AN OVERVIEW

OF ANATOMY
AND
PHYSIOLOGY
BY: MAC PAUL V. ALARIAO, RN, MSN
 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
• ANATOMY – derived from the Greek word “Ana” (apart) and
“Tomy” (to cut).
• Is the study of the structure and share of the body and its parts and
their relationships to one another.
• When we look as our own body (Surface Anatomy) or study large
structures such as heart and bones, we are observing Gross
Anatomy.
• Moreover, cells and tissues of the body can only be seen through a
microscope (Microscopic Anatomy).
 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
•PHYSIOLOGY – “Physio” means
nature and “ology” means the study of.
•Is the study of how the body and its parts
work or function
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

WHAT IS THE
RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN ANATOMY
AND PHYSIOLOGY?
STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION
 ORGAN SYSTEM REVIEW

Integumentary System Skeletal System Muscular System Nervous System Endocrine System

Cardio-vascular Lymphatic System Respiratory System Digestive System Urinary System

System
Reproductive System
MAINTAINING LIFE
Organ System do not
work in isolation;
instead, they work
together to promote the
wellbeing of the entire
body.
 NECESSARY LIFE
FUNCTIONS
Maintaining Boundaries 
Every living organism must maintain its
boundaries so that its internal
environment (inside) remains distinct from the
external environment surrounding it (outside).
 NECESSARY LIFE
Movement 
FUNCTIONS
- Activities promoted by the muscular system, such as propelling ourselves
from one place to another by running or swimming, and manipulating the
external environment with our nimble fingers.
- The skeletal system provides the bony framework that the muscles pull on as
they work.
- Movement also occurs when substances such as blood, foodstuffs, and urine
are propelled through internal organs of the cardiovascular, digestive, and
urinary systems, respectively.
- On the cellular level, the muscle cell’s ability to move by shortening is more
precisely called contractility.
 NECESSARY LIFE
FUNCTIONS
Responsiveness or irritability,
• is the ability to sense changes (stimuli) in the environment and
then respond to them.
• Because nerve cells are highly irritable and communicate rapidly
with each other via electrical impulses, the nervous system is most
involved with responsiveness. However, all body cells are irritable
to some extent.
 NECESSARY LIFE
Digestion
FUNCTIONS
• is the breaking down of ingested foodstuffs to simple molecules
that can be absorbed into the blood.
• The nutrient-rich blood is then distributed to all body cells by the
cardiovascular system. In a simple, one-celled organism such as an
amoeba, the cell itself is the “digestion factory,” but in the
multicellular human body, the digestive system performs this
function for the entire body.
 NECESSARY LIFE
FUNCTIONS
Metabolism (m!-tab"o-lizm; “a state of change”)
• is a broad term that includes all chemical reactions that occur within body
cells. It includes breaking down substances into their simpler building blocks
(more specifically called catabolism), synthesizing more complex cellular
structures from simpler substances (anabolism), and using nutrients
and oxygen to produce (via cellular respiration) ATP, the energy-rich
molecules that power cellular activities.
• Metabolism depends on the digestive and respiratory systems to make
nutrients and oxygen available to the blood and on the cardiovascular system
to distribute these needed substances throughout the body.
• Metabolism is regulated largely by hormones secreted by endocrine system
glands.
 NECESSARY LIFE
Excretion 
FUNCTIONS
• is the process of removing excreta (ek-skre"tah), or wastes, from
the body.
• If the body is to operate as we expect it to, it must get rid of non-
useful substances produced during digestion and metabolism.
Several organ systems participate in excretion.
 NECESSARY LIFE
Reproduction 
FUNCTIONS
• can occur at the cellular or organismal level. In cellular reproduction the
original cell divides, producing two identical daughter cells that may then be
used for body growth or repair.
• Reproduction of the human organism, or making a whole new person, is the
major task of the reproductive system. When a sperm unites with an egg, a
fertilized egg forms, which then develops into a baby within the mother’s
body.
• The reproductive system is directly responsible for producing offspring, but
its function is exquisitely regulated by hormones of the endocrine system. 
 NECESSARY LIFE
Growth 
FUNCTIONS
• is an increase in size of a body part or the organism. It is usually
accomplished by increasing the number of cells.
• However, individual cells also increase in size when not dividing.
• For true growth to occur, constructive activities must occur at a
faster rate than destructive ones.
 SURVIVAL NEEDS
The ultimate goal of all body systems is to
maintain life. However, life is extraordinarily
fragile and requires that several factors be present.
These factors, which we will call survival
needs, include nutrients (food), oxygen, water, and
appropriate temperature and atmospheric pressure. 
 SURVIVAL NEEDS
Nutrients, taken in via the diet, contain the chemical substances used
for energy and cell building. Most plant-derived foods are rich in
carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, whereas most animal foods are
richer in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are the major energy
fuel for body cells. Proteins, and to a lesser extent fats, are essential
for building cell structures. Fats also provide a reserve of energy-rich
fuel. Selected minerals and vitamins are required for the chemical
reactions that go on in cells and for oxygen transport in the blood.
The mineral calcium helps to make bones hard and is required for
blood clotting. 
 SURVIVAL NEEDS
All the nutrients in the world are useless unless oxygen is also
available. Because the chemical reactions that release energy from
foods are oxidative reactions that require oxygen, human cells can
survive for only a few minutes without oxygen. Approximately
20% of the air we breathe is oxygen. It is made available to the blood
and body cells by the cooperative efforts of the respiratory and
cardiovascular systems.
 SURVIVAL NEEDS
Water accounts for 60–80% of body weight and is the single most
abundant chemical substance in the body. It provides the watery
environment necessary for chemical reactions and the fluid base for
body secretions and excretions. Water is obtained chiefly
from ingested foods or liquids and is lost from the body by
evaporation from the lungs and skin and in body excretions. 
 SURVIVAL NEEDS
If chemical reactions are to continue at life-sustaining rates, normal
body temperature must be maintained. As body temperature drops
below 37°C (98.6°F), metabolic reactions become slower and slower,
and finally stop. When body temperature is too high,
chemical reactions occur at a frantic pace and body proteins lose their
characteristic shape and stop functioning. At either extreme, death
occurs. Most body heat is generated by the activity of the muscular
system. 
 SURVIVAL NEEDS
Atmospheric pressure is the force that air exerts on the surface of the body.
Breathing and gas exchange in the lungs depend on appropriate atmospheric
pressure. At high altitudes, where atmospheric pressure is lower and the air is
thin, gas exchange may be inadequate to support cellular metabolism. The mere
presence of these survival factors is not sufficient to sustain life. They must
be present in appropriate amounts; excesses and deficits may be equally
harmful. For example, oxygen is essential, but excessive amounts are toxic to
body cells. Similarly, the food we eat must be of high quality and in proper
amounts; otherwise, nutritional disease, obesity, or starvation is likely. Also,
while the needs listed above are the most crucial, they do not even begin to
encompass all of the body’s needs. For example, we can live without gravity if
we must, but the quality of life suffers.
 HOMEOSTASIS
To describe its ability to maintain relatively stable internal
conditions even though the outside world changes
continuously. Although the literal translation of homeostasis is
“unchanging,” the term does not really mean a static, or
unchanging, state. Rather, it indicates a dynamic state of
equilibrium, or a balance, in which internal conditions vary,
but always within relatively narrow limits. In general, the
body is in homeostasis when its needs are adequately met and
it is functioning smoothly.
 HOMEOSTASIS
Maintaining homeostasis is more complicated than it appears at first
glance. Virtually every organ system plays a role in maintaining the
constancy of the internal environment. Adequate blood levels of vital
nutrients must be continuously present, and heart activity and
blood pressure must be constantly monitored and adjusted so that the
blood is propelled to all body tissues. Also, wastes must not be
allowed to accumulate, and body temperature must be precisely
controlled. A wide variety of chemical, thermal, and neural factors act
and interact in complex ways—sometimes helping and sometimes
hindering the body as it works to maintain its “steady rudder.”
HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL
MECHANISM
 HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL
MECHANISM
• The net effect of the response to the stimulus
is to shut off the original stimulus or reduce
its intensity.
• Most homeostatic control mechanisms are
negative feedback but some are positive
feedback – the opposite effect
 HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL
MECHANISM
In negative feedback, a sensing mechanism (a receptor)
detects a change in conditions beyond specific limits. A
control center, or integrator (often the brain), evaluates the
change and activates a second mechanism (an effector) to
correct the condition; for example, cells that either remove or add
glucose to the blood in an effort to maintain homeostasis are effectors.
Conditions are constantly monitored by receptors and evaluated by the
control center. When the control center determines that conditions have
returned to normal, corrective action is discontinued. Thus, in negative
feedback, the variant condition is canceled, or negated, so that
conditions are returned to normal.
 HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL
MECHANISM
The regulation of glucose concentration in the blood illustrates how homeostasis
is maintained by negative feedback. After a meal, the absorption of glucose (a
sugar) from the digestive tract increases the amount of glucose in the blood. In
response, specialized cells in the pancreas (alpha cells) secrete the hormone
insulin, which circulates through the blood and stimulates liver and muscle cells
to absorb the glucose. Once blood glucose levels return to normal, insulin
secretion stops. Later, perhaps after heavy exercise, blood glucose levels may
drop because muscle cells absorb glucose from the blood and use it as a source
of energy for muscle contraction. In response to falling blood glucose levels,
another group of specialized pancreatic cells (beta cells) secretes a second
hormone, glucagon. Glucagon stimulates the liver to release its stored glucose
into the blood. When blood glucose levels return to normal, glucagon secretion
stops.
 HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL
MECHANISM
Compare this with positive feedback, in which an
action intensifies a condition so that it is driven
farther beyond normal limits. Such positive
feedback is uncommon but does occur during
blood clotting, childbirth (labor contractions),
lactation (where milk production increases in
response to an increase in nursing).
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Anatomists and health care providers use terminology that can
be bewildering to the uninitiated. However, the purpose of this
language is not to confuse, but rather to increase precision and
reduce medical errors.

Anatomical terms are made up of roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

The root of a term often refers to an organ, tissue, or
condition, whereas the prefix or suffix often describes the
root. 
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Anatomical Position:
The standard body “map,”
or anatomical position, is that of the
body standing upright, with the feet
at shoulder width and parallel, toes
forward. The upper limbs are held
out to each side, and the palms of the
hands face forward. Using this
standard position reduces confusion.
It does not matter how the body
being described is oriented, the terms
are used as if it is in anatomical
position.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
A body that is lying down is described as either prone or
supine. Prone describes a face-down orientation,
and supine describes a face up orientation. These terms are
sometimes used in describing the position of the body
during specific physical examinations or surgical
procedures.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Regional Terms:
The human body’s numerous regions
have specific terms to help increase
precision. Notice that the term
“brachium” or “arm” is reserved for the
“upper arm” and “antebrachium” or
“forearm” is used rather than “lower
arm.” Similarly, “femur” or “thigh” is
correct, and “leg” or “crus” is reserved
for the portion of the lower limb
between the knee and the ankle. You
will be able to describe the body’s
regions using the terms from the figure.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Directional Terms:
Certain directional anatomical terms
appear throughout this and any other
anatomy textbook (Figure 1.13). These
terms are essential for describing the
relative locations of different body
structures. For instance, an anatomist might
describe one band of tissue as “inferior to”
another or a physician might describe a
tumor as “superficial to” a deeper body
structure. Commit these terms to memory
to avoid confusion when you are studying
or describing the locations of particular
body parts.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Directional Terms:
• Anterior (or ventral) Describes the front or direction toward the front of
the body. The toes are anterior to the foot.
• Posterior (or dorsal) Describes the back or direction toward the back of
the body. The popliteus is posterior to the patella.
• Superior (or cranial) describes a position above or higher than another
part of the body proper. The orbits are superior to the oris.
• Inferior (or caudal) describes a position below or lower than another
part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx,
or lowest part of the spinal column). The pelvis is inferior to the
abdomen.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Directional Terms:
• Lateral describes the side or direction toward the side of the body. The
thumb (pollex) is lateral to the digits.
• Medial describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body.
The hallux is the medial toe.
• Proximal describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of
attachment or the trunk of the body. The brachium is proximal to the
antebrachium.
• Distal describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of
attachment or the trunk of the body. The crus is distal to the femur.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Directional Terms:
• Superficial describes a position closer to the surface of the body. The
skin is superficial to the bones.
• Deep describes a position farther from the surface of the body. The brain
is deep to the skull.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Body Planes and Sections:
A section is a two-dimensional surface of a three-dimensional
structure that has been cut. Modern medical imaging devices enable
clinicians to obtain “virtual sections” of living bodies. We call these
scans. Body sections and scans can be correctly interpreted, however,
only if the viewer understands the plane along which the section was
made. A plane is an imaginary two-dimensional surface that passes
through the body. There are three planes commonly referred to in
anatomy and medicine
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Body Planes and Sections:
The sagittal plane is the plane that
divides the body or an organ vertically
into right and left sides. If this vertical
plane runs directly down the middle of
the body, it is called the midsagittal or
median plane. If it divides the body
into unequal right and left sides, it is
called a parasagittal plane or less
commonly a longitudinal section.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Body Planes and Sections:
The frontal plane is the plane that
divides the body or an organ into
an anterior (front) portion and a
posterior (rear) portion. The
frontal plane is often referred to as
a coronal plane. (“Corona” is Latin
for “crown.”)
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Body Planes and Sections:
The transverse plane is the plane
that divides the body or organ
horizontally into upper and lower
portions. Transverse planes produce
images referred to as cross sections.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Body Cavities and Serous
Membranes:
The body maintains its internal organization by
means of membranes, sheaths, and other structures
that separate compartments. The dorsal (posterior)
cavity and the ventral (anterior) cavity are the largest
body compartments. These cavities contain and
protect delicate internal organs, and the ventral
cavity allows for significant changes in the size and
shape of the organs as they perform their functions.
The lungs, heart, stomach, and intestines, for
example, can expand and contract without distorting
other tissues or disrupting the activity of nearby
organs.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Subdivisions of the Posterior (Dorsal) and Anterior (Ventral)
Cavities
The posterior (dorsal) and anterior (ventral) cavities are each
subdivided into smaller cavities. In the posterior (dorsal) cavity,
the cranial cavity houses the brain, and the spinal cavity (or vertebral
cavity) encloses the spinal cord. Just as the brain and spinal cord
make up a continuous, uninterrupted structure, the cranial and spinal
cavities that house them are also continuous. The brain and spinal
cord are protected by the bones of the skull and vertebral column and
by cerebrospinal fluid, a colorless fluid produced by the brain, which
cushions the brain and spinal cord within the posterior (dorsal)
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Subdivisions of the Posterior (Dorsal) and Anterior (Ventral)
Cavities
The anterior (ventral) cavity has two main subdivisions: the thoracic cavity and
the abdominopelvic cavity. The thoracic cavity is the more superior subdivision
of the anterior cavity, and it is enclosed by the rib cage. The thoracic cavity
contains the lungs and the heart, which is located in the mediastinum. The
diaphragm forms the floor of the thoracic cavity and separates it from the more
inferior abdominopelvic cavity. The abdominopelvic cavity is the largest cavity
in the body. Although no membrane physically divides the abdominopelvic
cavity, it can be useful to distinguish between the abdominal cavity, the division
that houses the digestive organs, and the pelvic cavity, the division that houses
the organs of reproduction.
 LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
Abdominal Regions and
Quadrants:
To promote clear
communication, for instance
about the location of a patient’s
abdominal pain or a suspicious
mass, health care providers
typically divide up the cavity
into either nine regions or four
quadrants
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!