STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF THE BODY
17TH EDITION (PATTON) 2026 FULL
REVIEW | CHAPTERS 1–22 STUDY GUIDE
|| RECENT VERSION
Disclaimer: This is an independent study aid created for educational review. It is not a
substitute for the official textbook. Always refer to Patton & Thibodeau: Structure & Function
of the Body, 17th Edition (2026) for the definitive content, diagrams, and clinical applications.
Structure & Function of the Body: Chapters 1-22 Review
Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Human Body
1. Q: What is the study of the structure of an organism and the relationships of its parts?
A: Anatomy
2. Q: Which term refers to the science of the functioning of living organisms?
A: Physiology
3. Q: What is the smallest "living" level of structural organization in the human body?
A: Cellular level
4. Q: Which directional term describes a position closer to the head?
A: Superior (or Cephalic)
5. Q: The thoracic cavity is a subdivision of which larger body cavity?
A: Ventral (Anterior) cavity
Chapter 2: The Chemical Basis of Life
6. Q: What is the basic unit of matter that retains the properties of an element?
A: Atom
7. Q: A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms is called what?
A: Covalent bond
8. Q: On the pH scale, a value below 7 indicates what type of solution?
A: Acidic
,9. Q: What type of organic compound is the body's primary source of immediate energy?
A: Carbohydrates (e.g., Glucose)
10. Q: Which nucleic acid carries the genetic code for protein synthesis out of the nucleus?
A: Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Chapter 3: Cells and Tissues
11. Q: What is the "control center" of the cell that contains DNA?
A: Nucleus
12. Q: Which organelle is known as the "powerhouse of the cell" and produces ATP?
A: Mitochondrion
13. Q: What is the process by which cells engulf large particles or droplets of fluid?
A: Phagocytosis (a type of endocytosis)
14. Q: What type of tissue covers and lines body surfaces, both internal and external?
A: Epithelial tissue
15. Q: Which type of connective tissue is characterized by cells called chondrocytes in lacunae?
A: Cartilage
Chapter 4: The Integumentary System
16. Q: What is the outermost, avascular layer of the epidermis?
A: Stratum corneum
17. Q: Which cells in the epidermis produce the pigment melanin?
A: Melanocytes
18. Q: What protein gives the epidermis its durability and protective properties?
A: Keratin
19. Q: Sweat glands that are abundant in the axillary and genital regions are called what?
A: Apocrine sweat glands
20. Q: The subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) is primarily composed of what type of tissue?
A: Adipose (fat) and loose connective tissue
Chapter 5: The Skeletal System
21. Q: What type of bone, like the femur or humerus, is longer than it is wide?
A: Long bone
22. Q: The shaft of a long bone is known as the what?
A: Diaphysis
23. Q: Which cells are responsible for building new bone matrix?
A: Osteoblasts
24. Q: The foramen magnum is a large opening located in which bone?
A: Occipital bone
,25. Q: What type of joint is characterized by being immovable, like the sutures of the skull?
A: Synarthrosis (or Fibrous joint)
Chapter 6: The Muscular System
26. Q: What is the basic functional unit of a myofibril that contracts?
A: Sarcomere
27. Q: Which protein filament is thick and contains myosin heads?
A: Myosin filament
28. Q: What is the neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction?
A: Acetylcholine (ACh)
29. Q: The point of muscle attachment that is more movable is called the what?
A: Insertion
30. Q: What is the term for a muscle that produces the primary desired movement?
A: Agonist (or Prime mover)
Chapter 7: The Nervous System
31. Q: Which division of the nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord?
A: Central Nervous System (CNS)
32. Q: What are the supporting cells of the nervous system called?
A: Neuroglia (or Glial cells)
33. Q: During an action potential, what rushes into the neuron to cause depolarization?
A: Sodium ions (Na+)
34. Q: What is the fatty insulating sheath that speeds up nerve impulse conduction?
A: Myelin sheath
35. Q: The somatic nervous system controls what type of effectors?
A: Skeletal (voluntary) muscles
Chapter 8: The Senses
36. Q: What type of receptor responds to light energy?
A: Photoreceptor
37. Q: Where are the sensory receptors for hearing located?
A: Organ of Corti (in the cochlea)
38. Q: What are the taste receptor cells called?
A: Gustatory cells
39. Q: What is the transparent anterior part of the fibrous tunic of the eye?
A: Cornea
40. Q: Dynamic equilibrium, related to rotational movement, is detected by structures in the
, what?
A: Semicircular canals
Chapter 9: The Endocrine System
41. Q: Chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands are called what?
A: Hormones
42. Q: Which gland is known as the "master gland"?
A: Pituitary gland (hypophysis)
43. Q: What hormone, produced by the pancreas, lowers blood glucose levels?
A: Insulin
44. Q: The "fight-or-flight" response is primarily associated with which hormone?
A: Epinephrine (Adrenaline)
45. Q: Which hormone, from the thyroid gland, increases the metabolic rate of cells?
A: Thyroxine (T4)
Chapter 10: Blood
46. Q: What is the liquid matrix of blood?
A: Plasma
47. Q: Which blood cell is primarily responsible for transporting oxygen?
A: Erythrocyte (Red Blood Cell)
48. Q: What is the protein in red blood cells that binds to oxygen?
A: Hemoglobin
49. Q: Which white blood cell is most abundant and acts as a first responder to infection?
A: Neutrophil
50. Q: What cell fragment is essential for hemostasis (blood clotting)?
A: Platelet (Thrombocyte)
Chapter 11: The Cardiovascular System
51. Q: The pumping chambers of the heart are called what?
A: Ventricles
52. Q: What valve is located between the right atrium and right ventricle?
A: Tricuspid valve
53. Q: The pacemaker of the heart is the what?
A: Sinoatrial (SA) node
54. Q: Vessels that carry blood away from the heart are called what?
A: Arteries
55. Q: What is the innermost layer of an artery or vein called?
A: Tunica intima
17TH EDITION (PATTON) 2026 FULL
REVIEW | CHAPTERS 1–22 STUDY GUIDE
|| RECENT VERSION
Disclaimer: This is an independent study aid created for educational review. It is not a
substitute for the official textbook. Always refer to Patton & Thibodeau: Structure & Function
of the Body, 17th Edition (2026) for the definitive content, diagrams, and clinical applications.
Structure & Function of the Body: Chapters 1-22 Review
Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Human Body
1. Q: What is the study of the structure of an organism and the relationships of its parts?
A: Anatomy
2. Q: Which term refers to the science of the functioning of living organisms?
A: Physiology
3. Q: What is the smallest "living" level of structural organization in the human body?
A: Cellular level
4. Q: Which directional term describes a position closer to the head?
A: Superior (or Cephalic)
5. Q: The thoracic cavity is a subdivision of which larger body cavity?
A: Ventral (Anterior) cavity
Chapter 2: The Chemical Basis of Life
6. Q: What is the basic unit of matter that retains the properties of an element?
A: Atom
7. Q: A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms is called what?
A: Covalent bond
8. Q: On the pH scale, a value below 7 indicates what type of solution?
A: Acidic
,9. Q: What type of organic compound is the body's primary source of immediate energy?
A: Carbohydrates (e.g., Glucose)
10. Q: Which nucleic acid carries the genetic code for protein synthesis out of the nucleus?
A: Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Chapter 3: Cells and Tissues
11. Q: What is the "control center" of the cell that contains DNA?
A: Nucleus
12. Q: Which organelle is known as the "powerhouse of the cell" and produces ATP?
A: Mitochondrion
13. Q: What is the process by which cells engulf large particles or droplets of fluid?
A: Phagocytosis (a type of endocytosis)
14. Q: What type of tissue covers and lines body surfaces, both internal and external?
A: Epithelial tissue
15. Q: Which type of connective tissue is characterized by cells called chondrocytes in lacunae?
A: Cartilage
Chapter 4: The Integumentary System
16. Q: What is the outermost, avascular layer of the epidermis?
A: Stratum corneum
17. Q: Which cells in the epidermis produce the pigment melanin?
A: Melanocytes
18. Q: What protein gives the epidermis its durability and protective properties?
A: Keratin
19. Q: Sweat glands that are abundant in the axillary and genital regions are called what?
A: Apocrine sweat glands
20. Q: The subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) is primarily composed of what type of tissue?
A: Adipose (fat) and loose connective tissue
Chapter 5: The Skeletal System
21. Q: What type of bone, like the femur or humerus, is longer than it is wide?
A: Long bone
22. Q: The shaft of a long bone is known as the what?
A: Diaphysis
23. Q: Which cells are responsible for building new bone matrix?
A: Osteoblasts
24. Q: The foramen magnum is a large opening located in which bone?
A: Occipital bone
,25. Q: What type of joint is characterized by being immovable, like the sutures of the skull?
A: Synarthrosis (or Fibrous joint)
Chapter 6: The Muscular System
26. Q: What is the basic functional unit of a myofibril that contracts?
A: Sarcomere
27. Q: Which protein filament is thick and contains myosin heads?
A: Myosin filament
28. Q: What is the neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction?
A: Acetylcholine (ACh)
29. Q: The point of muscle attachment that is more movable is called the what?
A: Insertion
30. Q: What is the term for a muscle that produces the primary desired movement?
A: Agonist (or Prime mover)
Chapter 7: The Nervous System
31. Q: Which division of the nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord?
A: Central Nervous System (CNS)
32. Q: What are the supporting cells of the nervous system called?
A: Neuroglia (or Glial cells)
33. Q: During an action potential, what rushes into the neuron to cause depolarization?
A: Sodium ions (Na+)
34. Q: What is the fatty insulating sheath that speeds up nerve impulse conduction?
A: Myelin sheath
35. Q: The somatic nervous system controls what type of effectors?
A: Skeletal (voluntary) muscles
Chapter 8: The Senses
36. Q: What type of receptor responds to light energy?
A: Photoreceptor
37. Q: Where are the sensory receptors for hearing located?
A: Organ of Corti (in the cochlea)
38. Q: What are the taste receptor cells called?
A: Gustatory cells
39. Q: What is the transparent anterior part of the fibrous tunic of the eye?
A: Cornea
40. Q: Dynamic equilibrium, related to rotational movement, is detected by structures in the
, what?
A: Semicircular canals
Chapter 9: The Endocrine System
41. Q: Chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands are called what?
A: Hormones
42. Q: Which gland is known as the "master gland"?
A: Pituitary gland (hypophysis)
43. Q: What hormone, produced by the pancreas, lowers blood glucose levels?
A: Insulin
44. Q: The "fight-or-flight" response is primarily associated with which hormone?
A: Epinephrine (Adrenaline)
45. Q: Which hormone, from the thyroid gland, increases the metabolic rate of cells?
A: Thyroxine (T4)
Chapter 10: Blood
46. Q: What is the liquid matrix of blood?
A: Plasma
47. Q: Which blood cell is primarily responsible for transporting oxygen?
A: Erythrocyte (Red Blood Cell)
48. Q: What is the protein in red blood cells that binds to oxygen?
A: Hemoglobin
49. Q: Which white blood cell is most abundant and acts as a first responder to infection?
A: Neutrophil
50. Q: What cell fragment is essential for hemostasis (blood clotting)?
A: Platelet (Thrombocyte)
Chapter 11: The Cardiovascular System
51. Q: The pumping chambers of the heart are called what?
A: Ventricles
52. Q: What valve is located between the right atrium and right ventricle?
A: Tricuspid valve
53. Q: The pacemaker of the heart is the what?
A: Sinoatrial (SA) node
54. Q: Vessels that carry blood away from the heart are called what?
A: Arteries
55. Q: What is the innermost layer of an artery or vein called?
A: Tunica intima
