Levels of Structural Organization in the Human Body

Study Guide Chemical level: Level that includes atoms and molecules Cellular level: Level that contains the smallest “living parts” of the body Tissue level: Level that is made up of a group of cells working together to perform a task Organ level: Level that is made up of a group of cells working together to perform a task Organ system level: Level that is the most complex unit within the organism Organism: A word used to denote a living thing / highest level in level of organization Physiology: defined as the study of the function of living organisms and their parts Anatomy: is derived from the Greek words meaning “cutting apart” / deals with the study of structure Pathology: study of diseases Prone position: lying face down Supine: lying face up Anatomical: using directional terms to describe the body, it is assumed that the body is in. / using directional terms to describe the body, it is assumed that the body is in what position Superficial: Nearer to the surface of the body Deep: Farther away from the surface of the body Medial: Toward the midline of the body Lateral: Toward the side Superior: Toward the head or above Inferior: Toward the feet or below Anterior: Towards the front Posterior: Towards the back Proximal: Nearest to the trunk or point of origin Distal: Away from the trunk or point of origin Sagittal plane: Divides the body into right and left sides Frontal plane/ Coronal plane: Divides the body into front and rear parts Transverse plane: Divides the body into upper and lower parts Two major cavities: Dorsal and Ventral cavities Thoracic cavity: Cavity that is subdivided into pleural cavities Abdominopelvic cavity: The lower part of the ventral body cavity Mediastinum: A subdivision of the thoracic cavity Diaphragm: divides the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavity. / A muscular sheet dividing the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities Control center: The part of the feedback loop that compares the present condition within a body part or region to its homeostatic condition Effector: the part of the system that effects a change in the controlled condition. / The part of a feedback loop that has the direct effect on the regulated condition Homeostasis: the relative consistency of the internal environment of the body. / The human body tries to maintain a constant body temperature. Negative feedback loop: negates or opposes the change in the internal environment. Positive feedback loop: stimulates and amplifies a change in the internal environment. Diffusion: the process by which substances scatter themselves evenly throughout an available space Filtration: the movement of water and solutes through a membrane because of hydrostatic pressure Osmosis: the movement of water from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration through a selectively permeable membrane Cilia: extremely fine hairlike structures on the surface of the cell Microvilli: are small fingerlike projections on the plasma membrane that increase the cell’s ability to absorb substances Flagella: half the population has which of the following organelles (sperm cells) Tissue typing: is found in the plasma membrane Atrophy: defined as a decrease in the size of individual cells. Anaplasia: cells fail to mature normally and do not differentiate as they should. Hypertrophy: means that there has been an increase in size of individual cells. Epithelial tissue: Mitochondria: cell respiration occurs / The “power plants” of the cell / contains its own DNA molecule Centrioles: are rod-shaped structures that are important in cell division Lysosomes: “digestive bags” of the cell Golgi Apparatus: organelle that consists of tiny flattened sacs that help process and package chemicals in the cell Rough endoplasmic reticulum: structure has ribosomes attached to it and helps transport proteins throughout the cell Smooth endoplasmic reticulum: Organelle that produces new membrane for the cell / structure assembles new membrane for the cell Ribosomes: Organelles that are called the “protein factories” of the cell Plasma membrane: Structure made up of phospholipids and cholesterol molecules Nucleus: Cell structure that controls every organelle in the cytoplasm and contains chromatin Nucleolus: A small structure in the nucleus that programs the formation of ribosomes Prophase: The spindle fibers form / Chromatin becomes “organized” Metaphase: The chromosomes are aligned in the middle of the cells. Anaphase: Chromosomes are pulled to opposite sides of the cell / chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cell / cleavage furrow begin to appear Telophase: The cleavage furrow completely divides the cell into two parts / phase of mitosis do two nuclei appear and the chromosomes become less distinct Interphase: DNA replication occurs Transcription: Occurs in the nucleus Translation: The end product of the process of translation is an amino acid chain or protein / Connective tissue: How does cartilage differ from other connective tissues: Its matrix is the consistency of a firm plastic. Hematopoietic tissue: Red marrow cavities of bones Areolar: Mostly distributed / Consists of delicate webs of fibers and a variety of cells Fibrous connective tissue: Tendons / Consists mainly of bundles of strong, white collagen fibers arranged in parallel rows Blood: Matrix is liquid Bone: Contains numerous structural building blocks called osteons Adipose: Specialized to store lipids Cartilage: Matrix is the consistency of a firm plastic or a gristle like gel Epithelial tissue: Transitional: Wall of the urinary tract / Layers of cells that appear cubelike when an organ is relaxed and flattened when the organ is distended by fluid Simple cuboidal: Kidney Tubules / Single layer of cube-shaped cells Pseudostratified: Trachea Stratified squamous: Surface of the skin / Multiple layers of cells with flat cells at the outer surface Simple squamous: Air sacs of the lungs / Single layer of flat, scalelike cells Simple columnar: Inner surface of the large intestine / Single layer of tall, thin cells; modification may appear goblet-shaped Pseudostratified columnar: Single layer of cells; some are tall and thin and reach the free surface, and others do not Dense fibrous mass: Scar Clusters of tubes of secretory cells: Glands