What does Anatomy study in the human body?
The structures of the human body.
What does Physiology study in living organisms?
The functions and activities of living organisms and their parts.
What processes does Physiology include?
Physical and chemical processes.
What does Pathology study?
Diseases, their causes, processes, development, and consequences.
What is Pharmacology the science of?
Drugs and their effects on the human body.
What is homeostasis?
The process of maintaining a stable internal environment.
What does homeostatic control maintain within normal limits?
Body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, blood pH, blood pressure, and blood glucose.
What components communicate in homeostatic control?
Receptors, a control centre, and effectors.
Which receptors respond to temperature, osmolarity, and chemical changes?
Thermoreceptors, osmoreceptors, and chemoreceptors respectively.
What are the three functions of the control centre in homeostasis?
Determines the set point, analyses information, and determines the appropriate response.
What is an effector in homeostatic control?
An organ that produces an effect after nervous or hormonal stimulation.
Which organs can act as effectors to correct imbalances?
Muscles and endocrine glands.
What are the six levels of organisation in biology?
Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, system, and organism.
What defines a tissue in biology?
A collection of similar cells acting together to perform a function.
Which four types of tissue exist in the body?
Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.
What is the role of connective tissue?
It joins tissues together.
What is notable about connective tissue in the body?
It is the most common tissue in the body.
How does connective tissue vary in form?
It ranges from fluid to solid.
What types of muscle tissue exist and where are they found?
Skeletal muscle on the skeleton, cardiac muscle in the heart, and smooth muscle in organs and vessels.
What are the functions of nervous tissue components?
Neurons transmit messages rapidly; glia provide metabolic support.
What does the circulatory system transport around the body?
Fluids.
Which organs and fluids make up the circulatory system?
Heart, blood vessels, blood, lymphatic vessels, and lymph fluid.
Where is the heart located in the body?
In the thoracic cavity’s mediastinum.
What is the primary function of the heart?
To create pressure to force blood around the body.
How many chambers does the heart have?
Four chambers.
Name the four chambers of the heart.
Right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle.
What type of blood vessels carry blood away from the heart?
Arteries.
What is the approximate blood volume in an average adult?
5 to 5.5 liters.
What is systole in cardiac function?
Ventricular contraction that forces blood out of the heart.
What is diastole in cardiac function?
Ventricular relaxation during which the heart fills with blood.
Which nodes and fibres coordinate heart contractions?
Sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, atrioventricular bundle, and Purkinje fibres.
What does the pulmonary circuit do?
Carries blood between the heart and lungs.
What does the systemic circuit do?
Carries blood to and from the rest of the body.
What is normal blood pressure during a heartbeat?
Approximately 120–129 mmHg.
How does lymph move toward the heart?
Through one-way lymphatic valves aided by arterial pulsation and muscle squeezing.
Where does lymph drain into the bloodstream?
Through ducts in the upper chest.
What are the main components of blood?
Plasma and formed elements including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
What percentage of blood volume does plasma constitute?
Approximately 55% of blood volume.
What does plasma contain besides water?
Dissolved nutrients, gases, hormones, salts, and plasma proteins.
What is a key characteristic of red blood cells regarding their nucleus?
They lack a nucleus.
Where are red blood cells produced?
In red bone marrow by erythropoiesis.
What triggers the haemostasis process?
Vessel damage exposing collagen.
What blood type has both A and B antigens but no antibodies?
Blood type AB.
Which blood type has neither A nor B antigens but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies?
Blood type O.
What is the primary function of the respiratory system?
It brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide.
Why does the right lung have three lobes and the left lung two?
Because the cardiac notch provides space for the heart.
Which organs make up the upper respiratory tract?
Nose, nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx.
Which organs make up the lower respiratory tract?
Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli.
What are alveoli in the respiratory system?
Terminal air sacs surrounded by capillaries for gas exchange.
Where does oxygen diffuse during respiration?
Into the blood across the respiratory membrane in alveoli.
What is ventilation in respiratory terms?
The movement of air into and out of the lungs.
How does respiration differ from ventilation?
Respiration is gas exchange across the respiratory membrane.
What percentage of oxygen is in inhaled air?
Approximately 20% oxygen is in inhaled air.
What percentage of carbon dioxide is in exhaled air?
Exhaled air contains approximately 5% carbon dioxide.
How many oxygen molecules can haemoglobin bind?
Haemoglobin can bind four oxygen molecules, one per iron atom in its subunits.
What effect does oxygen binding have on haemoglobin's remaining subunits?
Oxygen binding makes it easier for remaining haemoglobin subunits to bind oxygen.
In what three forms is carbon dioxide transported in blood?
Carbon dioxide is transported as bicarbonate ions, carbaminohaemoglobin, or dissolved in plasma.
What triggers increased chemoreceptor activity affecting breathing?
Falling oxygen or rising carbon dioxide levels trigger increased chemoreceptor activity.
Name one physiological change during high-altitude acclimatisation.
High-altitude acclimatisation involves deeper breathing.
Give one example of a respiratory disorder.
Asthma is an example of a respiratory disorder.
Test your knowledge with 29 questions on Human Biosciences Foundations.
1. Which description correctly distinguishes plasma from formed elements?
2. Which blood pressure pattern is approximately normal for an adult?
Review the complete course in the study sheet for Human Biosciences Foundations.
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