Anatomy and Physiology

• Anatomy


  The study of structures that make up the body and how those structures relate with each other
• Anatomy (etymology)


  Derived from a Greek word "Anatome" meaning to cut up
• Subspecialties of anatomy


  • Gross anatomy
  • Microscopic anatomy
  • Developmental anatomy
  • Embryology
• Gross anatomy


  • Studies body structure without microscope
• Systemic anatomy


  • Studies functional relationships of organs within a system
• Regional anatomy


  • Studies body part regionally
• Microscopic anatomy (Histology)


  Requires the use of microscope to study tissues that form the various organs of the body
• Physiology


  The study of how the body and its part work or function
• Physiology (etymology)


  Derived from a Greek word for study of nature
• Anatomy and physiology


  Studied together to give students a full appreciation and understanding of human body
• Homeostasis


  When structure and function are coordinated the body achieves a relative stability of its internal environment
• Although the external environmental changes constantly, the internal environment of a healthy body remains the same with in normal limits
• Homeostasis mechanisms


  1. Control center in the brain

  2. Chemical substances called hormones that are secreted by various organs directly into the blood streams
• Functions controlled by homeostasis mechanisms

  • Blood pressure
  • Body temperature
  • Breathing
  • Heart rate
• Level of structural organization of the body

  The human body has different structural levels of organization, starting with atoms molecules and compounds and increasing in size and complexity to cells, tissues, organs and the systems that make up the complete organism. Atoms molecules and compounds: - At its simplest level, the body is composed of atoms. The most common elements in living organism are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen phosphorus and sulfur.


  Atoms → Molecule → Compounds.
• Cell


  The smallest independent units of life. All life depends on the many chemical activities of cells.
• Tissue


  made up of many similar cells that perform a specific function.
• Epithelial tissue


  • Found in the outer layer of skin, lining of organs, blood and lymph vessels and body cavities.
• Connective tissue


  • Connects and supports most part of the body. They constitute most part of skin, bone and tendons.
• Muscle tissue


  • Produces movement through its ability to contract. This constitutes skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscles.
• Nerve tissue


  • Found in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It responds to various types of stimuli and transmits nerve impulses.
• Organ


  An integrated collection of two or more kinds of tissue that works together to perform specific function.
• System


  A group of organs that work together to perform major function.
• Organism level


  The various organs of the body form the entire organism.
• Anatomical terminologies


  The language of anatomy
• Superior (cranial)


  Toward the head. The leg is superior to the foot.
• Inferior (caudal)


  Toward the feet. The foot is inferior to the leg.
• Anterior (ventral)


  Toward the front part of the body. The nose is anterior to the ears.
• Posterior (dorsal)


  Towards the back of the body. The ears are posterior to the nose.
• Medial


  Towards the midline of the body. The nose is medial to the eyes.
• Lateral


  Away from the midline of the body. The eyes are lateral to the nose.
• Proximal


  Toward (nearer) the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb. The shoulder is proximal to the wrist.
• Distal


  Away (farther) from the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb. The wrist is distal to the forearm.
• Superficial


  Nearer the surface of the body. The ribs are superficial to the heart.
• Deep


  Farther from the surface of the body. The heart is deeper to the ribs.
• Peripheral


  Away from the central axis of the body. Peripheral nerves radiate away from the brain and spinal cord.
• Body parts Regions


  • Axial body part
  • Appendicular body part
• Axial body part


  The part of the body near the axis of the body. This includes head, neck, thorax (chest), abdomen, and pelvis.
• Appendicular body part


  The part of the body out of the axis line. This includes the upper and lower extremities.
• Body planes


  • Sagittal plane
  • Frontal plane
  • Transverse plane
  • Oblique plane