HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomic Position *** The body is erect, the feet are slightly apart, the head is held high, and the palms
of the hands are facing forward.
Superior *** Above
Inferior *** Below
Anterior *** Facing forward
Posterior *** Toward the back
Medial *** Toward the midline
Lateral *** Away from the midline; towards the side
Proximal *** closer to point of attachment
Distal *** Farther away from point of attachment
Histology *** Study of tissues
Epithelial cells *** Cover, line, and protect the body and its internal organs
Connective tissue *** Framework of the body, providing support and structure for the organs; Types of
Connective Tissue: Cartilage, Adipose, and Smooth
,Nerve Tissue *** Composed of neurons
Tissue *** Group of cells that act together to perform specific functions
Neuroglia *** Neurons and connective tissue cells that make of nerve tissue
Muscle Tissue *** -Classified as voluntary muscle (skeletal muscle) or involuntary muscle (smooth and
cardiac muscle tissue)
-Have the ability to contract or shorten
Cell *** Basic unit of life and the building blocks of tissues and organs
Nucleus *** Contains DNA
Ribosomes *** -Synthesis of proteins
-Proteins include the enzymes that regulate all chemical reactions within the body
Mitosis *** -Necessary for growth and repair
-DNA is duplicated and distributed evenly to two daughter cells
Meiosis *** -Cell division that takes place in the gonads (ovaries and testes);
-Chromosome number reduced from 46 to 23 so when the egg and the sperm unite in fertilization, the
zygote will have correct number of chromosomes
Skin *** -Largest organ in the body
, -Epidermis (outermost); Dermis (underlying)
Epidermis *** Outermost protective layer made of dead, keratinized epithelial cells
Dermis *** -Underlying layer of connective tissue with blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles,
glands, and the associated skin structures
-rests on subcutaneous tissue that connects the skin to the superficial muscles
Layers of Epidermis (Outer to Inner) *** *(C)ome (L)et's (G)et (S)un (B)urned!*
1. Stratum corneum
2. Stratum Lucidum
3. Stratum granulosum
4. Stratum germinativum (stratum basale and stratum spinosum) This is where mitosis occurs
Melanin *** Epidermal cells contain this which protects against radiation from the sun
Eccrine *** Most widely distributed sweat gland, regulates body temperature by releasing watery
secretions that evaporate on the surface of the skin
Apocrine *** -Sweat gland in the armpits and groin area
-This secretion contains bits of cytoplasm from the secreting cells
-This cell debris attracts bacteria resulting in body odor
Sebaceous glands *** Releases an oily secretion (sebum) through hair follicles that lubricates the skin
and prevents them from dying
Holocrine *** -Sebum is produced by holocrine secretion
Anatomic Position *** The body is erect, the feet are slightly apart, the head is held high, and the palms
of the hands are facing forward.
Superior *** Above
Inferior *** Below
Anterior *** Facing forward
Posterior *** Toward the back
Medial *** Toward the midline
Lateral *** Away from the midline; towards the side
Proximal *** closer to point of attachment
Distal *** Farther away from point of attachment
Histology *** Study of tissues
Epithelial cells *** Cover, line, and protect the body and its internal organs
Connective tissue *** Framework of the body, providing support and structure for the organs; Types of
Connective Tissue: Cartilage, Adipose, and Smooth
,Nerve Tissue *** Composed of neurons
Tissue *** Group of cells that act together to perform specific functions
Neuroglia *** Neurons and connective tissue cells that make of nerve tissue
Muscle Tissue *** -Classified as voluntary muscle (skeletal muscle) or involuntary muscle (smooth and
cardiac muscle tissue)
-Have the ability to contract or shorten
Cell *** Basic unit of life and the building blocks of tissues and organs
Nucleus *** Contains DNA
Ribosomes *** -Synthesis of proteins
-Proteins include the enzymes that regulate all chemical reactions within the body
Mitosis *** -Necessary for growth and repair
-DNA is duplicated and distributed evenly to two daughter cells
Meiosis *** -Cell division that takes place in the gonads (ovaries and testes);
-Chromosome number reduced from 46 to 23 so when the egg and the sperm unite in fertilization, the
zygote will have correct number of chromosomes
Skin *** -Largest organ in the body
, -Epidermis (outermost); Dermis (underlying)
Epidermis *** Outermost protective layer made of dead, keratinized epithelial cells
Dermis *** -Underlying layer of connective tissue with blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles,
glands, and the associated skin structures
-rests on subcutaneous tissue that connects the skin to the superficial muscles
Layers of Epidermis (Outer to Inner) *** *(C)ome (L)et's (G)et (S)un (B)urned!*
1. Stratum corneum
2. Stratum Lucidum
3. Stratum granulosum
4. Stratum germinativum (stratum basale and stratum spinosum) This is where mitosis occurs
Melanin *** Epidermal cells contain this which protects against radiation from the sun
Eccrine *** Most widely distributed sweat gland, regulates body temperature by releasing watery
secretions that evaporate on the surface of the skin
Apocrine *** -Sweat gland in the armpits and groin area
-This secretion contains bits of cytoplasm from the secreting cells
-This cell debris attracts bacteria resulting in body odor
Sebaceous glands *** Releases an oily secretion (sebum) through hair follicles that lubricates the skin
and prevents them from dying
Holocrine *** -Sebum is produced by holocrine secretion
