Introduction to the Human Body

• Human Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body.
• "anatomy" comes from a greek root that means "to cut apart"
• Anatomy has two areas of specialization: Gross and Microscopic
• Gross anatomy is the study of the larger structures of the body
• Microscopic anatomy is the study of structures that can be observed only with the use of a microscope or other magnification devices
• There are two general approaches to the study of the body’s structures: regional and systemic.
• Regional is the study of the interrelationships of all of the structures in a specific body region.
• Systematic is the study of structures that make up a discrete body system.
• Physiology is the scientific study of the chemistry and physics of the structures of the body and the ways in which they work together to support the functions of life.
• anatomy is about structure, physiology is about function.
• The Levels of Organization: Atoms, Molecules, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organ Systems, Organisms
• Eleven Distinct Organ Systems: Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Lymphatic, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Digestive, Endocrine, Urinary and Reproductive
• Integumentary - System that encloses internal body structures
• Skeletal - System that supports the body and enables movement
• Muscular - System that enables movement and helps maintain body temperature
• Nervous - System that detects and processes sensory information as well as activates bodily responses
• Endocrine - system that secretes hormones and regulates bodily processes
• Cardiovascular - system that delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues and equalizes temperature in the body
• Lymphatic - system that returns fluid to blood and defends against pathogens
• Respiratory - system that removes carbon dioxide from the body and delivers oxygen to blood
• Digestive - system that processes food for use by the body and removes wastes from undigested food
• Urinary - system that controls water balance and removes blood and excretes them from the body
• Reproductive - system that produces sex hormones
• organism is a living being that has acellular structure and that can independently perform all physiologic functions necessary for life.
• The organism level is the highest level of organization.
• The two anatomical positions are known to be as: Prone and Supine
• Prone - face down orientation of the anatomical position
• Supine - face up orientation in the anatomical position
• Anterior (ventral) - describes the front or direction toward the front of the body.
• Posterior (dorsal) - describes the back or direction toward the back of the body.
• Superior (cranial) - describes a position above or higher
• Inferior (caudal) - describes a position below or lower
• Lateral - describes the side or direction toward the side of the body.
• Medial - describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body.
• Proximal - describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.
• Distal - describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.
• Superficial - describes a position closer to the surface of the body.
• Deep - describes a position farther from the surface of the body.
• section - is a two-dimensional surface of a three-dimensional structure that has been cut.
• sagittal - is the plane that divides the body or an organ vertically into right and left sides.