UHSP Pharmacy Technician Training Module 3 - Basic Anatomy and Physiology

Anterior

Front of the body

Posterior

Back of the body

Superior

Above or toward the head

Inferior

Below or toward the feet

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment

Superficial

Toward the surface

Deep

Away from the surface

Axial skeleton

Skull, vertebral column, rib cage

Appendicular Skeleton

Limbs and girdles

Epiphysis

End of a long bone

Diaphysis

Shaft of a long bone

Articular Cartilage

Covers the joint surfaces of bones

Synovial Joints

Freely movable

Cartilaginous Joints

Slight movable

Fibrous Joints

Immobile

Flexion

Decreasing the angle between bones

Extension

Increasing the angle between bones

Abduction (skeletal system)

Movement away from the midline

Adduction

Movement toward the midline

Bones are made up of…

Cortical bone (Dense outer layer) and trabecular bone (spongy inner layer)

Synovial joints

Freely movable joints

Ball-and-socket joints

Joints with a wide range of motion

Skeletal muscles

Voluntary muscles attached to bones, enabling movement (e.g. biceps and quadriceps)

Smooth muscles

Involuntary muscles found in organs like the intestines and blood vessels

Cardiac muscle

Involuntary muscled found only in the heart and responsible for its pumping action

Flexor

Muscle that bends a joint

Extensor

Muscle that straightens a joint

Abductor

Muscle that moves a body part away from the midline

Adductor

Muscle that moves a body part toward the midline

Muscle Attachments

Origin: Attachment site with less movement during contraction

Insertion: Attachment site with more movement during contraction

Three key functions of the musculoskeletal system

• Support and Protection: Bones provide structure and guard vital organs

• Movement: Muscles contract and relax, causing bones to move at joints

• Blood Cell Formation: Bone marrow produces red and white blood cells

Osteoporosis

A condition characterized by decreased bone density, increasing the risk of fractures

Arthritis

Inflammation or one or more joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Common types include osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disease)

Muscle strains and sprains

Overstretching or tearing of muscles or ligaments, respectively, causing pain and limited movement

Tendonitis

Inflammation of a tendon, causing pain and tenderness at the site of inflammation

Chambers (heart)

The heart features four chambers

• he atria (upper chambers) receive blood

• The ventricles (lower chambers) pump blood out. The synchronization of these chambers ensures efficient blood circulation

Aorta

Main artery carrying oxygenated blood from the heart

Valves

Tricuspid, bicuspid (mitral), pulmonary, and aortic valves regulate blood flow, preventing backflow and ensuring unidirectional movement

Arteries

Carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart

Veins

Return oxygen-poor blood to the heart

Capillaries

Tiny vessels where oxygen and nutrients exchange with tissues

Pulse

Rhythmic throbbing of arteries due to the heartbeat

Red blood cells

Carry oxygen throughout the body using hemoglobin (a protein)

• Low levels of RBCs or hemoglobin can indicate anemia, which some medications can affect

Hemoglobin

Oxygen-carrying protein. The protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen. Understanding hemoglobin levels is crucial as they can be affected by certain medications like iron supplements or erythropoietin (EPO) used to treat anemia

White blood cells

Also called immune system defenders, they fight infection

Platelets (Thrombocytes)

Help with blood clotting

Plasma

• The liquid portion of the blood that carries various components throughout the body

• Knowing the composition of plasma is important for interpreting medication labels, as some medications might be administered intravenously (IV) and directly enter the bloodstream through the plasma

Blood circulation

Ensures delivery of oxygen and nutrients, following a specific path: right atrium —> lungs —> left atrium —> body

• Delivers oxygen and nutrients to all body parts continuously

• Right atrium receives deoxygenated blood, pumps to the lungs

• Left atrium receives oxygenated blood, pumps to the body

Heartbeat

The heart’s regular rhythm of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole)

Blood pressure

The force of blood pushing against artery walls

• Measured as systolic (higher number) over diastolic (lower number pressure)

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Increases risk of heart disease and stroke

Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, damaging heart muscle

Atherosclerosis

The buildup of plaque in arteries, narrowing and hardening them