Human Anatomy and Physiology

Chapter 1

Structural Organization
of the Human Body
Chapter 1

Structural Organization of the Human Body from

Cellular to the Systemic Level and Anatomical
Terminologies
Introduction
Human Anatomy and physiology is the study of the structure and function of the human body. The
human body has many intricate parts with coordinated functions maintained by a complex of
checks and balances. The coordinated function of all the parts of the human body allows us to
interact with our surroundings by adjusting how the body responds to changes in environment
information. This information comes from inside and outside the body.

Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Define anatomy and physiology and describe levels at which anatomy can be studied.
2. Describe six levels or organization of the body and describe the major characteristics of
each level.
3. Label different parts of body parts and describe different regions, cavities and serous
membranes.
4. Define the directional terms for the human body and use them to locate specific body
structures.

Duration
Chapter 1: Structural Organization of the Human Body = 4 hours
from Cellular to the Systemic Level and (2 hours discussion; 2 hours
Anatomical Terminologies assessment)
Lesson Proper
Anatomy
• The scientific discipline that investigates the
structure of the body.
• The word anatomy means to dissect, or cut apart and
separate, the parts of the body for study.
Anatomical position
• Body is erect with the feet parallel and the arms
hanging at the sides with the palms facing outward.
Physiology
• Study of how the body and its part work or
function.
2 basic approaches to study anatomy
1. Systemic anatomy – the study of the body by
systems.
2. Regional anatomy – the study of the
organization of the body by areas.
Relationship between Anatomy and Physiology
• Anatomy and Physiology are always related
• Parts of your body form a well-organized unit and
each of those parts has a job to do to make the body
operate as a whole.

Atoms: tiny building blocks of matter. They combine to form molecules such as water, sugar
and proteins.
Cells: the smallest unit of all living things.

Tissues: consists of groups of similar cells that have a common function. There are 4 basic tissue
types: epithelial, connective, muscular and neural).

Organ: structure that is composed of two or more tissue types and performs a specific function
for the body. At the organ level of organization, complex functions become possible. For
example: small intestine digests and absorbs food, is composed of all four tissue types.

Organ system: group of organs that cooperate to accomplish a common purpose. For example:
the digestive system includes the esophagus, the stomach, the small and large intestines. Each
organ has its own job to do, and by working together, they keep food moving through the
digestive system so that it is properly broken down and absorbed into the blood, providing fuel
for all of the body’s cells. In all, there are 11 organ systems that make up the living body.

Organism: represents the highest level of structural organization, the organismal level.

Organ systems overview

1. Integumentary System:
• External covering of the body, or the skin.
• Waterproofs the body
• Cushions and protects the deeper tissues from injury
• Excretes waste from the body through sweat
• Absorbs Vitamin D and calcium from sunlight to nourish body
• Helps regulate body temperature
2. Skeletal System:
• Consists of bones, cartilages, ligaments and joints.
• Supports the body
• Provides framework that the skeletal muscles use to cause
movement
• Protective function (skull)
• Blood cell formation goes on within the cavities of the skeleton
3. Muscular system:
• Only one function, to contract or shorten. When this happens,
movement occurs
• Machines of the body
• Skeletal muscles attached to bones gives the mobility of the body
• When these contracts, you can jump, run, stand, throw a ball or
smile
4. Nervous system:
• Body’s fast-acting control system. Consists of the brain, spinal
cord, nerves and sensory receptors.
• Body responds to irritants or stimuli coming from outside the
body (light, sound, changes in temperature) and from inside the
body (decrease in oxygen)
• Sensory receptors detect these changes and sends messages (via
electrical signals called nerve impulses) to the CNS so that its
constantly informed about what is going on.
• CNS responds by activating the appropriate body effectors
(muscles/glands)
5. Endocrine system:
• Controls body activities, but acts more slowly
• Endocrine glands include: pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid,
adrenals, thymus, pancreas, pineal, ovaries and testes.
• Glands produce hormones and release them into the blood to
relatively distant organs.
• Growth, reproduction and food use by cells are all controlled by
hormones.
6. Cardiovascular system:
• Heart and blood vessels
• Carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones and other substances to and
from the tissue cells where exchanges are made.
• White blood cells and chemicals in the blood help fight of bacteria,
toxins and tumor cells.
• Heart acts a pump, that propels blood through the blood vessels to
all body tissues.
7. Lymphatic system:
• Lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen and tonsils
• Lymphatic vessels return fluids leaked from the blood to the blood
vessels so that blood can keep circulating through the body.
• Helps cleans the blood
8. Respiratory system:
• Consists of the nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi
and lungs
• Keeps the body constantly supplied with oxygen and remove carbon
dioxide.
• Within the lungs are tiny air sacs, where gas exchanges are made to
and from the blood.
9. Digestive system:
• Consists of mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large
intestines and rectum.
• Breaks down food and delivers the product to the blood for
dispersal to the body cells.
• Undigested food leaves the body through the anus as feces.

10. Urinary system:

• Composed of kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
• Removes nitrogen-containing wastes from the blood and
flushes them from the body in urine.
• Maintains the body’s water and salt balance and regulates the
acid-base balance of the blood.

11. Reproductive system:

• Exists primarily to produce offspring
Directional terms

Term Etymology Definition Example

Anterior To go before Towards the front Teeth
of the body
Ventral Venter Towards the belly Navel
Posterior Posterus, following Toward the back of Brain
the body
Dorsal Dorsum (back) Toward the back Spine
 Term Etymology Definition Example
Right Right side
Left Left side
Superior Higher Above Mouth
Inferior Lower Below Nose
Proximal Proximus (nearest) Closer a point of Shoulder
attachment
Distal Di + sto (to be Farther from a point Ankle
distant) of attachment
Lateral Latus Away from the Nipple
midline of the body
Medial Medialis Toward the middle Nose
or midline of the
body
Superficial Superficialis, On the surface Skin
surface
Deep Deop Away from the Lungs
surface
Body Parts and Regions

TRUNK
Body Parts and Regions
Subdivisions of the Abdomen

Divided into 4 quadrants

1. Right upper quadrant
2. Right lower quadrant
3. Left lower quadrant
4. Left upper quadrant

Organs by Quadrants
Subdivisions of the Abdomen

Divided into 9 Regions

1. Right Hypochondriac
2. Right Lumbar
3. Right Iliac
4. Epigastric Region
5. Umbilical Region
6. Hypogastric Region
7. Left Hypochondriac
8. Left Lumbar
9. Left Iliac

Organs by Quadrants
Body Cavities

The trunk contains 3 large cavities that do not open to the outside body.

1. The thoracic cavity which encloses the lungs and the heart.
2. The abdominal cavity is bounded by the abdominal muscles and contains the stomach,
pancreas, intestines, liver, spleen, kidneys.
3. The pelvic cavity is enclosed by the pelvic bones and contains the urinary bladder, part of
the large intestine, and the internal reproductive organs.
Serous Membranes

The trunk cavities are lined by serous membranes.

1. The PARIETAL part of a serous membrane lines the wall of the cavity.
2. The VISCERAL part covers the internal organs.
References/Additional Resources/Readings

Marieb, E. N. and Hoen, K. (2007). Human anatomy and physiology. 7th Edition. Pearson
Benjamin Cummings

https://assets.pearsonschool.com/asset_mgr/current/201731/M01_MARI5326_12_SE1.pdf