Organizing Principles

anatomy

study of physical structures of the human body

structure dictates

function

subdisciplines of anatomy

gross anatomy, histology, cytology, embryology, neuroanatomy

gross anatomy

structures visible to the naked eye; bones, organs, muscles

histology

microscopic study of tissues

cytology

microscopic study of cells

embryology

study of embryos/early development stages

neuroanatomy

study of anatomy of nervous system

anatomical understanding becomes more

detailed as technology gets better

physiology

study of biological function; dictated by anatomical structure

subfields/flavors of physiology

neurophysiology, muscle physiology, sensory physiology, receptor physiology, endocrinology

neurophysiology

function of nervous system

muscle physiology

function muscle/tissue contraction mechanics

sensory physiology

function of sensory systems/perception

receptor physiology

function of cellular receptors in body

endocrinology

function of hormones/endocrine glands

structural levels

chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, human

mismatch

between structure and function; can lead to death or disease

chimp vs human fetopelvic fit

example of mismatch; chimps have less hazardous childbirth due to larger pelvic canal

evolution yields traits that are

good enough, not perfect; works to support life but not optimal

anatomical position

standing upright, feet parallel, flat on floor, head level eyes forward, arms at side of body, palms facing forward

axial skeleton

head and trunk; skull, ribs, spine

appendicular skeleton

arms and legs

quadrants

abdomen only; right and left upper and lower

terms of position are relative,

not absolute

anterior

front

posterior

back

medial

towards the middle

lateral

away from middle

superior/cranial

towards head/higher

inferior/caudal

lower towards tail

proximal

towards point of attachment

distal

away from point of attachment

anatomical planes

transverse, sagittal, midsagittal, coronal

transverse

top and bottom

sagittal

left and right; but not directly centered

midsagittal

left and right but directly centered

coronal

front and back

homeostasis

maintenance of constant internal environment despite living in changing environment

stimulus

change in internal variable/environment that is out of range

receptor/sensor

detects the change

control center

processes signal and directs response; sensory and motor

effector

carries out the response

response

action taken by effector that modifies original stimulus

negative feedback loop

response negates initial stimulus and stops the change; returns body back to normal

negative feedback loop example

body temp

positive feedback loop

response amplifies or increases the initial stimulus; drives process away from normal balance to complete a certain event

example of positive feedback

childbirth

feed forward response

effector doesn’t change the stimulus

example of feed forward response

producing saliva at the smell of pizza; saliva doesn’t change smell

closed system

positive and negative feedback loops

feed forward is an example of

open system

compartmentalization

allows for different body regions to maintain a unique set point for specific functions without interference

intracellular

inside cells

extracellular

outside cell

plasma

blood

interstitial

tissue cells