Summary anatomy and physiology review

Chapter 5 Test Study Guide:
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Review
Overview
 Anatomy: structural composition
 Physiology: Function


Anatomic Position
 For consistency in describing the direction or the location of a given
point of the body medical personnel normally refer to the body as if the
patient is in the anatomical position
 A person in the anatomical position is standing erect, with feet parallel,
arms at the sides, and eyes and palms facing forward


Body Planes
 Is a flat surface resulting from a real or imaginary cut through a body
in the normal anatomical position
- The frontal (coronal) plane: divides the body vertically into front and
back portions
- Midsagittal (medial) plane: divides the body vertically into equal
right and left portions
- Sagittal plane: divides the body vertically into right and left portions
- Transverse plane: divides the body horizontally into upper and
lower portions


Key Point
 Directional terms are relative positions with respect to other parts of
the body


Body Cavities
 Dorsal (posterior) cavity: is in the back of the body and includes the
cranial cavity (houses the brain) and the spinal cavity (encases the
spinal cord)
 Ventral (anterior) cavity: is in the front of the body and includes the
thoracic cavity (houses the heart and lungs), abdominal cavity (houses

, the stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, and kidneys), and
the pelvic cavity (houses the urinary bladder and reproductive organs)


Common Paired Directional Terms
 Medial: toward the midline or middle of the body
 Proximal: nearest to the center of the body, origin, or point of
attachment
 Lateral: toward the side of the body
 Distal: farthest point from the center of the body, origin, or point of
attachment


Homeostasis
 The human body constantly strives to maintain its internal
environment in a state of equilibrium or balanced
 This balanced or “steady state” (homeostasis)


Metabolism
 Is the sum of all the physical and chemical reactions necessary to
sustain life
 There are two primary processes of metabolism
- Catabolism: is a destructive process by which complex substances
are broken down into simple substances
- Anabolism: is a constructive process by which the body converts
simple compounds into complex substances needed to carry out
cellular activities of the body


Basic Structural Components of Cells
 Nucleus
- Description: large, dark-staining organelle near the center of the
cell. Fluid within the nucleus is called nucleoplasm
- Function: the command center of the cell that contains the
chromosomes or genetic material


Tissues
 Epithelial tissue: covers and protects the body and lines organs,
vessels, and cavities


Epidermis
 Is the outermost and thinnest layer of the skin