Let’s Talk About You…What is Anatomy and Physiology???

What is Anatomy and Physiology?

Anatomy is the scientific study of the structure of the human body, its parts, their forms, and how they are organized.

Physiology is the study of how the human body parts function – what they do and how they do it.

Levels of Organization

Cells

• The basic unit of structure of all organisms (living things).• Complex organisms have cells that contain organelles

(tiny organs).

Tissue

• Formed when cells organize into layers or structures with a common function.

Organ

• Formed by groups of tissue that interact with a common function.

• Organs are complex structures with specialized functions

Organ System

• Composed of groups of organs that function closely together

Organism

• Composed of various organ systems.

Levels of Organization

Characteristics of Life

All living things: Have cellular organization. Contain similar chemicals. Use energy. Respond to their surroundings. Grow and develop. Reproduce.

Characteristics of Life

A CELL is the basic unit of structure and function in an organism. Must have a microscope to see cells because

they are microscopic. (too small to see with the naked eye)

Organisms may be composed of one or many cells. Unicellular: single-celled organisms▪ Example: Bacteria and Amoeba

Multicellular: organisms composed of many cells that are specialized into specific tasks.▪ Example: animals, humans, and plants

Characteristics of Life

Movement: Change in position of the body or of the body part; motion of internal organ

Responsiveness: Reaction to a change inside or outside the body

Growth: increase in body size without change in shape

Development is the process of change that occurs during an organism’s life to produce a more complex organism.

Reproduction: production of new offspring Respiration: obtaining oxygen, removing

carbon dioxide, and releasing energy from food

Characteristics of Life

Digestion: Breakdown of food substances into simpler forms that can be absorbed and used

Absorption: Passage of substances through membranes and into body fluids

Circulation: movement of substances in body fluids

Assimilation: Changing absorbed substances into chemically different forms

Excretion: Removal of wastes produced by metabolic reactions

Characteristics of Life

Metabolism is the sum total of chemical reactions in the body that break substances down and build them up. Helps us use and

gain energy.

Maintenance of Life

Water The most abundant

chemical in the body. Most living things can

only live a few days without water.

Organisms need water to get chemicals from their surroundings to break down food, grow, move substances, and reproduce.

Food (Source of Energy) Autotrophs are organisms

that make their own food. Auto- means “self” and –troph means “feeder.”▪ Make their own food to carry

out their own life functions. Heterotrophs are

organisms that cannot make their own food. Hetero- means “other.”▪ Obtain energy by feeding on

others.

Maintenance of Life

Oxygen Gas that makes up

about one-fifth of ordinary air.

Used to release energy from food substances.

Heat Form of energy that is a

product of metabolism. Degree of heat present

partly determines the rate at which reactions occur.

Pressure Application of force to

something Ex. Force of air on

humans is important in breathing Homeostasis

Condition of a stable environment through self-regulating control systems Set Point tells

what a particular value should be.

Maintenance of Life

Homestasis Negative Feedback▪ When a change from the

set point occurs, homeostatic mechanisms are activated to return the body to normal conditions. Once the deviation from the set point begins to lessen, the mechanism begins to slow down.

Organization of the Human Body

Body Regions1. Axial Region

a) Consists of the head, neck, and trunk

2. Appendicular Region

a) Consists of the upper limbs and lower limbs (aka extremities)

Organization of the Human Body

The body wall encloses several BODY CAVITIES each lined by a membrane and consisting of organs called viscera (organs contained in body cavities such as kidney, brain, lungs, etc.)

Body Cavities

Cranial Cavity Enclosed by the

cranium (skull) and contains the brain.

Vertebral Canal Enclosed by the

vertebral column (backbone) and contains the spinal cord.

The cranial and vertebral canals are continuous with each other and are lined with 3 membranes called meninges.

Body Cavities

Thoracic Cavity Divided by the

mediastinum (seperates the lungs)

Other viscera (organs) include the heart, esophagus, trachea, and thymus gland

The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominoplevic cavity by a thick muscle called the diaphragm.

The Abdominoplevic Cavity Consists of the ABDOMINAL

cavity and the PELVIC cavity.

Abdominal Cavity contains:▪ stomach, liver, spleen,

gallbladder, kidneys, and most of the small and large intestines

Pelvic Cavity (enclosed by hip bones) contains:▪ Lower portion of large

intestines, urinary bladder, and the internal reproductive organs

Cavities of the Head

Oral Cavity (teeth and tongue)

Nasal Cavity (located in the nose and connects to sinuses)

Orbital Cavities (eyes and associated muscles and nerves)

Middle Ear Cavities (middle ear bones)

Organ Systems

Integumentary

SkeletalMuscularNervousEndocrineCirculatory

LymphaticRespiratoryDigestiveUrinaryMale Reproductive

Female Reproductive

Visual Summary of Organ Systems

Anatomical Terms

Ventral – toward the front or belly

Dorsal – toward the back or spine

Anterior – toward the ventral side

Posterior – toward the dorsal side

Superior – above Inferior – below Medial – toward the

midsagital plane (middle)

Lateral – away from the midsagital

Proximal – closer to the point of attachment or orgin

Distal – farther from the point of attachment

Superficial – closer to the body surface

Deep – farther from the body surface

Body Sections (Planes)

Sagittal refers to a lengthwise plane that divided into left and right portions.

Transverse (horizontal) refers to a plane that divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions.

Coronal (frontal) refers to a plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.