VET Health - Body Systems Introduction

• anterior


  describes the direction towards the body
• posterior


  describes the direction towards the back
• superior


  describes a position above or higher
• inferior


  describes a position below or lower than another part of the body. The patella is inferior to the femur
• lateral


  describes the heading heading away from the midline of the body. The arm is lateral to the abdomen
• medial


  describes the direction towards the middle of the body. The nose is medial to the ears
• proximal


  describes a position of a limb that is nearer from the point of attachments or the trunk of the body
• distal


  describes a position of the limb that is further from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body
• superficial


  describes a position closer to the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the bones
• deep 


  describes a position further from the surface of the body. The heart is deep to the chest
• frontal plane


  divides the body or an organ into a front (anterior) and a rear (posterior) section. Also can be referred to as the 'coronal plane'
• transverse plane


  divides the body or an organ horizontally into upper or lower sections
• sagittal plane


  divides the body or an organ vertically into left and right sides. This vertical plane runs directly down the middle of the body
• cell 


  a cell is the smallest unit of life and needs food, water, and oxygen to live and function efficiently
• cell membrane


  double-layered structure and acts as a protective barrier surrounding the cell to control the entry and exit of certain materials
• cytoplasm


  fluid medium inside the cell that is made up of key organs, cytosol (fluid), and organelles. responsible for holding the components of the cell and protects them from damage
• nucleus


  the largest organelle within the cell, responsible for controlling the process of eating, reproduction, and movement. Control centre of the cell, contains genetic material for cell division
• Golgi apparatus


  type of packing organ responsible for sorting, altering, and sending proteins from the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Produces organelles called lysosomes, which help the body absorb and digest nutrients.
• Endoplasmic reticulum - smooth and rough
• endoplasmic reticulum - smooth and rough


  acts as a manufacturing and packaging unit of the cell. Designed to keep organs isolated from other parts of the cell until manufacturing process is complete
• smooth endoplasmic reticulum


  storage unit of lipids (fats), contains a structure called sarcoplasmic reticulum. Stores many kinds of ions used by the body whenever necessary. lacks ribosomes and does not have a bumpy appearance.
• rough endoplasmic reticulum 


  tube-like structure and bumpy appearance caused by ribosomes - organelles responsible for protein synthesis within the cell
• lysosomes


  contain a high concentration of digestive enzymes - which breakdown and digest damaged or foreign organelles. Play vital role in immune system - work together with other immune defence cells such as white blood cells to destroy foreign organelles.
• mitochondria


  power station of the cell. sole function is to create energy. Bean-shaped organelle. continuously converting energy stored in nutrient molecules such as glucose into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) --> provides cellular energy to cells
• Epithelial tissue


  very closely packed together - to form continuous sheets. Lines activities within the body. Covers external surfaces - involved in secretion, exception, and absorption of materials. Important role of protection from microorganisms, and contains sensory nerves. e.g, in the skin
• Muscular tissues


  contain structures called microfilaments compacted of contractive proteins (myosin and actin). Produces movement and responds to stimulation via nerve impulses. occurs in three forms - cardiac, smooth, and skeletal
• nervous tissue


  receives stimuli and conducts nerve impulses that communicate between different body regions. The basic unit structure of the nervous system is the neuron - consisting of nerve cells with intricate structures. dendrites - carry impulses towards the nerve cell body and axons - carry impulses away from the cell body.
• connective tissue 


  structured with cells scattered throughout an extracellular matrix of fibrous proteins and glycoproteins attached to the basement membrane. connects tissues and organs together to protect and support. structures such as bones, cartilage, and tendons compromise of connective tissue.