Lecture 1 – Terminology and the Body Plan

Anatomy

scientific discipline that investigates the body’s structure

Physiology

scientific investigation of the processes or functions of living thing

Structural & Functional Organizations (6)

1. Chemical Level: interaction of atoms

2. Cell Level: structural and functional unit of living organisms

3. Tissue Level: group of similar cells and the materials surrounding them

4. Organ Level: two or more tissues functioning together

5. Organ System Level: group of organs functioning together

6. Organism Level: any living thing

Anatomical Position

Body erect, face forward, feet together, palms face forward

Supine and Prone

Supine: lying face upward

Prone: lying face downward

Superior vs. Inferior

Superior (Cephalic) & Inferior (Caudal)

toward or away from the head

Medial vs. Lateral

relative to midline

Proximal vs. Distal

• for limbs

• used to describe linear structures

Superficial vs. Deep

relative to the surface of the body

Anterior vs. Posterior

Anterior: Ventral

Posterior: Dorsal

forward and back

Body Planes

• Sagittal – vertically through the body separates right and left

• Frontal or Coronal divides body into anterior and posterior sections

• Transverse / Cross divides body into superior and inferior sections

• Oblique: Other than at a right angle

Planes Through an Organ

• we use bcs not all organs are at 90 angles inside the body

• Longitudinal: cut along the length of an organ

• Cross/Transverse: cut at right angle to length of the organ

• Oblique: cut at any but a right angle

Body Cavaties

• 2 types: Dorsal and Ventral

• house internal organ systems providing protection

dorsal body cavity

Houses CNS (brain + spinal cord)

Subdivisions: 1) Cranial 2) Vertebral canal

ventral body cavity

3 subdivisions of cavities:

1. Thoracic

2. Abdominal

3. Pelvic

Thoracic Cavity

• ventral body cavity

• contains lungs & heart

• subdivisions

  • 1) lateral pleural cavities: each contains a lung

  • 2) mediastinum: all structures of the thoracic cavity except the lungs

Diaphragm

divides body cavity into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Abdominal Cavity

• within ventral body cavity

• contains the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys

Pelvic Cavity

• within ventral body cavity

• contains urinary bladder, part of the large intestine, reproductive organs

• not separated by abdominal, more so a region within the pelvic bones

Serous Membranes

• thin layer of epithelial tissue that folds on itself to make double layer

• Cover the organs of trunk cavities & lines the cavity

• Balloon analogy - Fist represents an organ

• Cavity between two membranes filled with lubricating serous fluid that is produced by the membranes

Visceral & parietal serous membranes

Inner: visceral

Outer: parietal

Pericardium

serous membrane around the heart

pleura

serous membrane around the lungs

Peritoneum

serous membrane around the abdominal cavity

Peritoneal folds

• serous membrane will create a flap or a double membrane that connects one organ to another in the abdominal cavity since there are many different organs (unlike heart or lungs)

• some called mesenteries

• gives pathway for nerves and blood vessels instead of them piercing through the membrane

retroperitoneal organs

• organs that sit outside or behind the serous membranes

• found in the abdominal cavity as well as the pelvic cavity

  • pancreas, kidneys, bladder

• no visceral membrane, only come in contact with a small portion of the parietal peritoneum