Anatomy+ Physiology intro

• Anatomy


  The study of the structure of the body and the physical relationships between its constituent parts
• Physiology


  The study of how the body systems work, and the ways in which their integrated activities maintain the life and health of the individual
• The human body operates as a single entity but consists of several systems each of which have a specific essential role and function
• The systems do not function separately but work together to maintain normal function and health
• Some systems are highly reliant on other systems
• The systems can communicate with each other
• A problem with one system can impact the functions of another system
• Anatomical terms


  A consistent approach to describing parts of the human body, their position and relationship to other body structures
• The anatomical position


  1. Hands are inferior to the feet

  2. Knees are superior to the waist

  3. Heel is posterior to the toes

  4. Arms are lateral to the midline

  5. Hallux (big toe) is on the medial side of the foot

  6. Umbilicus (navel) is located on the anterior side of the body

  7. Skin is superficial to the muscle beneath it
• Regional terms


  Terms used to describe different regions of the body
• Body cavities


  Spaces within the body that contain organs
• Body cavities


  • Thoracic cavity
  • Abdominal and pelvic cavity
  • Cranial cavity
  • Spinal (vertebral) cavity
• Anatomical terms for specific structures

  • Liver (hepat)
  • Blood (haem)
  • Heart (kardia)
  • Kidney (renalis, nephros)
• There is a recent drive to simplify anatomical and physiological terms for patients
• Physiological terms are used to provide consistent explanation or description of physiological processes
• Physiological terms are often derived from Latin and Greek and often involve the use of a prefix, suffix, and root word
• Glycaemia


  Presence of glucose in the blood
• Hypoglycaemia


  Blood glucose level below normal
• Hyperglycaemia


  Blood glucose level above normal
• Atoms


  Fundamental building blocks of all matter
• Molecules


  Two or more atoms of the same element or different elements joined together
• Compounds


  Atoms of different elements joined together
• All compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds
• Organic compounds


  Carbon and hydrogen based compounds, e.g. carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes
• Inorganic compounds


  All other compounds, e.g. sodium chloride, water, carbon dioxide
• Fundamental physiological processes


  • Energy
  • pH balance
• pH scale


  Measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution
• Blood pH is kept within a very strict parameter of 7.35-7.45, outside of which causes serious disruption to physiology and biochemical processes</b>
• pH is kept in check with the use of buffers