Human Anatomy Exam 1 - Organization + Terminology

anatomy vs. physiology

anatomy: study of body structures

physiology: study of how those body structures work to keep an organism alive

what are the various clinical procedures for assessing the anatomy of a patient?

1) inspection

2) palpation

3) percussion

4) auscultation

5) reflex response

inspection

looking at + observing the body’s appearance in careful detail, as in performing a physical examination or making a clinical diagnosis from surface appearance

palpation

feeling a structure with the hands by touch/pressure, such as palpating a swollen lymph node or taking a pulse

auscultation

listening to natural sounds made by the body, such as heart/lung sounds

percussion

tapping on the body, feeling for abnormal resistance, and listening to the emitted sound for signs of abnormalities such as pockets of fluid, air, or scar tissue

reflex response

using a rubber reflex hammer to tap specific tendons to test the health of specific nerve roots + spinal cord pathways

what are the various methods for studying anatomy?

1) dissection - the careful cutting and separation of tissues to reveal their relationships

2) medical imaging - any of the noninvasive methods for producing images of the interior of the body (X-rays, MRI, PET, CT, sonography)

radiology

branch of medicine concerned with producing images of the interior of the body, using methods like X-rays, sonography, MRI, CT, and PET

X-rays

pass through the soft tissues of the body to a photographic film on the other side to produce dark images of dense matter like bones, teeth, tumors, and tuberculosis nodules

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

method of producing more detailed images of the body interior than X-rays or computed tomography by using a strong magnetic field + radio waves

Computed tomography (CT) scan

method of medical imaging that uses X-rays and a computer to create an image of a thin section of the body; CT scan is the image

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

method of producing a computerized image of the physiological state of a tissue using injected radioisotopes that emit positrons

sonography

production of an image of the interior of the body through an ultrasound

what are the 6 levels of organization from simplest to most complex?

chemical (atoms + molecules) → cells → tissues → organs → organ systems → organism

organism

any living individual; the entire body of any living thing such as a bacterium, plant, or human

organ system

a group of organs that carries out the basic function of the organism such as circulation, respiration, or digestion

organ

any structure that has definite anatomical boundaries, is visually distinguishable from adjacent organs, and is composed of 2+ tissue types working together to carry out a particular function

tissue

an aggregation of cells and extracellular materials usually forming part of an organ and performing some discrete function for it

cells

smallest subdivision of a tissue considered to be alive; consists of a plasma membrane enclosing cytoplasm + a nucleus

human organ systems

1) integumentary system

2) muscular system

3) skeletal system

4) nervous system

5) endocrine system

6) cardiovascular system

7) respiratory system

8) digestive system

9) urinary system

10) reproductive system

systems of protection, support, and movement

integumentary system

skeletal system

muscular system

systems of internal communication and integration

nervous system

endocrine system

systems of fluid transport

circulatory system

lymphoid system

systems of intake/output

respiratory system

digestive system

urinary system

systems of reproduction

male reproductive system

female reproductive system

integumentary system

body’s outer covering, made up of the skin, hair, nails, and glands acting as a physical barrier to protect internal organs from the outside environment

skeletal system

sturdy internal framework of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons that supports the body + protects internal organs

muscular system

organ system made of specialized cells called muscle fibers that produce force + cause motion

lymphoid system

vital network of organs, vessels, and tissues that helps protect the body from infection, maintains fluid balance, and absorbs dietary fats

respiratory system

network of organs/tissues that allows you to breathe by moving fresh air → body and removing waste gases like CO2

urinary system

organs: kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra

function: filters blood, removes liquid waste, and makes urine to keep the body balance

nervous system

organs: brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia

function: rapid internal communication, coordination, motor control, sensation

endocrine system

network of glands and organs that make and release hormones directly into the blood to control + coordinate body functions

circulatory system

vital network consisting of the heart, blood vessels, and blood that moves nutrients, oxygen, and waste products through the body

digestive system

continuous twisting tube and group of organs that breaks down food into simple nutrients like carbs, fats, and proteins for energy, growth, and cell repair

male reproductive system

organs: testes, spermatic ducts, prostate, penis

function: production + delivery of sperm, secretion of sex hormones (testosterone)

female reproductive system

organs: ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands

function: production of eggs, fertilization, fetal development, lactation, secretion of sex hormones (estrogen)

anatomical position

reference posture on which certain standardized anatomical terminology is based

subject is standing w/ feet flat on the floor, arms down to the sides, and palms + eyes directed forward

supine vs prone

supine: a position in which the body is lying face up

prone: position in which the body is lying face down

axial vs. appendicular region

axial region: the body’s central axis (head, neck, trunk)

appendicular region: upper limbs, lower limbs, and their attachments

dorsal vs. ventral body cavity

dorsal: cavity towards the back of the body; contains the brain + spinal cord

ventral: cavity towards the front of the body; contains thoracic + abdominopelvic cavities

what are the 2 subdivisions of the dorsal body cavity?

1) cranial cavity - brain

2) vertebral/spinal cavity - spinal cord

what are the 2 subdivisions of the ventral body cavity?

1) thoracic cavity - heart, lungs, other structures of the chest

2) abdominopelvic cavity - organs of the abdominal + pelvic regions

serous membrane

membrane that lines certain body cavities + covers the organs within them

visceral vs. parietal serous membranes

visceral: layer that covers the organ surface

parietal: layer that lines the cavity wall

serous fluid is between the parietal + visceral layers, reducing friction

pericardium

2-layered serous membrane that folds around the heart

pleura

2 layered serous membrane that folds around the lung

peritoneum

2 layered serous membrane that folds around the abdominopelvic cavity and its organs

thorax

chest region of the body

cephalic vs. cervical

cephalic - refers to the head

cervical - refers to the neck