Introduction to Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Body Organization

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body and its parts.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the body and its parts.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in the body.

Chemical Level of Organization

The level of organization that includes elements, atoms, and bonding.

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds that do not contain carbon, such as water, acids, and bases.

Organic Compounds

Compounds that contain carbon, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Cell Membrane

The outer boundary of a cell that regulates what enters and exits the cell.

Membrane Transport

The process by which substances move across the cell membrane.

Cellular Organelles

Specialized structures within a cell that perform specific functions.

Nucleus

The organelle that contains the cell's genetic material and controls cellular activities.

Protein Synthesis

The process by which cells produce proteins based on genetic instructions.

Tissue Level of Organization

The level of organization that involves groups of similar cells working together.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue that covers body surfaces and lines cavities.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that supports and protects other tissues and organs.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue responsible for movement in the body.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue that mediates perception and response through nerve impulses.

Types of Tissues

The four basic types of tissue: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.

Course Organization

The structure and sequence of topics covered in the Anatomy & Physiology course.

Terms to Know

A callout at the end of each topic that lists important terms covered.

Glossary

An alphabetical list of terms and definitions provided at the end of each lesson.

Chemical Reactions

Processes that involve the transformation of substances through breaking and forming bonds.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

Ions

Atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a charge.

Acids

Substances that release hydrogen ions (H+) in solution.

Bases

Substances that accept hydrogen ions (H+) or release hydroxide ions (OH-) in solution.

Biology

The study of life and living things.

Gross (Macroscopic) Anatomy

The study of body structure visible with the unaided eye.

Microanatomy

The study of body structure using a microscope or other magnification device.

Human Anatomy

The scientific study of the body's structure, specifically of homo sapiens (humans).

Dissection

The process of cutting apart a body to observe its physical attributes and the relationships between structures.

Imaging Techniques

Methods developed to visualize structures inside the living body, such as cancerous tumors or fractured bones.

Cytology

The study of cells.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Macroscopic Observation

Observation of structures visible without the aid of magnification.

Microscopic Observation

Observation of small structures that can be observed only with the use of a microscope or other magnification devices.

Anatomists

People who study anatomy.

Greek Root of Anatomy

The word 'anatomy' comes from a Greek root that means 'to cut apart'.

Human Physiology

The scientific study of the body's function in humans.

Anatomy Specializations

Areas of specialization within anatomy, including gross and microscopic anatomy.

Light Micrograph

An image produced by a microscope showing structures at magnification.

1600x Magnification

A magnification level that makes structures appear 1600 times larger than with the unaided eye.

Supplemental Materials

Additional resources such as videos and links that provide more insight or details about a topic.

In-lesson Videos

Videos identified with the 'Watch' callout to help understand the topic or concept being taught.

External Links

Links identified with the 'Learn More' callout that allow downloading additional details about a topic.

Assessment Exclusion

Supplemental materials will not be included in the assessments.

Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp

An oil painting by Rembrandt van Rijn depicting physicians attending the dissection of a cadaver.

Physiology Definition

The word 'physiology' comes from the Greek root which means 'the theory or science of nature.'

Neurophysiology

The study of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves and how these work together to perform functions as complex and diverse as vision, movement, and thinking.

Internal equilibrium

The balance maintained by living things in response to changes in the internal environment.

Function

The role or activity of a body structure.

Electrochemical signal

A signal that travels along nerves, facilitating communication within the nervous system.

Blood sugar concentration

The level of glucose in the blood, which must be maintained for homeostasis.

Body temperature regulation

The process of maintaining a stable internal temperature in hot or cold environments.

Eyelid function

The ability of the thin flap of skin to clear away dust particles and allow vision.

Skin cells

Cells that make up the outer layer of the skin.

Nerve cells

Cells that transmit signals in the nervous system.

Muscle cells

Cells that contract to produce movement.

Structure-function relationship

The concept that the form of a structure is closely related to its function.

Human hand anatomy

The unique arrangement of bones in the human hand that allows for manipulation of tools.

Thumb opposition

The ability of the thumb to move in opposition to the fingers, enabling grasping.

Fluid production in eyelids

The process by which eyelids produce tears to keep the eye moist.

Blink reflex

The automatic response of the eyelid to close in response to stimuli.

Anatomy and Physiology connection

The relationship between the study of body structures and their functions.

Components of the body

The various parts that make up the human body and their roles.

Maintaining life

The processes that support the survival of living organisms.

Course overview

An introductory summary of the materials to be learned in a course.

Lesson items

Key topics and concepts to keep in mind as one progresses through a course.

Biological approaches

Methods used to study the body from both structural and functional perspectives.

Chemical Level

The lowest level of organization with the smallest units; all matter is composed of elements.

Cellular Level

The smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism, containing organelles.

Tissue Level

Many cells combine to form a tissue.

Organ Level

A level of organization where different tissues combine to form an organ.

Organ System Level

A level of organization where different organs work together as a system.

Organism Level

The highest level of organization, representing a complete living entity.

Atoms

The smallest unit of any pure substance (element).

Molecules

Chemical building blocks formed by two or more atoms.

Types of Cells

The human body is composed of over 200 different types of cells.

Total Cells in Human Body

Approximately 37 trillion total cells.

Size of Cells

Cells can range from 0.1 micrometer to 1 meter in length.

Shortest Cell in Human Body

The granule cell located in the cerebellum, which is 4 micrometers long.

Longest Cell in Human Body

A neuron which can reach 1 meter.

Colors of Cells

Cells can be clear, white, yellow, brown, red, blue, and green.

Visible Spectrum of Light

Cells can span all colors of the visible spectrum.

Tissue

A group of cells that work together to perform a specific function.

Organ

An anatomically distinct structure of the body composed of two or more tissue types that work together to perform one or more functions.

Examples of Organs

Include the skin, bones, muscles, brain, lungs, stomach, and kidneys.

Organ System

A group of organs that work together to perform major functions or meet physiological needs of the body.

Skeletal System

Composed of bones which all have their individual functions yet work together as the skeleton to provide structure and protection.

Organism

A living being that has a cellular structure and that can independently perform all physiologic functions necessary for life.

Multicellular Organism

An organism that is a group of organ systems that work together to maintain life.

Levels of Organization

A framework that shows how individual building blocks can be grouped together to form increasingly complex structures.

Cell

The smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism.

Order of Levels

Indicates how each level increases in complexity as it is constructed.

Meaning in Language

In order for a sentence to have a meaning, it must contain specific words in a specific order.

Example of Word Organization

Version 1: The organization is this levels about lesson of. Version 2: This lesson is about the levels of organization.

Correct Organization

The second sentence has meaning and functions correctly due to the correct organization of its parts.

Components of Organization

Each level of organization must contain specific components (i.e., chemicals, cells, tissue, organs, and/or organ systems) in specific arrangements.

Organ Systems

Anatomy & physiology covers eleven distinct organ systems in the human body.

Integumentary System

The primary organ of this system is the skin which functions to cover the body.

Muscular System

The primary organs of the muscular system are muscles attached to the skeleton.