ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

(MC 1)

Ma. Ruth G. Parel, RN, MN

Instructor
 OVERVIEW
 It all starts with curiosity.

 Anatomy and Physiology describe how our bodies are put together
and how they work.
Definition of Terms

Anatomy – study of structure and shape of the body and body parts
and their relationships to one another*

anatomy derived from Greek words:

to cut (tomy) apart (ana)*

2 types:
- gross anatomy
- microscopic anatomy
Definition of Terms

Physiology – study of how the body and its parts work or function

physiology derived from Greek words:

nature (physio) study of (ology)*

Relationship:
- *each of those parts has a job to do to make the body operate as a
whole*
Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms* 

atoms - tiny building blocks of matter

Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms*  molecules**

atoms - tiny building blocks of matter

Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms*  molecules*  cells*

atoms - tiny building blocks of matter

cells - smallest units of all living things
Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms*  molecules*  cells*  tissue*

atoms - tiny building blocks of matter

cells - smallest units of all living things
tissue - consists of groups of similar cells that have a common
function
Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms*  molecules*  cells*  tissue*

 organ*

atoms - tiny building blocks of matter

cells - smallest units of all living things
tissue - consists of groups of similar cells that have a common
function
organ – is a structure composed of 2 or more tissue types that
performs a specific function for the body (ex. Small intestine which is
composed of all 4 tissue types
Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms*  molecules*  cells*  tissue*

 organ*  organ systems*

atoms - tiny building blocks of matter

cells - smallest units of all living things
tissue - consists of groups of similar cells that have a common
function
organ – is a structure composed of 2 or more tissue types that
performs a specific function for the body (ex. Small intestine which is
composed of all 4 tissue types
Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms*  molecules*  cells*  tissue*

 organ*  *organ systems*  organism*

organ system - an organ system is a group of organs that cooperate to

accomplish a common purpose (ex. cardiovascular system)
Levels of Structural Organization

(chemical level) atoms*  molecules*  cells*  tissue*

 organ*  *organ systems*  organism*
Overview of the Organ Systems
of the Body
ORGAN SYSTEMS
-bones, cartilages, ligaments and
joints*

- Hematopoiesis (formation of blood

cells)*

- Acts as a storehouse for minerals

Function:
> to contract
> “machines” of the body
> skeletal muscles form the MS
- body’s fast-acting control system*

- Sensory receptors* (nerve

impulses)  Central NS (brain &
spinal cord)*  activates
appropriate body muscles or glands
Hormones (chemical glands)

endocrine glands include:

Pituitary
Thyroid
Parathyroid
Adrenals
Thymus
Pancreas
Pineal
Ovaries (female)
Testes (male)

 -
*carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones and
other substances to and from the tissue
cells where exchanges are made
- lymphatic vessels
- lymph nodes
- others (spleen and tonsils)

returns fluid leaked from the blood to

the blood vessels*
*role: to break down food &
deliver the products to the blood
for dispersal to the body cells
urea and uric acid

often called the excretory

system

kidneys
ureters
bladder
urethra
ORGAN SYSTEMS
MAINTAINING LIFE: NECESSARY
LIFE FUNCTIONS

 Maintaining Boundaries*
 Movement*
 Responsiveness or irritability – is the ability to sense changes* in the
environment and then to react to them*
 Digestion – the process of breaking down ingested food into simple
molecules that can then be absorbed into the blood
MAINTAINING LIFE: NECESSARY
LIFE FUNCTIONS

 Metabolism – refers to all chemical reactions that occur within body

cells*. It depends on the digestive, respiratory and CV system;
regulated chiefly by hormones
 Excretion – the process of removing excreta (wastes), from the body
 Reproduction – the process of producing offspring*; regulated by
hormones
 Growth – is an increase in size, usually accomplished by an increase in
the number of cells*
MAINTAINING LIFE: SURVIVAL
NEEDS*

 Nutrients – contain the chemicals used for energy and cell-building*

 *Oxygen – app. 20% of the air we breathe is oxygen
 Water – accounts for 60-80% of body weight*
 Body temperature – must be maintained at around 37ºC*
 Atmospheric pressure – the force exerted on the surface of the body by
the weight of air*
HOMEOSTASIS AND HOMEOSTATIC
IMBALANCE

3 components:

Receptor – responds to stimuli through afferent pathway

Control center – analyzes the information and determines the appropriate

response

Effector - response
 Imbalance/Stimuli
(afferent pathway)
Receptor (sensor)

Control center
(efferent pathway)
Effector*

Negative Feedback* / Positive Feedback Mechanism

Critical Thinking

1. A male has lost blood as a result of a gunshot wound. Even though

the bleeding has been stopped, his blood pressure is low and
dropping, and his heart rate is elevated. Following a blood
transfusion, his blood pressure increases and his heart rate
decreases. Propose a physiological explanation for these changes.
THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY*

anatomical position
- the body is erect with the feet parallel & arms hanging at the sides with
palms facing forward

directional terms
- allows to explain exactly where one body structure is in relation to another

Example:
THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY

“the ears are located on each side of the head to the right & left of the
nose”

Using anatomical terminology, this is simplified to

“the ears are lateral to the nose”*

 THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
TERM
Superior (cranial/cephalic)
Inferior (caudal)
Anterior (ventral)
Posterior (dorsal)
Medial
DEFINITION EXAMPLE
Toward the head or upper part of The head is superior to the
the structure; above neck
Away from the head or toward the The mouth is inferior to the
lower part of a structure; below nose
Towards the front The ribcage is anterior to the
spine
towards the back; behind The lungs is posterior to the
heart
Towards the middle of the body; The heart is medial to the arm
on inner side
 THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY

TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLE

Away from the midline of the The thighs are lateral to the
Lateral body; on the outer side pubic

Between a more medial & more The armpit is intermediate

Intermediate lateral structure between the breastbone &
shoulder

Close to the origin of the body part The elbow is proximal to the
Proximal or point of attachment shoulders

Farther from the origin of body The wrist is distal to the

Distal part, or point of attachment shoulders
 THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY

TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLE

Toward the body surface The skin is superficial to the
Superficial bones

Away from the body surface; more The lungs are deep to the
Deep internal ribcage
THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY*

The brain is ________________ to the spinal cord.

The breastbone is _______________ to the spine.

The thumb is ________________ to the fingers.

The stomach is ______________ to the lungs.

The lungs is ________________ to the heart.

Regional Terms

• Anterior Body Landmarks

• Posterior Body Landmarks
Regional Terms

• Anterior Body Landmarks

Regional Terms

• Posterior Body Landmarks

Body Planes and Sections*

Since the body is three-dimensional, we can refer to three types of

planes or sections that lie at right angles to one another.
Body Cavities*

 Dorsal Body Cavity

 Ventral Body Cavity
Serous Membranes
- line the trunk and cover the organs of these cavities*

- thoracic cavity contains three serous membrane-lined

cavities*
Critical Thinking

2. During physical exercise, the respiration rate increases. Two

students are discussing the mechanisms involved. Student claims
they are positive-feedback mechanisms, and student B claims they
are negative-feedback mechanisms. Do you agree with student A or
student B, and why?
The Chemical Basis of Life

Nerve impulse generation

Digestion
Muscle contraction
Metabolism*

Matter – anything that occupies space and has mass

Mass – amount of matter in an object
Weight – the gravitational force acting on an object of a
given mass*
ELEMENTS AND ATOMS

Element – simplest type of matter having unique chemical

properties*
Atom – smallest particle of an element that has the
chemical characteristics of that element
ELEMENTS AND ATOMS
Hydrogen – H – 9.5*
Carbon – C – 18.5
Nitrogen – N – 3.3
Oxygen – O – 65
Sodium – Na – 0.2
Phosphorus – P – 1.0
Sulfur – S - 0.3
Chlorine – Cl – 0.2
Potassium – K – 0.4
Calcium – Ca – 1.5
Iron – Fe – Trace
Iodine – I – Trace