Characteristics of Human Life

(from Ibid. - See last post)

CHARACTERISTIC     DESCRIPTION

Responsiveness - Ability of an organism to sense, monitor, and respond to changes in both its external and internal environments.

Conductivity - Capacity of living cells to transmit a wave of excitation from one point to another within the body.

Growth - Organized increase in the size and number of cells and therefore an increase in size of the individual or a particular organ or part.

Respiration - Exchange of respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between an organism and its environment.

Digestion - Process by which complex food products are broken down into simpler substances that can be absorbed and used by individual body cells.

Absorption - Movement of molecules, such as respiratory gases or digested nutrients through a membrane and into the body fluids for transport to cells for use.

Secretion - Production and release of important substances, such as digestive juices and hormones, for diverse body functions.

Excretion - Excretion refers to the removal of waste products.

Circulation - Movement of body fluids containing many substances from one body area to another in a continuous, circular route through hollow vessels.

Reproduction - Formation of new individual offspring.

Anatomical Directions

(from "Anatomy and Physiology," Patton/Thibodeau, 7th Edition, Mosby)

DIRECTIONAL TERM      DEFINITION       EXAMPLE OF USAGE

Left - To the left of body (not your left, the subject's) - The stomach is to the left of the liver
Right - To the right of the body or structure being studied - The right kidney is damaged

Lateral - Toward the side; away from the midsagittal plane - The eyes are lateral to the nose
Medial - Toward the midsagittal plane; away from the side - The eyes are medial to the ears

Anterior - Toward the front of the body - The breastbone (sternum) is anterior to the heart
Posterior - Toward the back (rear) of the body - The heart is posterior to the breastbone (sternum)

Superior - Toward the top of the body - The shoulders are superior to the hips
Inferior - Toward the bottom of the body - The stomach is inferior to the heart

Dorsal - Along (or toward) the vertebral surface of the body - Her scar is along the dorsal surface
Ventral - Along (or toward) the belly surface of the body - The naval is on the ventral surface

Caudad (caudal) - Toward the tail - The neck is caudad to the skull
Cephalad - Toward the head - The neck is cephalad to the tail

Proximal - Toward the trunk (describes relative position in a limb or other appendage) - The joint is proximal to the toenail
Distal - Away from the trunk or point of attachment - The hand is distal to the elbow

Visceral - Toward an internal organ; away from the outer wall (describes positions inside a body cavity) - This organ is covered with the visceral layer of the membrane
Parietal - Toward the wall; away from the internal structures - The abdominal cavity is lined with the parietal peritoneal membrane

Deep - Toward the inside of a part; away from the surface - The thigh muscles are deep to the skin
Superficial - Toward the surface of a part; away from the inside - The skin is a superficial organ

Medullary - Refers to an inner region, or medulla - The medullary portion contains nerve tissue
Cortical - Refers to an outer region, or cortex - The cortical area produces hormones

Ipsilateral - On the same side of the body as - The left knee is ipsilateral to the left ankle
Contralateral - On the opposite side of the body - The left knee is contralateral to the right knee

Overview

This is a blog I put together to compile the notes and assignments from my first year of the Medical Radiation Technology Program at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This way, it will allow me to refresh my memory on the course material as well as share some of the notes, questions, and answers with other MRT students in other places. Also, it makes it feel less like work and more like a hobby when I can call it blogging. So, I'm sitting here on my first day of classes in the college library typing out my first notes, with a stack of textbooks from the reserve section since the books I ordered haven't yet arrived. Here goes nothing...