Human Physiology

• physiology is the study of how living organisms function
• homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment
• specialized cell types are epithelial cells, connective tissue cells, neurons, and muscle cells
• four major categories of tissues: connective, muscle, epithelial, nervous
• connective tissue provides support/integrity for other tissues and organs. it has varied cell arrangement.

  ex. loose, dense, blood, bone, cartilage, adipose tissue
• muscle tissue generate mechanical force

  ex. voluntary (skeletal) and involuntary (smooth and cardiac)
• epithelial tissue lines walls of open tubes (spongy) and provides secretory and absorptive surfaces

  ex. basal and apical
• nervous tissue provides protection, nourishment, and support to nerve cells, that provide long-distance communication within the body
• the circulatory system transports blood throughout the body
• the heart, blood vessels, and blood are the main organs/tissues of the circulatory system
• the main organs/tissues of the digestive system are the mouth, salivary glands, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, anus, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder
• the digestive system functions to digest and absorb nutrients and water and eliminate waste from the body
• the endocrine system regulates and coordinates many activities in the body including growth, metabolism, reproduction, blood pressure, water, and electrolyte balance
• the endocrine system consists of all glands or organs that secrete hormones, the pancreas, testes, ovaries, hypothalamus, kidneys, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, stomach, small intestine, liver, adipose tissue, heart, and pineal gland; endocrine cells in other organs
• the immune system defends against pathogens
• white blood cells and their organs of production make up the immune system
• integumentary system = skin
• the integumentary system protects the body from injury and dehydration, defends against pathogens, and regulates body temperature
• the lymphatic system consists of lymph vessels and lymph nodes
• the lymphatic system collects extracellular fluid for return to blood, participates in immune defenses, and absorbs fat from the digestive system
• the primary function of the musculoskeletal system is the support, protect, and move the body. it also produces blood cells
• the musculoskeletal system consists of cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons, joints, and skeletal muscle
• the nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and ganglia, and sense organs
• the nervous system detects and responds to changes in the internal and external environments, states of consciousness, learning, memory, and emotion
• the male reproductive system consists of the testes, penis, and associated ducts and glands
• the female reproductive system consists of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands
• the reproductive system produces sperm in males and produces eggs and provides a nutrient-dense environment for a developing embryo in the female
• the respiratory system contains the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs
• the respiratory system facilitates the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, regulates hydrogen ion concentration in body fluids
• the urinary system contains the kidneys, urethra, ureters, and bladder
• the urinary system regulates plasma composition through controlled excretion of ions, water, and organic wastes
• relative amounts of water in body fluid compartments: plasma (7%), interstitial fluid (26%), intracellular fluid (67%)
• the nucleus stores and transmits genetic information in the form of DNA
• the nucleolus is the site of ribosomal RNA synthesis
• ribosomes are the protein factories of a cell
• proteins synthesize on the attached ribosomes enter the rough endoplasmic reticulum and are distributed to other organelles or secreted from the cell
• the smooth endoplasmic reticulum contains enzymes for fatty acid and steroid synthesis, and stores and releases Ca2+
• the golgi apparatus concentrates, modifies, and sorts proteins arriving from the rough ER
• endosomes are membrane-bound vesicular and tubular structures that assist the golgi apparatus with sorting, modifying, and directing vesicular traffic in cells
• the mitochondria is the major site of ATP production, O2 utilization, and CO2 production