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The Human Body: An Orientation Note Packet

The Human Body – An Orientation

Anatomy – ana (Gr) = up; tom (Gr) = to cut or slice (dissection comes from dis = apart
and section = to cut
o Study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts
Physiology – physi (Gr) = a function of nature; logy (Gr) = study of

o Study of how the body and its parts work or function

Anatomy – Levels of Study
Gross Anatomy
o Large structures
o Easily observable
Microscopic Anatomy
o Very small structures
o Can only be viewed with a microscope
Levels of Structural Organization

2a Organelle Level
Organ System Overview
Integumentary
o Forms the external body covering
o Protects deeper tissue from injury
o Synthesizes vitamin D
o Location of cutaneous nerve receptors

Skeletal
o Protects and supports body organs
o Provides muscle attachment for movement
o Site of blood cell formation
o Stores mineral
Muscular
o Skeletal muscle
 Allows locomotion
 Maintains posture
 Produces heat
o Smooth muscle
 Composes hollow organs
o Cardiac muscle
 Heart
Nervous
o Fast-acting control
system
o Responds to internal and
external change
o Activates muscles and
glands
o Coordinates activities of all systems
Endocrine
o Ductless glands which
secrete regulatory hormones
directly into the blood stream
 Growth
 Reproduction
 Metabolism
Cardiovascular (Circulatory)
o Transports materials in body via blood pumped by heart
 Oxygen
 Carbon dioxide
 Nutrients
 Hormones
 Cellular wastes
Lymphatic
o Returns fluids to blood vessels
o Disposes of debris
o Involved in immunity
o Absorb fats from the digestive tract

Respiratory
o Keeps blood supplied with oxygen
o Removes carbon dioxide

Digestive
o Breaks down food physically & chemically
o Allows for nutrient absorption into blood
o Eliminates indigestible material
Urinary
o Eliminates nitrogenous wastes
o Maintains acid – base balance
o Regulates water and electrolytes (salts)
Reproductive
o Production of egg & sperm
o Provides a proper internal environment for development of embryo & fetus
Necessary Life Functions
Maintain Boundaries
Movement
o Locomotion
o Movement of substances
Responsiveness
o Ability to sense changes and react
Digestion
o Break-down and delivery of nutrients
Metabolism – chemical reactions within the body
o Production of energy
o Making body structures
Excretion
o Elimination of waste from metabolic reactions
Reproduction
o Production of future generation
Growth
o Increasing of cell size and number
Survival Needs
Nutrients
o Chemicals for energy and cell building
o Includes carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals
Oxygen
o Required for chemical reactions
Water
o 60–80% of body weight
o Provides for metabolic reaction
Stable body temperature
Atmospheric pressure must be appropriate
Homeostasis
Maintenance of a stable internal environment = a dynamic state of equilibrium
Homeostasis must be maintained for normal body functioning and to sustain life
Homeostatic imbalance – a disturbance in homeostasis resulting in disease

.
Overview of Homeostasis

Maintaining Homeostasis
Homeo = same; stasis = to stay
The body communicates through neural and hormonal control systems
o Receptor
 Responds to changes in the environment (stimuli)
 Sends information to control center
Control center
o Determines set point
o Analyzes information
o Determines appropriate response
Effector
o Provides a means for response to the stimulus (can change the value of a
variable)
Feedback Mechanisms
Negative feedback
o Includes most homeostatic control mechanisms
o Shuts off the original stimulus, or reduces its intensity
o Works like a household thermostat (maintains variation within a normal range)
Positive feedback
 o Increases the original stimulus to push the variable farther (in some cases it can
cause death)
o In the body this only occurs in blood clotting and birth of a baby
The Language of Anatomy
Special terminology is used to prevent misunderstanding
Exact terms are used for:
o Position
o Direction
o Regions
o Structures
Orientation and Directional Terms
Body Landmarks
Body Planes

Body Cavities Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Abdominopelvic Regions Abdominopelvic Major Organs