Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory Terms

Anatomy

Stuctures and how they fit together

Physiology

How structures function and how systems integrate

Movement (1st characteristic of life)

Changing position and moving internal parts

Responsiveness (2nd characteristic of life)

Sensation and reaction to internal and external stimuli

*Many reactions arise from evolutionary needs

Growth (3rd characteristic of life)

Increasing size without changing shape (exception being embryo)

Reproduction (4th characteristic of life)

Mitosis and meiosis; on a cellular level and sexual level

Respiration (5th characteristic of life)

Obtaining and using O₂, disposing of cellular waste

Digestion (6th characteristic of life)

Converting food into usable molecules for cellular use

Absorption (7th characteristic of life)

Passage of molecules through cellular membranes

Circulation (8th characteristic of life)

Movement of fluid through the body

Assimilation (9th characteristic of life)

Changing substances into chemically different molecules

Excretion (10th characteristic of life)

Dispose of waste (urine, stool, sweat)

Metabolism

The 10 characteristics of life (bodily processes) working together to maintain homeostasis

Homeostasis

Maintaining a constant internal environment using set points and feedback

H₂O (1st requirement of life)

Powers metabolic processes, environmental media for reactions, transportation, temperature regulation

Food (2nd requirement of life)

Chemicals and H₂O for energy, raw material to create new living tissue

O₂ (3rd requirement of life)

Basic element for metabolic reactions; needed to make more ATP (energy)

Heat (4th requirement of life)

Narrow acceptable range, drives metabolic reactions, wards off undesirable pathogens

Pressure (5th requirement of life)

Forces air into lungs, higher altitude causes hypopoxia; hydrostatic, force of fluid through blood vessels

Homeostasis/responsiveness

Cellular level maintaining a stable internal environment despite changes to external environment

Homeostatic mechanism

Regulate body temperature, blood pressure, glucose, hormones, chemical balances

Negative feedback

Response is the reverse of stimuli, abnormal level is corrected

i.e. Temperature: Too high, blood vessels dilate and sweating begins

Too low: blood vessels constrict and sweat glands close

Positive feedback

Presence of a stimuli simulates the formation of more of the same

i.e. clotting, milk formation

Organization of the human body

Atom-Molecule-Macromolecule-Organelle-Cell-Tissue-Organ-Organ System-Organism

Appendicular skeleton

Appendages (arms and legs)

Axial skeleton

Trunk and head, follows the “y-axis”

2 Major Body Cavities

Dorsal and Ventral

Dorsal Cavity

Body cavity in the “back” which contains the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

Divides into the cranial cavity and vertebral cavity

Ventral Cavity

Body cavity in the “front” which contains the organs and viscera

Divides into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

Cranial cavity

Cavity containing the brain, located in the dorsal cavity

Vertebral cavity

Body cavity containing the spine, located in the dorsal cavity

Thoracic cavity

Contains the ribcage, “above” the diaphragm, located in the ventral cavity

Abdominopelvic cavity

Contains the abdomen and pelvis, “below” the diaphragm, located in the ventral cavity

Abdominal cavity

Contains the stomach, liver, small and large intestine, located “above” the pelvic cavity

Pelvic cavity

Contains the terminal large intestine, internal reproductive organs, bladder, located “below” the pelvic cavity

Membranes

Line body cavities and cover organs

Parietal membrane

Lines cavity

Visceral membrane

Covers organs

Pleural membranes

Lines the thoracic cavity and covers the surface of the lungs

Pericardial membranes

Lines the pericardial sac and the surface of the heart

Serous fluid

Lubricates between visceral and parietal membranes

Peritoneal membrane

Lines the abdominal cavity

Peritoneum

Lines the abdominopelvic cavity and covers the surface of all the organs inside

Retroperitoneal

Behind the kidneys

Integumentary system

Skin, nails, and hair

Skeletal and Muscular system

Support and movement

Nervous and endocrine systems

Integration and coordination

Cardio and lymphatic system (transport systems)

Cardio: Heart, arteries, veins

Lymphatic: Movement, lymphatic fluid

Digestive system

Converts food into energy, eliminates unusable waste

Respiratory system

Exchange of dissolved gases between air and body; nasal area, trachea, larynx, lungs, alveoli

Urinary system

Removes waste and toxins from blood, helps regulate blood pressure; secretes hormones, regulates electrolytes, ph and water concentration

Anatomical positions

All positions are relative to each other and must have a point of reference

Superior

Above and/or closer to the head

i.e. The diaphragm is superior to the pelvis.

Inferior

Below and/or closer to the feet

i.e. The kidneys are inferior to the lungs.

Anterior

Ventral or towards the front

i.e. Sternum is anterior to the heart.

Posterior

Dorsal or towards the back

i.e. The spinal cord is posterior to the ribcage.

Medial

Closer to the center of the body

i.e. Nose is medial to the ear.

Lateral

Farther away from the center line

i.e. The hands are lateral to the shoulders.

Proximal (appendicular skeleton)

Closer to the trunk

i.e. The hip is proximal to the knee.

Distal

Farther away from the trunk

i.e. Wrist is distal to the elbow.

Superficial

Closer to the surface

Deep

More internal, more dangerous (in terms of cuts)

Sagittal plane

Left and right sides

Transverse

Horizontal cut (split the body along the “x-axis”) into the superior and inferior

Coronal

“Crown”, splits into frontal and dorsal

Right hypochondriac region

Upper right (from the patients view; from our view, it is the left.) corner of the abdomen

Epigastric region

Upper center region; above the stomach

Left hypochondriac region

Upper left corner (from the patients view; from our view, it is the right.) of the abdomen

Right lumbar region

Right middle region (from the patients view; from our view, it is the left.) of the abdomen

Umbilical region

Middle center region; umbilical for the ‘belly button’

Left lumbar region

Middle left region (from the patients view; from our view, it is the right.) of the abdomen

Right iliac region

Right lower corner (from the patients view; from our view, it is the left.) of the abdomen

Hypo-gastric region

Lower center region of the abdomen; below the stomach

Left iliac region

Left lower corner (from the patients view; from our view, it is the right.) of the abdomen