SHE BLINDED
ME WITH SCIENCE
An ABC Book of
ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY
By Brandon
HIntergardt
A IS FOR ALLELE
An allele is an alternate
form of gene on a part of
a chromosome.
Organisms
have two alleles for each
trait, often written with
capital and lowercase
letters (RR, Rr, rr).
B IS FOR BRAIN
The human brain is larger
than any other mammals in
relation to body size.
While making up 2% of
total body weight it
represents 20% of the
energy consumed.
Other
C IS FOR CELL
Cells are the
basic unit of
life.
The
first of the
five
unifying
principles of
biology.
Humans are
made up of
about ten
trillion
cells.
The
D IS FOR DIPLOID
A
cell with two
sets of
chromosomes.
Usually one set
comes from one
parent and the
other from
the other
parent.
This
is often written
as 2n=2x.
Almost all
mammals are
E IS FOR EUKARYOTE
Eukaryotes are cells that
contain membrane bound
structures. The most
important membrane
bound structure is the
nucleus which contains
all the genetic information
of the cell. Eukaryotes
divide through mitosis
and meiosis.
F IS FOR FAT
Fats are vital in
maintaining healthy
skin, hair, insulating
body organs, and
maintaining body
temperature. Adipose
tissue (fatty tissue) is
the bodys main way of
storing energy. An
excess of adipose tissue
can lead to diabetes and
heart disease.
G IS FOR GOUT
A
medical condition
where uric acid
crystallizes in the
joints causing pain.
The big toe is the most
commonly affected joint
although it can present
H IS FOR HICCUPS
Hiccups are
caused by
muscle spasms
in the
diaphragm.
Medically
they are
known as
synchronous
diaphragmati
c flutter.
Hiccups are
only found in
mammals.
I IS FOR INSULIN
Insulin is secreted by the
pancreas and allows liver,
muscle, and fat cells to
absorb glucose from the
blood.
Insulin is essential
in regulating metabolism.
In the liver and muscles,
glucose is stored as
glycogen.
Insulin can stop
J IS FOR JOINTS
Joints are the locations where two
bones meet.
They allow
movement and provide support.
They can be classified by
structure or function.
There
are three types of structural
joints and three major types of
functional joints.
Structural
classification is based on how
K IS FOR POTASSIUM?
Potassium is a chemical
element necessary for many
body functions including
muscle contractions.
In
order for muscle contraction
to occur sodium must be
pumped out of the cell and
a large concentration of
potassium is pumped into the
L IS FOR THE WAY YOU LOOK
AT ME
Love, according
to biologists,
is defined as a
mammalian
drive, similar
to hunger and
thirst.
Love
can be divided
into three
parts, lust,
attraction, and
attachment.
Lust is the
initial feeling
of desire.
Attraction is
M IS FOR MITOCHONDRIA
Mitochondria
are found in
most eukaryotes
and produce
ATP.
They
are considered
the “power
plant” of the
cell.
The
number of
mitochondria
differs by
organism and
tissue.
In
N IS FOR NEURON
Neurons or nerve cells
transmit information via
electrochemical signal.
Neurons connect to each
other.
Chemical signaling
occurs across the synapse.
There has been numerous
studies performed on
O IS FOR OXYGEN
Oxygen is a chemical
element essential to
survival. Air is about
21% oxygen. During
respiration, the human
body will exhale about
14% oxygen in addition
to carbon dioxide. This
is why rescue breathing
during CPR is effective.
P IS FOR PENIS
Penises are essential to
reproduction and are the
organ that delivers sperm
into females.
The human
penis has three columns of
tissue.
The urethra runs
through the penis and is
Q IS FOR QUADRICEPS
Also
referred to
as quads,
the
quadriceps
make up
the four
major
muscles on
the
anterior
side of the
thigh.
All
quadriceps
extend the
knee joint
R IS FOR RECTUM
The rectum
stores feces.
As the rectum
walls stretch,
nerves in the
walls trigger
the urge to
defecate.
If the
individual
does not
defecate,
feces will be
pushed back
S IS FOR SPHINCTER
A
circular
muscle that
constricts to
obstruct a
body passage.
There are
over 50 types
of sphincter in
the human
body.
Examples
include the
epiglottis
which closes
T IS FOR T CELLS
T
Cells are a type
of white blood
cell.
They have
a t cell receptor
on their cell
surface.
There
are five major
types of t cells,
helper, cytoxic,
memory,
regulatory, and
natural killers.
Helper t cells assist
other white blood
cells.
Memory t
cells remain in the
body after the
infection has
passed to guard
U IS FOR ULCER
An ulcer is a break in a
membrane that inhibits
the membranes
intended function.
Ulcers can be found all
over the body including
the feet, back, mouth,
genitals, and stomach
(and are usually gross).
Ulcers have many
causes from physical to
mental stress.
V IS FOR VENTRICLE
Ventricles are
the two
largest
chambers of
the heart.
The right
ventricle
pushes
deoxygenated
blood to the
lungs while
the left
ventricle,
W IS FOR WATER
Water is essential to
life.
All known life
forms require water.
Water acts as a solvent
and is needed for many
metabolic processes like
catabolism, the
X IS FOR XIPHOID PROCESS
A
small
cartilaginous
process located
at the end of
the sternum.
In adults it
becomes ossified
or hardened
and is
connected to
the sternum via
a non moveable
joint.
The
Y IS FOR Y CHROMOSOME
One of two sex
determining
chromosomes in
humans.
It
contains a
gene which
initiates the
creation of
testis.
The Y
chromosome is
passed from
father to
son.
Due to
the
Z IS FOR ZYGOMATIC ARCH
The zygomatic
arch is more
commonly known
as the
cheekbone and
helps protect
your eyes.
Because of this
the zygomatic
arch is often
broken resulting
in a deep