INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY

AND PHYSIOLOGY
UNIT 1
Overview of Anatomy & Physiology
• Anatomy – the study of the
structure of body parts and their
relationships to one another
– Gross or Macroscopic
– Microscopic
– Developmental
• Physiology – the study of the
function of the body’s structural
machinery [characteristics and
mechanisms that make it a living
being.]
 Gross or Macroscopic Anatomy
• Regional – all structures in one part of the
body (such as the abdomen or leg)
• Systemic – gross anatomy of the body studied
by system
• Surface – study of internal structures as they
relate to the overlying skin
 Microscopic Anatomy
➢ Very small structures can only be viewed
with a microscope
• Cytology – study of the cell
• Histology – study of tissues
 Developmental Anatomy
• Traces structural changes throughout life
• Embryology – study of developmental changes
of the body before birth
 Physiology
• Considers the operation of specific organ
systems
– Renal – kidney function
– Neurophysiology – workings of the nervous
system
– Cardiovascular – operation of the heart and blood
vessels
• Focuses on the functions of the body, often at
the cellular or molecular level
 Physiology
• Understanding physiology also requires a
knowledge of physics, which explains
electrical currents, blood pressure, and the
way muscle uses bone for movement
Importance of Anatomy and Physiology

a. Understand how the body:

• responds to stimuli
• environmental changes
• environmental cues
• diseases
• injury
Importance of Anatomy and Physiology

b. Acquire knowledge of human development

and how the body grows and changes
throughout life
c. To understand how the various aspects of the
human body work together and how it plays a
role in human health
d. Helping to improve other people's health and
wellbeing.
 HOMEOSTASIS
- the condition of equilibrium (balance) in the
body’s internal environment due to the constant
interaction of the body’s many regulatory
processes.

Homeostasis is a dynamic condition. In response

to changing conditions, the body’s equilibrium
can shift among points in a narrow range that is
compatible with maintaining life.
 CONTROL HOMEOSTASIS
• Feedback System or Feedback Loop
– is a cycle of events in which the status of a body
condition is monitored, evaluated, changed, re-
monitored, reevaluated, and so on
• Components
– Receptor
• Responds to changes in the environment
(stimuli)
• Sends information/input to Control Center
 CONTROL HOMEOSTASIS
– Control center
• Determines “Set point”
• Analyzes information
• Generates “Output Commands” as
appropriate
–Effector
• Receives output from Control Center and
produce a “Response” or “Effect”
Overview of Homeostasis

Figure 1.4
 Feedback Mechanisms
• Negative Feedback Systems
– Includes most homeostatic control mechanisms
– Reverses a change in a controlled condition, or
reduces its intensity
– Works like a household thermostat
 Feedback Mechanisms
• Positive feedback
– Strengthens or reinforce a change in a controlled
condition
– In the body, this only occurs in severe blood loss,
and birth of a baby
 Levels of Structural Organization
CHEMICAL LEVEL CELLULAR LEVEL
• The simplest and basic level • The simplest living units in
of the structural hierarchy the body
• Atoms • Composed of tiny structures
• Molecules called organelles
 Levels of Structural Organization
TISSUE LEVEL ORGAN LEVEL
• Groups of similar cells that • Are structures composed of
work together to perform a at two or more tissue types
particular function • Ex. Stomach, Heart, Bones,
• Ex. Epethelial, Connective, etc
Muscular, and Nervous
Tissues
 Levels of Structural Organization
SYSTEM LEVEL ORGANISM
• Organs that work together • The highest level of
to accomplish a common organization
function • Any living individual
• Represents the sum total of
all structural levels working
together.
Levels of Structural Organization
Smooth muscle cell
Molecules
2 Cellular level
Cells are made up of molecules Atoms

1 Chemical level
Atoms combine to
Smooth form molecules
muscle
tissue
Heart
3 Tissue level
Cardiovascular
Tissues consist of
system Blood
similar types of
cells vessels
Epithelial
tissue
Smooth Blood
muscle vessel
tissue (organ) 6 Organismal level
Connective The human organism is
tissue made up of many organ
systems
4 Organ level
Organs are made up of 5 Organ system level
different types of tissues Organ systems consist of different organs
that work together closely
Figure 1.1
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Integumentary system
– Forms the external body
covering
– Composed of the skin,
sweat glands, oil glands,
hair, and nails
– Protects deep tissues
from injury and
synthesizes vitamin D
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Skeletal system
– Composed of bone,
cartilage, and ligaments
[with the joints they
make up]
– Protects and supports
body organs
– Provides the framework
for muscles
– Site of blood cell
formation
– Stores minerals
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Muscular system
– Composed of muscles
and tendons
– Allows manipulation of
the environment,
locomotion, and facial
expression
– Maintains posture
– Produces heat
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Nervous system
– Composed of the brain,
spinal column, and
nerves
– Is the fast-acting control
system of the body
– Responds to stimuli by
activating muscles and
glands
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Cardiovascular system
– Composed of the heart
and blood vessels
– The heart pumps blood
– The blood vessels
transport blood
throughout the body
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Lymphatic system
– Composed of red bone
marrow, thymus, spleen,
lymph nodes, and
lymphatic vessels
– Picks up fluid leaked
from blood vessels and
returns it to blood
– Disposes of debris in the
lymphatic stream
– Houses white blood cells
involved with immunity
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Respiratory system
– Composed of the nasal
cavity, pharynx, trachea,
bronchi, and lungs
– Keeps blood supplied
with oxygen and
removes carbon dioxide
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Digestive system
– Composed of the oral
cavity, esophagus,
stomach, small intestine,
large intestine, rectum,
anus, and liver
– Breaks down food into
absorbable units that
enter the blood
– Eliminates indigestible
foodstuffs as feces
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Urinary system
– Composed of kidneys,
ureters, urinary bladder,
and urethra
– Eliminates nitrogenous
wastes from the body
– Regulates water,
electrolyte, and pH
balance of the blood
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Male reproductive system
– Composed of prostate
gland, penis, testes,
scrotum, and ductus
deferens
– Main function is the
production of offspring
– Testes produce sperm
and male sex hormones
– Ducts and glands deliver
sperm to the female
reproductive tract
 Organ Systems of the Body
• Female reproductive system
– Composed of mammary
glands, ovaries, uterine tubes,
uterus, and vagina
– Main function is the
production of offspring
– Ovaries produce eggs and
female sex hormones
– Remaining structures serve as
sites for fertilization and
development of the fetus
– Mammary glands produce
milk to nourish the newborn
 Organ Systems Interrelationships
• The integumentary system protects
the body from the external
environment
• Digestive and respiratory systems,
in contact with the external
environment, take in nutrients and
oxygen
• Nutrients and oxygen are
distributed by the blood
• Metabolic wastes are eliminated by
the urinary and respiratory systems

Figure 1.2
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LIVING
HUMAN ORGANISM
Basic Life Processes
Metabolism - sum up all the chemical
processes that occur in the body.

Responsiveness - the body’s ability to

detect and respond to changes.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LIVING
HUMAN ORGANISM

Movement - includes motion of the whole

body, individual organs, single cells, and even
tiny structures inside cells

Growth - is an increase in body size that

results from an increase in the size of existing
cells, an increase in the number of cells, or
both.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LIVING
HUMAN ORGANISM
Differentiation - is the development of a cell
from an unspecialized to a specialized state

Reproduction - refers either to:

(1) the formation of new cells for tissue growth,
repair, or replacement, or
(2) the production of a new individual.
 BASIC ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY

Body Positions
-Descriptions of any region or part of
the human body assume that it is in a
standard position of reference
Anatomical position
• Stands erect with the head level and the
eyes facing directly forward.
• Lower limbs are parallel and the feet are
flat on the floor and directed forward
• Upper limbs are at the sides with the palms
turned forward
 BASIC ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY

Body Positions

• Supine Position
– if the body is lying face
up
• Prone Position
– If the body is lying face
down
 DIRECTIONAL TERMS 1

Superior or Cephalic: above

Inferior or Caudal: below

Anterior or Ventral: front

Posterior or Dorsal: back

Note: In four-legged animals, the
terms ventral (belly) and dorsal
(back) correspond to anterior and
posterior in humans

©Eric Wise
 DIRECTIONAL TERMS 2

Medial: close to midline

Lateral: away from midline
Proximal: close to point of
attachment
Distal: far from point of
attachment
Superficial: structure close to
the surface
Deep: structure toward the
interior of the body

©Eric Wise
 BODY PLANES
Planes – imaginary flat surfaces that pass
through the body parts
• Sagittal plane: separates the body
into right and left parts
• Median plane: a sagittal plane along
the midline that divides body into
equal left and right halves
• Transverse plane: a horizontal plane
that separates the body into superior
and inferior parts.
• Frontal plane: a vertical plane that
separates the body into anterior and
posterior parts.
Figure 1.11
©Eric Wise
Parasagittal plane
- (‘para’ = near) divides the body/organ to unequal right
and left sides
 Regions of the body

• Appendicular • Axial
– Upper and lower limbs – Head, neck and trunk
Body Cavities

• Body cavities are

spaces within the
body that help
protect, separate,
and support
internal organs
Body Cavities
 MINOR CAVITIES
• Orbital Cavity
• Nasal Cavity
• Buccal Cavity
Abdominopelvic Regions and
Quadrants