General Anatomy & Physiology Module Overview & Mock Exam
This module overview pulls together the core concepts from Lessons 1 through 6. Use it as a final pass before taking the cumulative mock exam.
Topics Covered
- Lesson 1 — Intro to the Human Body: anatomy and physiology defined, levels of structural organization, tissue types, characteristics of the living human organism, homeostasis and feedback systems, anatomical terminology, body cavities, basic medical word parts, and medical imaging.
- Lesson 2 — Chemical Level of Organization: how matter is organized, atoms, ions, molecules and compounds, free radicals, ionic/covalent/hydrogen bonds, chemical reactions and energy, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and ATP/cellular respiration.
- Lesson 3 — Cellular Level of Organization: the plasma membrane and selective permeability, passive and active transport, diffusion, osmosis, tonicity, cytoplasm and organelles, and the nucleus.
- Lesson 4 — Organ Systems I: the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems.
- Lesson 5 — Organ Systems II: the cardiovascular, lymphoid, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems.
- Lesson 6 — Acid-Base Homeostasis: normal blood pH, buffer systems, exhalation of CO₂, kidney excretion of H⁺, and the four acid-base imbalances.
High-Yield Review
| Concept | High-yield point |
|---|---|
| Anatomy vs. physiology | Anatomy is the study of structure; physiology is the study of function. |
| Levels of organization | Chemical → cellular → tissue → organ → system → organismal. |
| Catabolism vs. anabolism | Catabolism breaks down (generally exergonic); anabolism builds up (generally endergonic). |
| Negative vs. positive feedback | Negative feedback reverses a change; positive feedback reinforces a change. |
| Compounds vs. molecules | All compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds. |
| Bond types | Ionic bonds take electrons; covalent bonds share electrons; hydrogen bonds form between partial charges. |
| ATP yield | Glycolysis (anaerobic, cytoplasm) yields 4 ATP; the Krebs cycle (aerobic, cristae) yields 36–38 ATP. |
| Tonicity | Water follows salt — hypotonic (↓ solute), isotonic (=), hypertonic (↑ solute). |
| Mitochondria | The powerhouse of the cell; the cristae host the Krebs cycle. |
| Skin diagnostic clues | Cyanosis (hypoxemia), jaundice (bilirubin/liver), erythema (capillary engorgement), pallor (shock/anemia). |
| Muscle contraction | The sliding filament mechanism: ATP hydrolysis → attachment → power stroke → detachment. |
| ANS pathways | Cholinergic/parasympathetic uses muscarinic receptors + acetylcholine; adrenergic/sympathetic uses alpha/beta receptors + epinephrine/norepinephrine. |
| Circulation | Arteries carry blood away from the heart; veins carry it back. Systemic from the LV; pulmonic from the RV. |
| Kidney hormones | Calcitriol (active vitamin D) and erythropoietin (stimulates RBCs). |
| pH control | Buffers, exhaling CO₂ (lungs), and excreting H⁺ (kidneys); normal pH 7.35–7.45. |
Mock Exam
The quiz for this lesson is a cumulative 50-question mock exam. It mixes recall, comparison, and clinical application questions from the full General Anatomy & Physiology module.