BUTUAN DOCTORS’ COLLEGE

J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City

Tel. No. (085) 342-85-72; Fax No. (085) 225-42-93
E-mail: butuandoc@yahoo.com

HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY HANDOUT

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UNIT 1: LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY AND ANATOMICAL PRINCIPLES

OVERVIEW: performs a specific function for

the body

⮚ Anatomy — study of the structure and ⮚ ORGAN SYSTEM LEVEL

shape of the body and its parts and ● Organ system — a group of
their relationships to one another organs that work together to
⮚ Physiology — study of how the body accomplish a common purpose
and its parts work or function ▪ Integumentary System
▪ Skeletal System
▪ Muscular System
LEVELS OF STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION
▪ Nervous System
▪ Endocrine System
⮚ CHEMICAL LEVEL ▪ Cardiovascular System
● Atoms — tiny building blocks of ▪ Respiratory System
matter, combine to form ▪ Digestive System
molecules such as water, sugar, ▪ Urinary System
and proteins ▪ Reproductive System
● Molecules — form microscopic
cells ⮚ ORGANISM LEVEL
⮚ CELL LEVEL ● made up of organ systems
● Cells — basic structural and
functional units of all living
organisms
⮚ TISSUE LEVEL
● Tissues — composed of groups
of similar cells that have a
common function
● 4 Basic Tissue Types
▪ Epithelial
▪ Connective
▪ Muscle
▪ Nervous
⮚ ORGAN LEVEL
LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
● Organ — a structure composed
of two or more tissue types that
 ● Inferior (caudal)
● Anterior (ventral)
● Posterior (dorsal)
● Proximal
● Distal
● Intermediate
● Medial
● Lateral
● Superficial (external)
● Deep (internal)

⮚ ANATOMICAL POSITION
● standing erect with the face
directed forward, the upper
limbs hanging to the sides, and
the palms of the hands facing
forward

⮚ REGIONAL TERMS
● Axial Body - Runs right down
the center (axis) and consists of
everything except the limbs
● Appendicular Body - Consists of
appendages otherwise known
as upper and lower extremities
● CENTRAL REGIONS
o Head
o Neck
o Trunk
● Thorax
● Abdomen
⮚ DIRECTIONAL TERMS ● Pelvis
● Superior (cranial or cephalic) ● UPPER LIMB REGIONS
 o Arm
o Forearm
o Wrist
o Hand
● LOWER LIMB REGIONS
o Thigh
o Leg
o Ankle
o Foot

⮚ BODY PLANES
3. Transverse Plane - It is a cut along a
horizontal plane, dividing the body
or organ into superior and inferior
parts. It is also called a cross section

1. Sagittal Plane - It is a cut along the

lengthwise, or longitudinal, plane of
the body, dividing the body into
right and left parts. The word 4. Frontal Plane - It is a cut along a
sagittal means “the flight of an lengthwise plane that divides the
arrow” and refers to the way the body (or an organ) into anterior and
body would be split by an arrow posterior parts
passing anteriorly to posteriorly
2. Median Plane - If the cut is down
the median plane of the body and ⮚ BODY CAVITIES
the right and left parts are equal in
size, it is called a median 1) Dorsal
(midsagittal) section. It is a sagittal a) Cranial cavity
plane that passes through the b) Spinal cavity
midline of the body, dividing it into 2) Ventral
equal right and left halves a) Thoracic cavity
b) Abdominal cavity
c) Pelvic cavity
3) Other
a) Oral cavity & Digestive cavity
b) Nasal cavity
c) Orbital cavity
 d) Middle ear cavities
● Abdominopelvic Cavity: 4
QUADRANTS
o Right Upper Quadrant
(RUQ)
o Right Lower Quadrant
(RLQ)
o Left Upper Quadrant
(LUQ)
o Left Lower Quadrant
(LLQ)
● Abdominopelvic Cavity: 9
Regions
o Umbilical
o Epigastric
o Hypogastric (pubic)
o Right iliac (inguinal)
o Left iliac (inguinal)
o Right Lumbar
o Left Lumbar
o Right hypochondriac
o Left hypochondriac
● In general, the body demonstrates
homeostasis when its needs are being
adequately met and it is functioning
smoothly. Virtually every organ system
plays a role in maintaining the
constancy of the internal environment
References:
● Marieb, E. and Keller, S., 2018.
Essentials of Human Anatomy &
Physiology. 12th ed. Pearson Education
Limited, pp.1-19.
● VanPutte, C, Regan, J, Russo, A 2019,
Seeley’s Anatomy & Physiology, 12th
edition, McGraw Hill Education, New
York, NY, pp. 1-21.
Prepared by:
Charmaine Maaño, PTRP
Human Anatomy & Physiology Lecturer

HUMAN BODY SYSTEM

● Integumentary System
● Skeletal System
● Muscular System
● Nervous System
● Endocrine System
● Cardiovascular System
● Respiratory System
● Digestive System
● Urinary System
● Reproductive System

HOMEOSTASIS

● The body’s ability to maintain relatively

stable internal conditions even though
the outside world is continuously
changing