BIOS 252 ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY || LATEST
STUDY GUIDE EXAM 2024-2025
Abdominal Cavity - ANSWER-The largest hallow body cavity in humans and many
animals, and holds the bulk of the viscera. It is located below (inferior to) the thoracic
cavity, and above the pelvic cavity.
Abdominopelvic Cavity - ANSWER-Division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses
the abdominal and pelvic viscera.
Anatomical Position - ANSWER-A standard reference position used for describing
location and directions on the human body.
Anatomy - ANSWER-Science that studies the form and composition of the the body's
structures.
Anterior Cavity - ANSWER-Larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal)
body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities of the lungs,
pericardial cavity of the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs;
also referred to as ventral cavity.
Atom - ANSWER-The basic unit that makes up all matter.
Body Plane - ANSWER-An imaginary lines drawn through the body to separate the
body into sections.
Caudal - ANSWER-Describes a position below or lower than another part of the body
proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal
column); also refer to as inferior
Cell - ANSWER-Smallest independently functioning unit of all organisms; in animals, it
contains cytoplasm, composed of fluid and organelles
Control Center - ANSWER-Compares values to their normal range; deviations cause
the activation of an effector
Coronal Section - ANSWER-Divides the body into dorsal and ventral (back and front, or
posterior and anterior) portions; also referred to as frontal portion
, Cranial - ANSWER-Describes a position above or higher than another part of the body
proper; also referred to as superior
Cranial Cavity - ANSWER-Division of the posterior (dorsal) cavity that houses the brain
Cross Section - ANSWER-In anatomy, a transverse cut through a structure or tissue.
Deep - ANSWER-Describes a position farther from the surface of the body
Development - ANSWER-Changes an organism goes through during its life
Diaphragm - ANSWER-The muscle that separates the chest (thoracic) cavity from the
abdomen and is the main muscle of respiration.
Differentiation - ANSWER-Process by which unspecialized cells become specialized in
structure and function
Distal - ANSWER-Describes a position farther from the point of attachment or the trunk
of the body
Dorsal Body Cavity - ANSWER-Posterior body cavity that houses the brain and the
spinal cord; also referred to as posterior body cavity
Effector - ANSWER-Organ that can cause a change in value
- an organ (a gland or muscle) that becomes active in response to nerve impulses
Excretion - ANSWER-The process whereby the undigested residue of food and the
waste products of metabolism are eliminated, material is removed to regulate the
composition of body fluids and tissues, or substances are expelled to perform functions
on an exterior surface.
Frontal Plane - ANSWER-Two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or
organ into anterior and posterior portions
Gross Anatomy - ANSWER-Study of the larger structures of the body, typically with the
unaided (naked) eye; also referred to macroscopic anatomy
Growth - ANSWER-Process in increasing in size
Homeostasis - ANSWER-Steady state of body systems that living organisms maintain
- comes from two Greek words homeo, meaning 'similar' and stasis, meaning 'stable'.
Homeostatic Imbalance - ANSWER-Occurs when the human body's internal
environmental variables become disturbed.
STUDY GUIDE EXAM 2024-2025
Abdominal Cavity - ANSWER-The largest hallow body cavity in humans and many
animals, and holds the bulk of the viscera. It is located below (inferior to) the thoracic
cavity, and above the pelvic cavity.
Abdominopelvic Cavity - ANSWER-Division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses
the abdominal and pelvic viscera.
Anatomical Position - ANSWER-A standard reference position used for describing
location and directions on the human body.
Anatomy - ANSWER-Science that studies the form and composition of the the body's
structures.
Anterior Cavity - ANSWER-Larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal)
body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities of the lungs,
pericardial cavity of the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs;
also referred to as ventral cavity.
Atom - ANSWER-The basic unit that makes up all matter.
Body Plane - ANSWER-An imaginary lines drawn through the body to separate the
body into sections.
Caudal - ANSWER-Describes a position below or lower than another part of the body
proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal
column); also refer to as inferior
Cell - ANSWER-Smallest independently functioning unit of all organisms; in animals, it
contains cytoplasm, composed of fluid and organelles
Control Center - ANSWER-Compares values to their normal range; deviations cause
the activation of an effector
Coronal Section - ANSWER-Divides the body into dorsal and ventral (back and front, or
posterior and anterior) portions; also referred to as frontal portion
, Cranial - ANSWER-Describes a position above or higher than another part of the body
proper; also referred to as superior
Cranial Cavity - ANSWER-Division of the posterior (dorsal) cavity that houses the brain
Cross Section - ANSWER-In anatomy, a transverse cut through a structure or tissue.
Deep - ANSWER-Describes a position farther from the surface of the body
Development - ANSWER-Changes an organism goes through during its life
Diaphragm - ANSWER-The muscle that separates the chest (thoracic) cavity from the
abdomen and is the main muscle of respiration.
Differentiation - ANSWER-Process by which unspecialized cells become specialized in
structure and function
Distal - ANSWER-Describes a position farther from the point of attachment or the trunk
of the body
Dorsal Body Cavity - ANSWER-Posterior body cavity that houses the brain and the
spinal cord; also referred to as posterior body cavity
Effector - ANSWER-Organ that can cause a change in value
- an organ (a gland or muscle) that becomes active in response to nerve impulses
Excretion - ANSWER-The process whereby the undigested residue of food and the
waste products of metabolism are eliminated, material is removed to regulate the
composition of body fluids and tissues, or substances are expelled to perform functions
on an exterior surface.
Frontal Plane - ANSWER-Two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or
organ into anterior and posterior portions
Gross Anatomy - ANSWER-Study of the larger structures of the body, typically with the
unaided (naked) eye; also referred to macroscopic anatomy
Growth - ANSWER-Process in increasing in size
Homeostasis - ANSWER-Steady state of body systems that living organisms maintain
- comes from two Greek words homeo, meaning 'similar' and stasis, meaning 'stable'.
Homeostatic Imbalance - ANSWER-Occurs when the human body's internal
environmental variables become disturbed.
