intro to gen physio

• physiology 


  study of the functions of the different organ systems of organisms, or how life works
• integrative and comparative


  two disciplines of physiology
• anatomy


  study of the structure of organisms
• physics


  necessary to understand processes in organisms, such as electrical conduction, fluid dynamics, and leverage exerted by musculoskeletal systems
• chemistry


  crucial as all life processes depen on chemical reactions
• biochemistry and molecular biology 


  provide a major foundation for physiological understanding
• molecular biology


  the integration of this is now the dominant force in many physiological studies
• genetic code


  gives rise to the crucial parts of the functioning organism, which in turn affect how the code is used
• comparative studies


  help us undnerstand the trade-offs and constraints found in many biological features
• comparative studies


  help find what physiological functions are universal rather than unique
• vertical integration


  concerns the hierarchial nature of physiology
• hierarchial nature of physiology

  in which organ systems and their fuctions arise from cells and their molecular components, and from the evolutionary forces that gave rise to those components
• horizontal integration


  concern the interaction of all organ systems to produce a whole functioning organism
• homeostasis and other integrated forms of regulation

  central themes of physiology
• cells, tissues, organs and systems


  levels of organization in multicellular organisms
• chemical level

  simpliest level within the structural hierarchy
• chemical level


  found in this level are the atoms and molecules
• atoms


  tiniest building blocks of matter, which combine to form molecules
• molecules


  combine to form organelles
• organelles


  the internal organs of the cells
• cellular level


  found in this level are the cells
• cell


  smallest unit of living matter
• tissue level

  found in this level are the tissues
• tissues


  groups of similar cells that have a common function
• epithelium, connective, muscle, and nervous


  basic tissues types in human
• epithelial cells


  specialized cells for the exchange of materials
• epithelial tissue


  made up of epithelial cells, which are joined together very tightly to form sheets that cover and line various organs
• epithelial tissues


  serve as boundaries that separate animals from the external environment and from the contents of cavities that communicate with the external environment
• connective tissue


  distinguished by having relatively few cells dispersed within an abundance of extracellular material that they secrete
• loose connective tissue


  attaches epithelial tissue to underlying structures
• tendons


  attach skeletal muscles to bone
• bone


  gives vertebrates shape, support, and protection
• blood or hemolymph


  transports materials from one part of a body to another and connects all cells of the body
• connective tissues


  connects, supports and anchors various body parts except blood
• elastin


  rubber band-like protein fiber whose elastic properties facilitate the stretching and recoiling of structures
• muscular tissue

  consist of cells specialized for contraction and force generation
• cardiac, skeletal, and smooth


  types of muscle tissues in vertebrates
• cardiac muscle tissue


  responsible for pumping blood out of the heart
• skeletal muscle tissue


  causes movement of skeleton
• smooth muscle tissue


  encloses and controls movement of contents through hollow tubes and organs