Anatomy
The scientific study of the structure and relationships between body parts. |
Physiology
The scientific discipline of how the body and its parts come together to function. |
Structural and Functional Organization
Chemical Level |
Atoms combine to form molecules. |
Cell Level |
Molecules form organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, which make up cells. |
Tissue Level |
A group of similar cells and the materials surrounding them. |
Organ Level |
Two or more tissue types that together perform one or more common functions. |
Organ System Level |
A group of organs classified as one unit because of a common function/set of functions. |
Organism Level |
Any living thing considered as a whole. |
Chemical → Cell → Tissue → Organ → Organ System → Organism
Characteristics of Life
Organization |
The scientific interrelationships among the parts of an organism and how those parts interact to perform specific functions. |
Metabolism |
The ability to use energy to perform vital functions. |
Responsiveness |
The ability of an organism to sense changes in the environment and make the adjustments that help maintain its life. |
Growth |
Refers to an increase in size of all or part of the organism. |
Development |
Changes an organism undergoes through time. |
Reproduction |
Formation of new cells or new organisms. |
Homeostasis
The ability of all living systems to maintain stable, internal conditions no matter what changes are occurring outside the body. |
Four interacting components of most homeostatic mechanisms:
Stimulus → Receptor → Control Center → Effector
Stimulus - Indicates that the value of the variable has deviated from the set point/normal range.
Receptor - Monitors the value and sends data to the control center.
Control Center - Establishes the set point.
Effector - Acts on the signal from the control center to move the variable back to the set point.
Homeostatic Mechanisms
Negative Feedback |
Positive Feedback |
Serves to reduce an excess response and keep a variable within the normal range. |
Serves to intensify a response until endpoint is reached. |
The response stops the effector. |
The response keeps the reaction going. |
Ex. Temperature & blood pressure regulation |
Ex. Childbirth & blood clotting |
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Body Positions
Anatomical position |
A person standing erect with the face directed forward, the upper limbs hanging to the side, and the palms of the hands facing forward. |
Supine position |
When a person is lying face upward |
Prone position |
When a person is lying face downward |
Directional Terms
Anterior/Ventral |
Front of the body |
Posterior/Dorsal |
Back of the body |
Superior/Cranial |
Towards the top |
Inferior/Caudal |
Towards the bottom |
Proximal |
Towards the trunk |
Distal |
Further from the trunk |
Medial |
Structures toward the midline |
Lateral |
Structures farther away from the midline |
Planes
Sagittal Plane |
Divides the body into left and right sides (vertically) |
Median Plane/Mid-Sagittal Plane |
Passes through the midline of the body; divides the body into left and right halves |
Parasagittal Plane |
Parallel to the sagittal plane, but off to one side |
Frontal/Coronal Plane |
Divides the body into front and back (vertically) |
Transverse/Horizontal Plane |
Divides the body into top and bottom (horizontally) |
Body Parts and Regions
Axial Parts |
Head, neck, and trunk |
Appendicular Parts |
Arms and legs (upper & lower limbs) |
The Abdomen
Abdominal quadrants consist of four subdivisions.
Abdominal regions consist of nine subdivisions.
Body Cavities
The two main cavities are called the ventral and dorsal cavities.
Ventral Cavity - Consists of the following: the thoracic cavity. abdominal cavity, and the pelvic cavity.
Dorsal Cavity - Contains organs lying more posterior in the body. Can be divided into two portions: (1) the upper portion or the cranial cavity houses the brain (2) the lower portion or vertebral canal houses the spinal cord.
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Ventral Cavities
Thoracic cavity |
It is surrounded by the rib cage, separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm, and is divided into right and left parts by a median structure called mediastinum. |
Abdominal cavity |
Bounded primarily by the abdominal muscles and contains the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, and the kidneys. |
Pelvic cavity |
A small space enclosed by the bones of the pelvis and contains the urinary bladder, part of the large intestine, and the internal reproductive organs. |
Mediastinum - Is a partition containing the heart, thymus, trachea, esophagus, and others. Two lungs are located on each side of the mediastinum.
The abdominal and pelvic cavities are not physically separated and sometimes are called the abdominopelvic cavity.
Serous Membranes
Serous membranes - Secrete fluid that fills the space between the parietal and visceral membranes. The serous membranes protect organs from friction.
Serous membranes lining the thoracic cavity:
Heart: Pericardial cavity - visceral & parietal pericardium - pericardial fluid
Lungs: Pleural cavity - visceral & parietal pleura - pleural fluid
Serous membranes lining the abdominopelvic cavity:
Peritoneal cavity - visceral & parietal peritoneum - peritoneal fluid
Mesenteries & Retroperitoneal Organs
Mesenteries - Are parts of the peritoneum that hold the abdominal organs in place and provide a passageway for blood vessels and nerves to organs.
Retroperitoneal organs - Are found behind the parietal peritoneum and consists of the kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, parts of the intestines, and the urinary bladder. |
11 Major Organ Systems
1. Integumentary
2. Skeletal
3. Muscular
4. Lymphatic
5. Respiratory
6. Digestive
7. Nervous
8. Endocrine
9. Cardiovascular
10. Urinary
11. Reproductive |
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