Human Anatomy and Physiology: 1st
Semester Final Study Guide
Anatomy vs Physiology - ANS Anatomy: The study of the human body and its parts and their
relationship to each other, "The who".
Physiology: The study of how the parts of the human body work or function, "the what".
List the levels of organization from smallest to largest. - ANS 1. Atom
2. Molecule
3. Cell
4. Tissue
5. Organ
6. Organ system
7. Organism
What are the 7 characteristics of life and what do they mean? - ANS 1. Movement: Activities
promoted by muscular system.
2. Responsiveness: Ability to sense changes in the environment and react to them.
3. Growth: Increase in body size; no change in shape.
4. Reproduction: Production of new organisms and new cells.
5. Digestion: Breakdown of food substances into simpler forms.
6. Metabolism: All chemical reactions that occur in body cells.
7. Excretion: Removal of waste from the body.
What environmental factors do humans need to live? - ANS 1. Water
2. Food
3. Oxygen
4. Normal body temp.
5. Atmospheric pressure
Homeostasis - ANS The process of maintaining a stable internal environment.
, Negative feedback vs. positive feedback - ANS Negative feedback: Prevents sudden severe
changes in the body, corrects the set point, causes opposite of bodily disruption to occur (I.e.
the "negative), most common type of feedback loop.
Ex: heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and glucose regulation.
Positive feedback: Increases (accelerates) the actions of the body, short-lived, do not require
continuous adjustments.
Ex: Blood clotting and childbirth.
Anatomical position - ANS Standard position, erect with feet parallel, arms hanging at sides,
and palms facing forward.
What are the two main body cavities? - ANS Dorsal and ventral.
Explain Sagittal, transverse, and coronal sections. - ANS Sagittal section: A cut along the
lengthwise or longitudinal plane, dividing the body into left and right parts.
Coronal (frontal) section: A cut along a lengthwise plane that divides the body (or an organ) into
anterior or posterior parts.
Transverse (cross) section: A cut along a horizontal plane, dividing the body or organ into
superior and inferior parts.
Superior - ANS Towards the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.
Ex: The forehead is _____ to the nose.
Inferior - ANS Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body;
below.
Ex: The naval is ____ to the nose.
Anterior - ANS Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.
Ex: The breastbone is _____ to the spine.
Posterior - ANS Towards or at the backside of the body; behind.
Ex: The head is ____ to the breastbone.
Medial - ANS Toward or at the midline of the body; on the outside of.
Ex: the heart is _____ to the arm.
Semester Final Study Guide
Anatomy vs Physiology - ANS Anatomy: The study of the human body and its parts and their
relationship to each other, "The who".
Physiology: The study of how the parts of the human body work or function, "the what".
List the levels of organization from smallest to largest. - ANS 1. Atom
2. Molecule
3. Cell
4. Tissue
5. Organ
6. Organ system
7. Organism
What are the 7 characteristics of life and what do they mean? - ANS 1. Movement: Activities
promoted by muscular system.
2. Responsiveness: Ability to sense changes in the environment and react to them.
3. Growth: Increase in body size; no change in shape.
4. Reproduction: Production of new organisms and new cells.
5. Digestion: Breakdown of food substances into simpler forms.
6. Metabolism: All chemical reactions that occur in body cells.
7. Excretion: Removal of waste from the body.
What environmental factors do humans need to live? - ANS 1. Water
2. Food
3. Oxygen
4. Normal body temp.
5. Atmospheric pressure
Homeostasis - ANS The process of maintaining a stable internal environment.
, Negative feedback vs. positive feedback - ANS Negative feedback: Prevents sudden severe
changes in the body, corrects the set point, causes opposite of bodily disruption to occur (I.e.
the "negative), most common type of feedback loop.
Ex: heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and glucose regulation.
Positive feedback: Increases (accelerates) the actions of the body, short-lived, do not require
continuous adjustments.
Ex: Blood clotting and childbirth.
Anatomical position - ANS Standard position, erect with feet parallel, arms hanging at sides,
and palms facing forward.
What are the two main body cavities? - ANS Dorsal and ventral.
Explain Sagittal, transverse, and coronal sections. - ANS Sagittal section: A cut along the
lengthwise or longitudinal plane, dividing the body into left and right parts.
Coronal (frontal) section: A cut along a lengthwise plane that divides the body (or an organ) into
anterior or posterior parts.
Transverse (cross) section: A cut along a horizontal plane, dividing the body or organ into
superior and inferior parts.
Superior - ANS Towards the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.
Ex: The forehead is _____ to the nose.
Inferior - ANS Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body;
below.
Ex: The naval is ____ to the nose.
Anterior - ANS Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.
Ex: The breastbone is _____ to the spine.
Posterior - ANS Towards or at the backside of the body; behind.
Ex: The head is ____ to the breastbone.
Medial - ANS Toward or at the midline of the body; on the outside of.
Ex: the heart is _____ to the arm.
