Anatomy
The study of the structure of body parts and their relationship to one another
Physiology
Study of the function of body parts; how they work to carry out life-sustaining activities
Gross/macroscopic anatomy
The study of large, visible structures
Microscopic anatomy
Deals with structures to small to be seen by the naked eye
Developmental anatomy
Studies anatomical and physiological development throughout life
Chemical level
atoms, molecules and organelles
Cellular level
single cell
Tissue level
groups of similar cells
Organ level
contains two or more types of tissues
Organ system level
organs that work closely together
Organismal level
all organ systems combined to make the whole organism
Maintenance of life involves:
-maintaining boundaries -movement -responsiveness -digestion -metabolism -excretion -reproduction -growth
Maintaining boundaries
Separation between internal and external environments must exist
Movement
Muscular system allows for this
Contractility
Movement at the cellular level
Responsiveness
ability to sense and respond to stimuli
Digestion
Breakdown of ingested foodstuffs, followed by absorption of simple molecules into blood
Metabolism
All chemical reactions that occur in body cells
Excretion
Removal of wastes from metabolism and digestion
Reproduction
At the cellular level, this involves division of cells for growth and repair
Growth
Increase in size of a body part or organism
Survival needs:
-nutrients -oxygen -water -normal body temperature -appropriate atmospheric pressure
Homeostasis
The maintenance of relatively stable internal condition despite continuous changes in environement
Receptor
-sensor -responds to stimuli -monitors environment
Control center
-receives input from receptor -determines appropriate response
Effector
-receives output from control center -provides the means to respond -provides either a negative or positive feedback
Negative feedback
-most used feedback mechanism in the body -response reduces or shuts off original stimulus
ex. regulation of body temp; regulation of glucose by insulin
Positive feedback
-response enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus -usually controls infrequent events that do not require continuous adjustment
ex. enhancement of labor contractions by oxytocin
Homeostasis imbalance
-increases risk of disease -contributes to changes associated with aging -if negative feedback mechanisms become overwhelmed, destructive positive feedback mechanisms may take over
ex. Heart failure
Superior (cranial)
Towards the head end or upper end of the body
Inferior (caudal)
Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure of a body
Anterior (ventral)
Toward or at the front of the body
Posterior (dorsal)
Toward or at the back of the body
Medial
Toward or at the midline of the body
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body
Intermediate
Between a more medial and a more lateral structure
Proximal
Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Distal
Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Superficial (external)
Toward or at the body surface
Deep (internal)
Away from the body surface
Coronal/frontal plane
Separates anterior and posterior structures
Sagittal/lateral plane
Separates the right and left side of the body
Axial/transverse plane
Separates superior and inferior structures
Oblique plane
Separated diagonally