Anatomy and Physiology for
Paramedics – Study Guide &
Exam Preparation PDF
What is anatomy? - answer- The study of the structure and makeup of the organism.
What is physiology? - answer- The study of the processes and functions of the body.
What is homeostasis? - answer- A state of balance in which organs and systems can
function effectively.
What does the prefix 'patho-' mean? - answer- It means 'disease'.
What is pathophysiology? - answer- The study of how body functions change when
encountering disease or when homeostasis is disturbed.
List the characteristics shared by all living things. - answer- Absorption, circulation,
digestion, excretion, growth, movement, reproduction, respiration, responsiveness.
What is absorption in the context of living organisms? - answer- The ability to take in or
soak up materials through various membranes.
Define circulation as a characteristic of life. - answer- The ability to transport substances
throughout the body via body fluids.
What does digestion refer to in living organisms? - answer- The ability to convert food
sources into simpler compounds.
What is excretion? - answer- The ability to expel waste materials from the body.
What does growth mean in the context of living organisms? - answer- The ability to
increase in size.
What is movement in living organisms? - answer- The ability to change locations,
positions, or move internal structures.
Define reproduction as a characteristic of life. - answer- The ability to create new cells
or new organisms.
What is respiration? - answer- The ability to use food sources in combination with
oxygen to release energy.
,What does responsiveness mean for living organisms? - answer- The ability to react to
internal and external stimuli.
What are the levels of organization in the body? - answer- From least complex to most
complex: cells, tissues, organs, systems, organism.
What are the key substances in the body's chemical composition? - answer-
Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, trace elements, and enzymes.
What is the significance of fluid balance in the body? - answer- It maintains homeostasis
and is crucial for normal life processes.
Differentiate between anabolism and catabolism. - answer- Anabolism is the building up
of substances, while catabolism is the breaking down of substances.
What are the major fluid compartments of the body? - answer- Intracellular fluid and
extracellular fluid.
What are the types of tissues found in the body? - answer- Epithelial tissue, connective
tissue, muscle tissue, neural tissue, and membranes.
What is the function of the integumentary system? - answer- To protect the body,
regulate temperature, and provide sensory information.
What are the components of the skeletal system? - answer- Bones, cartilage, ligaments,
and joints.
What is the role of the kidneys in the urinary system? - answer- To regulate electrolyte
balance, acid-base balance, and blood pressure.
What is the function of the respiratory system? - answer- To facilitate gas exchange,
providing oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide.
What is the primary function of the circulatory system? - answer- To transport blood,
nutrients, gases, and waste products throughout the body.
What are the major components of the endocrine system? - answer- Endocrine and
exocrine glands, hormones, and their regulatory functions.
What does the term 'organism' indicate in anatomy? - answer- It indicates that
organization is crucial in the body.
What is the simplest level of organization in the human body? - answer- Chemical level.
What constitutes the chemical level of organization? - answer- Atoms and molecules.
, What are the basic living units of structure and function in the human organism? -
answer- Cells.
What is formed when several cells with common functions join together? - answer-
Tissues.
What are organs created from? - answer- Several types of tissue joining to perform a
function.
What is an organ system? - answer- A combination of several organs that perform a
common function.
What is the highest level of organization in the human body? - answer- Organism.
What are the six basic units of organization in the human body? - answer- Chemical,
cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.
What is a mineral? - answer- A naturally occurring, inorganic element necessary for
normal cell function.
How do humans obtain minerals? - answer- From plant foods or from animals that have
eaten plants.
Where are minerals most concentrated in the human body? - answer- In the bones and
teeth.
What are macrominerals? - answer- Minerals required in daily amounts of 100 mg or
more.
Give examples of macrominerals. - answer- Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
What are microminerals? - answer- Minerals needed in amounts less than 100 mg daily.
List examples of microminerals. - answer- Chromium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium,
and zinc.
What defines organic compounds? - answer- Compounds that contain the element
carbon.
What are biochemical compounds? - answer- Organic compounds that occur in living
organisms, essential for life.
What are carbohydrates? - answer- Sugars or starches composed of carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen, used for energy.
Paramedics – Study Guide &
Exam Preparation PDF
What is anatomy? - answer- The study of the structure and makeup of the organism.
What is physiology? - answer- The study of the processes and functions of the body.
What is homeostasis? - answer- A state of balance in which organs and systems can
function effectively.
What does the prefix 'patho-' mean? - answer- It means 'disease'.
What is pathophysiology? - answer- The study of how body functions change when
encountering disease or when homeostasis is disturbed.
List the characteristics shared by all living things. - answer- Absorption, circulation,
digestion, excretion, growth, movement, reproduction, respiration, responsiveness.
What is absorption in the context of living organisms? - answer- The ability to take in or
soak up materials through various membranes.
Define circulation as a characteristic of life. - answer- The ability to transport substances
throughout the body via body fluids.
What does digestion refer to in living organisms? - answer- The ability to convert food
sources into simpler compounds.
What is excretion? - answer- The ability to expel waste materials from the body.
What does growth mean in the context of living organisms? - answer- The ability to
increase in size.
What is movement in living organisms? - answer- The ability to change locations,
positions, or move internal structures.
Define reproduction as a characteristic of life. - answer- The ability to create new cells
or new organisms.
What is respiration? - answer- The ability to use food sources in combination with
oxygen to release energy.
,What does responsiveness mean for living organisms? - answer- The ability to react to
internal and external stimuli.
What are the levels of organization in the body? - answer- From least complex to most
complex: cells, tissues, organs, systems, organism.
What are the key substances in the body's chemical composition? - answer-
Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, trace elements, and enzymes.
What is the significance of fluid balance in the body? - answer- It maintains homeostasis
and is crucial for normal life processes.
Differentiate between anabolism and catabolism. - answer- Anabolism is the building up
of substances, while catabolism is the breaking down of substances.
What are the major fluid compartments of the body? - answer- Intracellular fluid and
extracellular fluid.
What are the types of tissues found in the body? - answer- Epithelial tissue, connective
tissue, muscle tissue, neural tissue, and membranes.
What is the function of the integumentary system? - answer- To protect the body,
regulate temperature, and provide sensory information.
What are the components of the skeletal system? - answer- Bones, cartilage, ligaments,
and joints.
What is the role of the kidneys in the urinary system? - answer- To regulate electrolyte
balance, acid-base balance, and blood pressure.
What is the function of the respiratory system? - answer- To facilitate gas exchange,
providing oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide.
What is the primary function of the circulatory system? - answer- To transport blood,
nutrients, gases, and waste products throughout the body.
What are the major components of the endocrine system? - answer- Endocrine and
exocrine glands, hormones, and their regulatory functions.
What does the term 'organism' indicate in anatomy? - answer- It indicates that
organization is crucial in the body.
What is the simplest level of organization in the human body? - answer- Chemical level.
What constitutes the chemical level of organization? - answer- Atoms and molecules.
, What are the basic living units of structure and function in the human organism? -
answer- Cells.
What is formed when several cells with common functions join together? - answer-
Tissues.
What are organs created from? - answer- Several types of tissue joining to perform a
function.
What is an organ system? - answer- A combination of several organs that perform a
common function.
What is the highest level of organization in the human body? - answer- Organism.
What are the six basic units of organization in the human body? - answer- Chemical,
cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.
What is a mineral? - answer- A naturally occurring, inorganic element necessary for
normal cell function.
How do humans obtain minerals? - answer- From plant foods or from animals that have
eaten plants.
Where are minerals most concentrated in the human body? - answer- In the bones and
teeth.
What are macrominerals? - answer- Minerals required in daily amounts of 100 mg or
more.
Give examples of macrominerals. - answer- Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
What are microminerals? - answer- Minerals needed in amounts less than 100 mg daily.
List examples of microminerals. - answer- Chromium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium,
and zinc.
What defines organic compounds? - answer- Compounds that contain the element
carbon.
What are biochemical compounds? - answer- Organic compounds that occur in living
organisms, essential for life.
What are carbohydrates? - answer- Sugars or starches composed of carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen, used for energy.
