which the body consumes energy
metabolism - ANS the sum of the chemical and physical reactions that occur in an organism to
keep it alive
molecules - ANS chemical combinations of two or more atoms
negative feedback - ANS mechanism that reverses a condition that has exceeded the normal
homeostatic range to restore homeostasis
organ - ANS body part organized to perform a specific function
organ system - ANS two or more organs working together to perform specific functions
positive feedback - ANS mechanism that further increases a condition that has exceeded the
normal homeostatic range
and Physiology
abdominal cavity - ANS space bounded by the abdominal walls, the diaphragm, and the pelvis
abdominopelvic cavity - ANS continuous internal opening that includes the abdominal and
pelvic cavities
anatomical position - ANS erect standing position with arms at the sides and palms facing
forward
anatomy - ANS the study of the form or structure of living things, including plants, animals, and
humans
anterior (ventral) body cavity - ANS continuous internal opening that includes the thoracic and
abdominopelvic cavities
cranial cavity - ANS opening inside the skull that holds the brain
frontal plane - ANS an invisible, vertical, flat surface that divides the body into front and back
halves
metric system - ANS international system of measurement that is used in all fields of science
middle ear cavities - ANS openings in the skull that serve as chambers for transmitting and
amplifying sounds
nasal cavity - ANS opening within the nose
oral cavity - ANS opening within the mouth
orbital cavities - ANS openings that hold the eyes
pelvic cavity - ANS internal opening that holds the reproductive and excretory organs
physiology - ANS the study of how living things function or work
posterior (dorsal) body cavity - ANS continuous internal opening located near the back of the
body that includes the cranial and spinal cavities
, sagittal plane - ANS an invisible, vertical flat surface that divides the body into right and left
halves
spinal cavity - ANS the internal opening that houses the spinal cord
thoracic cavity - ANS the internal opening that houses the heart and lungs
transverse plane - ANS an invisible, horizontal flat surface that divides the body into top and
bottom halves
atoms - ANS tiny particles of matter
cells - ANS the smallest living building blocks of all organisms
control center - ANS system that receives and analyzes information from sensory receptors,
then sends a command stimulus to an effector to maintain homeostasis
effector - ANS unit that receives a command stimulus from the control center and causes an
action to help maintain homeostasis
homeostasis - ANS a state of regulated physiological balance
homeostatic imbalance - ANS a state in which there is a diminished ability for the organ
systems to keep the body's internal environment within normal ranges
homeostatic mechanisms - ANS the processes that maintain homeostasis
metabolic rate - ANS the speed at which the body consumes energy
metabolism - ANS the sum of the chemical and physical reactions that occur in an organism to
keep it alive
molecules - ANS chemical combinations of two or more atoms
negative feedback - ANS mechanism that reverses a condition that has exceeded the normal
homeostatic range to restore homeostasis
organ - ANS body part organized to perform a specific function
organ system - ANS two or more organs working together to perform specific functions
positive feedback - ANS mechanism that further increases a condition that has exceeded the
normal homeostatic range
