//cbaniqued

Characteristics of the Living Human Organism 1. All organisms carry on certain processes that distinguish them from nonliving things. 2. The most important life processes of the human body are metabolism, responsiveness, movement, growth, differentiation, and reproduction. Metabolism: the sum of all the chemical processes that occur in the body. Phases of metabolism Catabolism; catabol- _ throwing down; -ism _a condition), the breakdown of complex chemical substances into simpler components. anabolism; anabol- _ a raising up), the building up of complex chemical substances from smaller, simpler components. Responsiveness: the bodys ability to detect and respond to changes. (internal and external) Movement: includes motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells, and even tiny structures inside cells. Growth: an increase in body size that results from an increase in the size of existing cells, an increase in the number of cells, or both. A tissue sometimes increases in size because the amount of material between cells increases. Differentiation: the development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state.

Homeostasis and Body fluids Homeostasis Condition of equilibrium in the bodys internal environment produced by the interplay of all the bodys regulatory processes. Disruptions of homeostasis come from external and internal stimuli and psychological stresses. When disruption of homeostasis is mild and temporary, responses of body cells quickly restore balance in the internal environment. If disruption is extreme, regulation of homeostasis may fail. Disruptions of homeostasishomeostatic imbalancescan lead to disorders, diseases, and even death. A disorder is a general term for any abnormality of structure or function. A disease is an illness with a definite set of signs and symptoms. Symptoms are subjective changes in body functions that are not apparent to an observer; Signs are objective changes that can be observed and measured. The nervous and endocrine systems acting together or separately regulate homeostasis. Nervous system detects body changes and sends nerve impulses to counteract changes in controlled conditions. The endocrine system regulates homeostasis by secreting hormones. Feedback Systems Mechanisms Three basic components of a feedback system Receptor Body structure that monitors changes in a controlled condition and sends input to a control center. Input is in the form of nerve impulses or chemical signals.

Control center The brain which sets the range of values within which a controlled condition should be maintained, evaluates the input it receives from receptors, and generates output commands when they are needed. Output from the control center typically occurs as nerve impulses, or hormones or other chemical signals. Effector Body structure that receives output from the control center and produces a response or effect that changes the controlled condition.

1/6

//cbaniqued

* Negative feedback mechanism: If a response reverses the original stimulus Eg. 1. If a stimulus causes blood pressure (controlled condition) to rise, 2. baroreceptors (pressure-sensitive nerve cells, the receptors) in blood vessels send impulses (input) to the brain (control center). 3. The brain sends impulses (output) to the heart (effector). 4. As a result, heart rate decreases (response) and blood pressure decreases to normal (restoration of homeostasis).

* Positive feedback mechanism: If a response enhances the original stimulus E.g occurs during the birth of a baby 1. When labor begins, the cervix of the uterus is stretched (stimulus), 2. stretch-sensitive nerve cells in the cervix (receptors) send nerve impulses (input) to the brain (control center). 3. The brain responds by releasing oxytocin (output), which stimulates the uterus (effector) to contract more forcefully (response). 4. Movement of the fetus further stretches the cervix, more oxytocin is released, and even more forceful contractions occur. The cycle is broken with the birth of the baby

Body Fluids Body fluids are dilute, watery solutions. Intracellular fluid (ICF) =inside cells, Extracellular fluid (ECF) =outside cells. Interstitial fluid= the ECF that fills spaces between tissue cells =surrounds all body cells, interstitial fluid is called the bodys internal environment ECF within blood vessels is termed blood plasma, within lymphatic vessels it is called lymph, in and around the brain and spinal cord it isknown as cerebrospinal fluid, in joints it is referred to as synovial fluid, and the ECF of the eyes is called aqueous humor and vitreous body.

2/6

//cbaniqued

Body Cavities

Abdominopelvic Cavity Regions and quadrants abdominopelvic cavity. of the

The nine-region designation is used for anatomical studies; the quadrant designation is used to locate the site of pain, tumor, or some other abnormality.

3/6

//cbaniqued

The Eleven Systems of the Human Body An Overview

4/6

//cbaniqued

5/6

//cbaniqued

6/6