Body Organisation

Co-operative Hierarchy DEFINITIONS

A Transverse (horizontal)
 Chemical (or Molecular) Level plane divides the body up into
o Atoms - smallest chemical units of matter top and bottom portions
o Molecules - a group of atoms working together
A Midsaggital plane divides
 Cellular Level the body into equal left and
o Cells are a group of atoms, molecules, and organelles all working together right portions
 A basic unit of life
A Saggital plane divides the
 Tissue Level body into unequal left and right
o A tissue - a group of similar cells working together portions
 Organ Level
o A different group of tissues working together A Coronal (frontal) plane
divides the body into front and
 Organ System Level back portions
o An organ system is a group of organs working together
o Humans have 11 organ systems
 The Organism Level
o A human is an organism

Chemistry: Elements and macromolecules

Elements
 Symbols = C, K etc.
 Ions and electrolytes
o e.g. Na+, K+, Ca2+
 Where negatives (ions) and positives (electrolytes) are
attracted
 + and – show how those elements behave and what they have
access to

Macromolecules
 Proteins
o Important structurally and functionally for muscles
and other cells, as well as for antibodies and digestive
enzymes
 Carbohydrates
o Used as a primary source of energy
source, or for signalling molecules
 Lipids/fats
o Energy storage, and in the structure
of the cell membrane
 Nucleic acids
o DNA and RNA as the building
blocks for our genetic make-up

Functions
 Structure/form work
 Storage
 Messengers
 Control

1
The navel is medial to the hip.
The epidermis is superficial to the skeletal muscle.
The dermis is deep to the epidermis.
The chin is inferior to the forehead.
The patella is distal to the thigh.

The sternum is anterior (ventral) to the spine.

The toes are distal to the knee.
The eyes are lateral to the nose.
The humerus bone is proximal to the fingers.
The chin is superior to the navel.

2
Anatomy
 What is it?
 What does it look like?
 Where is it?
 Gross anatomy
o Surface anatomy: relationship of the internal structures to the external structures (skin)
o Systemic anatomy: systems of the body
 Microscopic anatomy
o Cytology: study of cell
o Histology: study of tissues

Physiology
 How the body works
 The function of body parts
 Cellular physiology
o Properties that characterise all
living cells
o Properties unique to special cell types
 Integrative physiology
o Activities of different tissues and organs
o Coordination of functions of the human body

Cells