Anatomy Unit 1 Study Guide

Anatomy

• The study of the structure of the body.

• Focuses on what body parts are and where they are located.

Physiology

• The study of how the body and its parts function.

• Focuses on what body parts do and how they work.

Difference:

• Anatomy = structure

• Physiology = function

Digestive System

• Function: Breaks down food and helps the body obtain nutrients.

Integumentary System

• Function: Includes the body’s outer covering and helps protect the body.

Skeletal System

• Function: Provides the body’s framework and support.

Reproductive System

• Function: Involved in reproduction.

Urinary System

• Function: Removes wastes from the body through urine.

Muscular System

• Function: Allows the body to move.

Circulatory/Cardiovascular System

• Function: Circulates materials throughout the body.

Respiratory System

• Function: Involved in breathing and the exchange of gases.

Endocrine System

• Function: Uses hormones to help regulate body functions.

Nervous System

• Function: Controls and coordinates body activities through signals.

Immune/Lymphatic System

• Function: Helps protect the body and is involved in immune defense.

Digestive ↔ Circulatory

• Digestion provides nutrients that can be transported throughout the body.

Respiratory ↔ Circulatory

• The respiratory system provides gases that the circulatory system transports.

Urinary ↔ Circulatory

• The urinary system removes wastes from materials carried in the blood.

Nervous ↔ Muscular

• The nervous system sends signals that help control muscles.

Skeletal ↔ Muscular

• Muscles work with bones to produce movement.

Endocrine ↔ Other systems

• Hormones help regulate functions throughout the body.

Diagram #1

Medial

Toward the body’s midline

Lateral

Away from the body’s midline

Anterior

Toward the front

Posterior

Toward the back

Ventral

Toward the front/belly side

Dorsal

Toward the back

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body

Contralateral

On opposite sides of the body

Deep

Farther inside the body

Superficial

Closer to the body’s surface

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Examples of applying them

• The nose is medial to the eyes.

• The ears are lateral to the eyes.

• The head is superior to the chest.

• The feet are inferior to the knees.

• The elbow is proximal to the wrist.

• The fingers are distal to the elbow.

• The skin is superficial to the muscles.

• The heart is deep to the skin.

Diagram #2

Transverse Plane

• Divides the body into upper and lower portions.

(Mid)Sagittal Plane

• Divides the body into left and right portions.

• Equal left and right portions.

Frontal/Coronal Plane

• Divides the body into front and back portions.

Diagram #3

Cranial Cavity

• Located in the head.

Cervical Cavity/Region

• Located in the neck.

Pectoral Cavity

• Located in the chest area.

Thoracic Cavity

• Located in the chest.

Abdominal Cavity

• Located in the abdomen/belly area.

Pelvic Cavity

• Located in the pelvic area.

Diagram #4

Homeostasis

• Maintaining a stable internal environment in the body.

Feedback Loops

Involves a stimulus and a response.

Stimulus

• A change that causes the body to react.

Response

• The body’s reaction to the stimulus.

Negative Feedback Loop

• Helps maintain homeostasis.

• The response counteracts/reverses the original change.

Negative Feedback Loop Example:

• Body temperature rises → body responds → temperature decreases

• The response works to bring the body back toward its normal state.

Positive Feedback Loop

• The response increases or strengthens the original change.

Positive Feedback Loop Example

Stimulus → response → response increases the original stimulus

Negative vs Positive Feedback Loop

Anatomical Position

• The standard reference posture used globally in medicine and biology to describe the human body clearly and without confusion