Anatomy and Physiology Fundamentals Flashcards

Which type of muscle tissue is involuntary, striated, and found only in the heart?

Answer: Cardiac muscle

Cardiac muscle is uniquely involuntary and striated, with intercalated discs that allow electrical coupling between cells for coordinated contraction.

What is the anatomical term for the small bone at the tip of the sternum that serves as an attachment for the diaphragm?

Answer: Xiphoid process

The xiphoid process is the inferior-most part of the sternum and serves as an attachment point for the diaphragm and some abdominal muscles.

Which fluid compartment contains approximately two-thirds of total body water in an adult?

Answer: Intracellular fluid

Intracellular fluid (ICF) accounts for about 67% of total body water (~28 L in a 70 kg adult), found within all body cells.

During a surgical procedure requiring laparotomy, the surgeon identifies the retroperitoneal organs. Which of the following is a retroperitoneal organ?

Answer: Kidneys

The kidneys are retroperitoneal, lying behind the peritoneum against the posterior abdominal wall, unlike most abdominal organs covered by peritoneum.

Which reflex arc component converts a stimulus into an electrical nerve impulse?

Answer: Receptor

Receptors are specialized sensory structures that detect stimuli and transduce them into electrical signals (action potentials) that travel along afferent neurons.

Which anatomical structure separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and is the primary muscle of respiration?

Answer: Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped musculotendinous partition between the thorax and abdomen; its contraction increases thoracic volume to drive inspiration.

A biomedical technician calibrates a glucometer. Which organ is primarily responsible for regulating blood glucose through glycogen storage and release?

Answer: Liver

The liver stores glucose as glycogen (glycogenesis) and releases glucose via glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis to maintain blood glucose homeostasis.