Physiology
- The study of the function of organisms
Cells (Major Classes)
- Neurons
- Muscle Fibers
- Epithelia
- Connective Tissue Cells
Neurons
- Cells that transmit information through out the body via electrical impulses
Muscle Fibers
- Cells in the body responsible for movement through contraction
Epithelia
- Cells found in continuous sheet-like layers that form barriers
Lumen
- The interior cavity of a hollow organ
Glands
- A structure formed from epithelial cells that function in synthesis and secretion
Exocrine Gland
- A gland that secretes into a duct that leads to the external environment
Endocrine Gland
- A gland that secretes hormones into the blood stream
Hormones
- Chemical messengers secreted from endocrine glands
Connective Tissue Cells
- The most diverse of the major cell types, they are characterized by relatively disperse cells surrounded by extensive ground substance
Tissue
- A collection of similarly functioning cells
Organs
- Structures consisting of two or more tissues, combining to perform a particular function
Organ System
- The organization of different organs that work together to perform a specific function of the body
Endocrine System
- Provides communication between cells via hormones
- Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Thymus, Pancreas
Nervous System
- Provides communication between cells via electrical signals and neurotransmitters
- Brain, Spinal Cord, Peripheral Nerves
Musculoskeletal System
- Supports the body; allows voluntary movement
- Skeletal muscles, Bones, Tendons, Ligaments
Cardiovascular System
- Transports molecules throughout the body in the bloodstream
- Heart, Blood vessels, Blood
Respiratory System
- Brings oxygen into the body and eliminates Carbon Dioxide
- Lungs, Pharynx, Trachea, Bronchi
Urinary System
- Filters blood to regulate acidity, volume, and ion concentration; removes waste
- Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder, Urethra
Gastrointestinal System
- Breaks down food and absorbs it
- Mouth, Esophagus, Stomach, Small intestine, Large intestine, Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder
Reproductive System
- Generates Offspring
- Gonads, Reproductive tracts and glands
Immune System
- Defends the body against pathogens and abnormal cells
- White blood cells, Thymus, Lymph nodes, Spleen, Tonsils, Adenoids
Integumentary System
- Protects the body from external environment
- Skin
Total Body Water
- The total volume of water in the body, ~42L for 70kg person
Intracellular Fluid
- The fluid found within cells
Extracellular Fluid
- The fluid found between cells
Homeostasis
- The process of maintaining conditions in the body within a range viable for life
Negative Feedback
- The process whereby a signal causes the gradual change of a process back to normal levels
Integrating Center
- The area in the body, usually located in the brain, that receives sensory input and sends the appropriate response
Effectors
- The cells or tissue that upon receiving an output signal, bring about the appropriate response
Positive Feedback
- The process whereby a signal causes the exponential change of a process away from normal levels
Diabetes Mellitus
- Divided into type I and II, this disease centers around either the inability to produce insulin, or the for cells to be sufficiently affected by insulin, leading to increased blood glucose levels
Gestational Diabetes
- A form of type II diabetes mellitus which develops in pregnant women, only a small percentage of which are permanent
Diabetes Insipidus
- Resulting from either insufficient ADH secretion, or the inability of ADH to affect the appropriate cells in the kidney, this disease is characterized by low plasma volume and excessive urination
External Envirnment
- The area opposite the inside of the body, separated by a layer of epithelial tissue
Inspiration
- The air entering the lungs when breathing in
Expiration
- The air leaving the lungs when breathing out
Absorption
- Movement of a substance from the external environment to the internal environment by transport across an epithelium
Secretion
- Movement of substance from the internal environment to the external environment by transport across an epithelium
Excretion
- Elimination from the body through the kidneys or GI tract
Filtration
- The movement of fluid across capillary walls from plasma to the interstitium
Reabsorption
- Transport of a substance into blood
Permeable
- The characteristic of allowing a substance to pass across a membrane
Selectively Permeable
- Permeable to a specific substance
Semipermeable
- Permeable to some substances, not all
Internal Environment
- The area of the body containing all fluid compartments, separated from the external environment by a layer of epithelium
Plasma
- The extracellular fluid compartment that is the fluid portion of blood making up about 3L of the bodies total 42L of fluid
Interstitial Fluid
- The extracellular fluid compartment that is composed of fluid that bathes most cells in the body
- Similar in composition to plasma except with lesser amount of proteins
Fluid Compartments
- The different fluids of the body
Set Point
- The homeostatic value that is optimal of some variable in the body
Error Signal
- This is any difference in the actual value and set point for a homeostatic variable in the body
Chemoreceptors
- Cells that are sensitive to concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
Thrmoreceptors
- Cells that are sensitive to temperature in the body
Luteinizing Hormone
- This hormone, subject to positive feedback signals, is both sensitive to and signal the release of estrogen
Estrogens
- This hormone, is triggers the positive feedback loop observed with luteinizing hormone