Introduction to the Human Body

Anatomy

Is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts.

Physiology

Is the science of body functions; it is the study of mechanical, physical, and biochemical properties of living organisms.

Gross Anatomy

Study of macroscopic structure.

Surface Anatomy

Study of external features.

Systemic Anatomy

Study of body structure by systems.

Regional Anatomy

Study of all systems within a given region such as head or thorax.

Surgical Anatomy

Study of anatomical landmarks important during surgical procedures.

1. Surface Anatomy

2. Systemic Anatomy

3. Regional Anatomy

4. Surgical Anatomy

Under Gross Anatomy (4):

Radiology

Study of structure and function within the living body using x-rays and other imaging techniques.

Pathology

Study of structural and functional changes associated with disease.

Microscopic Anatomy

Study of microscopic structure.

Cytology

Study of cellular structure.

Histology

Study of tissues.

1. Cytology

2. Histology

Under Microscopic Anatomy (2):

Developmental Anatomy

Study of structural changes from conception to birth.

Embryology

Study of prenatal development.

Under Developmental Anatomy:

Embryology

Comparative Anatomy

Study of the comparison of human anatomy with that of other animals.

Systemic Physiology

Study of the function of each body system.

Immunology

Study of body’s defense mechanisms.

Pharmacology

Study of drug action in the body.

Cellular Physiology

Study of cellular function.

Comparative Physiology

Study of the comparison of human physiology with that of other animals.

embryo; study of

embry- = _________;

-logy = _________

Embryology

The first eight weeks of development after fertilization of a human egg.

Developmental Biology

The complete development of an individual from fertilization to death.

Cell Biology

Cellular structure and functions.

Histology

Microscopic structure of tissues.

tissue

hist- = __________

Gross Anatomy

Structures that can be examined without a microscope.

Systemic Anatomy

Structure of specific systems of the body such as the nervous or respiratory systems.

Regional Anatomy

Specific regions of the body such as the head or chest.

Surface Anatomy

Surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation (gentle touch).

Imaging Anatomy

Body structures that can be visualized with techniques such as x-rays, MRI, and CT scans.

Pathological Anatomy

Structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease.

disease

path- = ______

1. Embryology

2. Developmental Biology

3. Cell Biology

4. Histology

5. Gross Anatomy

6. Systemic Anatomy

7. Regional Anatomy

8. Surface Anatomy

9. Imaging Anatomy

10. Pathological Anatomy

Selected Branches of Anatomy:

1. Neurophysiology

2. Endocrinology

3. Cardiovascular Physiology

4. Immunology

5. Respiratory Physiology

6. Renal Physiology

7. Exercise Physiology

8. Pathophysiology

Selected Branches of Physiology:

Neurophysiology

Functional properties of nerve cells.

nerve

neuro- = ______

Endocrinology

Hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how they control body functions.

within; secretion

endo- = __________;

-crin = _________

Cardiovascular Physiology

Functions of the heart and blood vessels.

heart; blood vessels

cardi- = ______;

vascular = ________

Immunology

The body’s defenses against disease-causing agents.

not susceptible

immun- = ___________

Respiratory Physiology

Functions of the air passageways and lungs.

to breathe

respira- = _________

Renal Physiology

Functions of the kidneys.

kidney

ren- = _____

Exercise Physiology

Changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity.

Pathophysiology

Functional changes associated with disease and aging.

anatomē; up; to cut; cutting up; dissection

“Anatomy” originates from the Greek word _______, which is derived from “ana” (meaning ____) and “temnein” (meaning _______). Therefore, “anatomy” essentially means ________ or ________. This reflects the historical practice of studying the body by dissecting it into its component parts.

physis; logos

“Physiology” originates from the Greek words ________ and ________.

physis (φύσις); logos (λόγος)

__________ generally means nature or origin. _________ translates to study of or knowledge of

1. Atom

2. Molecule

3. Macromolecule

4. Cell

5. Tissue

6. Organ

7. Organ System

8. Organism

9. Population

10. Community

11. Ecosystem

12. Biosphere

Levels of Organization in Biology:

Molecule

A ________ is a general term for a group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.

Compound

A _________ is a specific type of molecule that is composed of two or more different elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio.

Cells

Are basic structural and functional units of an organism. There are many different types of _____ in the body.

Cells

The smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning, consisting of cytoplasm, usually one nucleus, and various other organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable ____ membrane.

Tissue

Groups of cells & the surrounding environment that work together to produce a specific function.

1. Epithelial tissue

2. Connective tissue

3. Muscle tissue

4. Nervous tissue

There are only 4 types of tissue in the body:

Organ

Structures that are made of two or more different types of tissues, they have specific functions & a defined shape.

System

Consists of related organs that have a common function.

Organ System

A set of organs that interacts to carry out a major body function.

Organ

Body structure that integrates different tissues and carries out a specific function.

Epithelial tissue

_________: Protection, transport, secretion, and absorption.

Connective tissue

___________: Structural support

Muscle tissue

___________: Movement

Nervous tissue

___________: Communication, coordination, and control.

1. Chemical Level

2. Cellular Level

3. Tissue Level

4. Organ Level

5. System Level

6. Organismal Level

Levels:

1. Muscular System

2. Urinary System

3. Respiratory System

4. Digestive System

5. Endocrine System

6. Reproductive System

7. Skeletal System

8. Circulatory or Cardiovascular System

9. Lymphatic System

10. Integumentary System

11. Nervous System

Organ Systems:

Integumentary System

Components: Associated structures such as hair, fingernails, toenails, sweat glands, and oil glands.

Integumentary System

Function: Protects body; helps regulate body temperature; eliminates some wastes; helps make vitamin D; detects sensations such as touch, pain, warmth, and cold; stores fat and provides insulation.

Skeletal System

Components: Bones and joints of the body and their associated cartilages.

Skeletal System

Functions: Supports and protects body; provides surface area for muscle attachments; aids body movements; houses cells that produce blood cells; stores mineral and lipids (fats).

Muscular System

Components: Specifically skeletal muscle tissue– muscle usually attached to bones (other muscle tissues include smooth and cardiac).

Muscular System

Functions: Participates in body movements, such as walking; maintains posture; produces heat.

Nervous System

Components: Brain, spinal cord, nerves, and special sense organs, such as eyes and ears.

Nervous System

Function: Generates action potentials (nerve impulses) to regulate body activities; detects changes in body’s internal and external environments, interprets changes, and responds by causing muscular contractions or glandular secretions.

Endocrine System

Components: Hormone-producing glands (pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thymus, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries, and testes) and hormone-producing cells in several other organs.

Endocrine System

Functions: Regulates body activities by releasing hormones (chemical messengers transported in blood from endocrine gland or tissue to target organ).

Cardiovascular System

Components: Blood, heart, and blood vessels.

Cardiovascular System

Function: Heart pumps blood through blood vessels; blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells and carbon dioxide and wastes away from cells and helps regulate acid-base balance, temperature, and water content of body fluids; blood components help defend against disease and repair damaged blood vessels.

Lymphatic System

Components: Lymphatic fluid and vessels; spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and tonsils; cells that carry out immune responses (B cells, T cells, and others).

Lymphatic System

Functions: Returns protein and fluid to blood; carries lipids from gastrointestinal tract to blood; contains sites of maturation and proliferation of B cells and T cells that protect against disease-causing microbes.

Respiratory System

Components: Lungs and air passageways such as the pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (wind pipe), and bronchial tubes leading into and out of lungs.

Respiratory System

Functions: Transfers oxygen from inhaled air to blood and carbon dioxide from blood to exhaled air; helps regulate acid-base balance of body fluids; air flowing out of lungs through vocal cords produces sounds.

Digestive System

Components: Organs of gastrointestinal tract, a long tube that includes the mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus (food tube), stomach, small and large intestines, and anus; also includes accessory organs that assist in digestive processes such as salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Digestive System

Functions: Achieves physical and chemical breakdown of food; absorbs nutrients; eliminates solid wastes.

Urinary System

Components: Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.

Urinary System

Functions: Produces, stores, and eliminates urine; eliminates wastes and regulates volume and chemical composition of blood; helps maintain the acid-base balance of body fluids; maintains body's mineral balance; helps regulate production of red blood cells.

Reproductive System

Components: Gonad (testes in males and ovaries in females) and associated organs ( uterine tubes or fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands in females and epididymis, ductus or vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis in males)

Reproductive System

Functions: Gonads produce gametes (sperm or oocytes) that unite to form a new organism; gonads also release hormones that regulate reproduction and other body processes; associated organs transport and store gametes; mammary glands produce milk.

Palpation

This technique involves using the sense of touch to examine the body. Healthcare professionals use different parts of their hands and varying degrees of pressure to feel for abnormalities like lumps, tenderness, or changes in temperature. Light palpation is used to assess surface structures, while deep palpation is used to feel deeper organs and masses.

Percussion

Involves tapping on the body to produce sounds. The sounds produced, known as percussion notes, can help determine the underlying tissue density. For example, a dull sound might indicate fluid or a mass, while a resonant sound suggests air-filled spaces like the lungs. The sounds are interpreted in the context of the patient's presenting complaint.

Auscultation

Involves listening to sounds produced by the body, typically using a stethoscope. This is commonly used to assess heart, lung, and bowel sounds. Changes in these sounds can indicate various conditions.

1. Take in energy and materials from the environment

2. Sense and respond to stimuli

3. Reproduce and grow

4. Consists of one or more cells

5. Maintain homeostasis

6. Undergo evolution

The Nature of Life (Living Things)

1. Metabolism

2. Responsiveness

3. Movement

4. Growth, differentiation, and reproduction

Basic Life Processes

Autopsy

A postmortem examination of the body and dissection of its internal organs to confirm or determine cause of death.