Summary
Summary Human Physiology - NSC104
- Course
- Institution
- Book
Recent human physiology study guide
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
Exam (elaborations) Human Physiology multiple choice questions
-
Exam (elaborations) Physiology Human Physiology
-
PIO Human Physiology practice test with correct answers
Seller
Follow
TGUARD
Content preview
1Human Physiology
Section One: Chapter 1: Introduction to Human Physiology
Figure 1.1 This artistic rendering of the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum of the human brain. It shows
the functional difference between the logic, reason and order of the left hemisphere, compared to the creative,
intuitive and empathetic of the right hemisphere. These two sides of the brain do not oppose one another and
neither do they work separately, rather they are synergistic and complement one another. They both contain vital
elements of human function and when fully integrated they operate in an elegantly balanced and functional
manner.
Introduction and General Information about Terms for the Human Body
Words, names and terms are very important in any discipline because most often carry precise meaning
in them. Knowing and understanding the relationships of the meanings of these words will help
tremendously in remembering and comprehending the information in a much deeper way. This
information will also stay with you long after the course is over, and you will recognize important
elements in other disciplines when you connect to the deeper meanings.
Physiology
The etymology (word origin) of the term Physiology comes from the 1560’s French which comes directly
from Latin physiologia, meaning “The study and description of natural objects, natural philosophy". This
is derived from ‘physios’ meaning "nature, natural, physical"; and ‘logia’ meaning "study". This gives us
the fuller meaning of Physiology as the "Science of the normal function of living things".
When studying physiology, it is imperative that we also understand the basic anatomy involved, as
anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) go hand in hand.
, 2
Anatomy
The etymology (word origin) of the term Anatomy comes from the Late 1300’s terms in both Latin,
anatomia and Greek, anatome. These words are derived from ana which means "up"; and tomos (or
temnein) which means "to cut". Together this gives "a cutting up", which is clearly involved in dissection!
In general, anatomy is considered the “Study or knowledge of the structure (form) and function of the
human body“. Courses and textbooks for anatomy and physiology are different, but are inextricably
connected to each other and thus it is important to identify and incorporate the way these two are
related.
Etymology for the Language of Physiology
Another useful concept related to the importance of words in physiology (and anatomy) is knowing the
etymology (origin of the word) of the vast array of scientific terms used in the health care field. Since
many of these words are derived from Latin and Greek, it is incredibly helpful to know the origins and
‘translations’ of these terms. Becoming aware of the origins of words will greatly help students to: 1)
understand what the term means; and 2) assist you in predicting what a brand new term means when
you first encounter it, as it may contains a portion of a term you have already seen before, and the
meanings (from the word origin) usually do not change.
Here are two examples:
The solution is hypertonic. What is the etymology and meaning of hypertonic?
Hyper means above normal and tonic means strength. The solution is strong or concentrated.
The person has hypoglycemia.
Hypo is the opposite of hyper and means below normal. The glyc portions means glucose (a type
of sugar), and emia means blood. Therefore, this statement means the person has low blood
sugar.
One more example:
A runner has hyponatremia.
Hypo still means below normal. The natr portion means natrium which is the Latin word for
sodium (hence why the chemical symbol for sodium is Na), and emia still means blood.
Therefore, this statement means the person has low sodium levels in their blood.
Along the way in this physiology course we will encounter many of these terms that, once we know the
origin and meaning of, will help us figure out newer terms with ease and familiarity. Anyone who has
taken a medical terminology course will know the value of understanding the meaning of roots, prefixes
(at the beginning of a word) and suffixes (at the end of a word).
There is an extensive list of word etymologies in the Glossary of Anatomy and Physiology Etymology in
appendix A at the end of this text.
Now you do this one:
There is a diagnosis of pancytopenia. (Hint: there are 3 terms here: pan, cyto and penia).
Please feel free to use any reference resource available to you, and remember there is a Glossary of
Anatomy and Physiology Etymology terms provided in this text (page 649) to help find out what this
diagnosis literally means.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller TGUARD. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67474 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now