A&P: Intro to Anatomy and Physiology

What is Anatomy?

Scientific study of the structure of the body and the relationships among body parts. It focuses on form, organization, and physical arrangement

What is Physiology?

Scientific study of how the body and its parts function, emphasizing chemical, physical and biological processes that allow the body to maintain life

What are the approaches to study A&P?

• Developmental anatomy and biology

• Embryology

• Surface anatomy

• Regional anatomy

• Gross (macroscopic) anatomy

• Microscopic anatomy

  • Histology: Study of tissues

  • Cytology: Study of cells

• Systematic Anatomy

Systematic Anatomy

Examines the body one organ system at a time

Levels of Organization in the Human Body

• Chemical level

• Cellular level

• Tissue level

• Organ level

• Organ system level

• Organism level

Essential Functions Necessary for Life

• Maintaining boundaries

• Movement

• Responsiveness

• Digestion

• Metabolism

  • Anabolism

  • Catabolism

• Excretion

• Reproduction

• Growth

Maintaining Boundaries (Essential Function)

Separates internal environment from external environment

Movement (Essential Functions)

Include cellular movement, internal transport, and locomotion

Responsiveness (Essential Functions)

Ability to detect and respond to stimuli

Digestion (Essential Functions)

Breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients

Metabolism (Essential Functions)

• The sum of all chemical reactions

  • Anabolism: Synthesis of complex molecules

  • Catabolism: Breakdown of complex molecules

Exretion (Essential Functions)

Removal of metabolic wastes

Reproduction (Essential Functions)

Cellular reproduction and production of offspring

Growth (Essential Functions)

Increase in size or number of cells

Survival needs

• Nutrients: provide energy and building materials

• Oxygen: Required for cellular respiration

• Water: A medium for chemical reactions

• Normal body temperature: necessary for metabolic reactions

• Appropriate atmospheric pressure: Enables breathing and gas exchange

What are Body Planes?

Anatomical structures can be cut or sectioned into flat surfaces called planes. They are often used in images of the internal anatomy, like in an MRI scan

Body Planes

• Median (midsagittal): Divides body into equal left and right halves

• Frontal (coronal): Divides body into anterior and posterior sections

• Transverse: Divides body into superior and inferior sections