Overview of Human Anatomy and Physiology Concepts

Anatomy

The study of the Structures of body parts and their relationship to one another.

Physiology

The study of the Functions of the body, in other words, how body parts work and carry out their life-sustaining activities.

Gross Anatomy

The study of large body structures visible to the naked eye, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Microscopic Anatomy

Deals with structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Sub-categories of this are cytology and histology.

Developmental Anatomy

Traces structural changes that occur throughout the lifespan.

Renal Physiology

Kidney function and urine production.

Neurophysiology

The branch of neuroscience that studies the physiology of the nervous system.

Cardiovascular Physiology

Examines the operation of the heart and blood vessels.

The principle of complementarity of structure and function

"Form fits function." The principle that parts of the body are shaped due to the task they perform.

Structural Hierarchy

Chemical level, cellular level, tissue level, organ level, organ system level, organism level.

Chemical Level

This level of the structural hierarchy includes atoms and molecules.

Cellular Level

Molecules are combined to form organelles and ultimately cells, which are the basic structural and functional units of organisms.

Tissue Level

A tissue is a group of cells that work together to perform a common function. There are four basic tissue types that make up all organs of the adult human body: epithelial tissue (epithelium), connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue.

Organ Level

Different types of tissues join together to form organs, which are structures that are composed of two or more different tissues (four is most common); they have specific functions and usually have recognizable shapes.

Organ System Level

Organs that work together to accomplish a common purpose. The various systems include: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, urinary, digestive, respiratory, lymphatic, cardiovascular.

Organism Level

The highest level of structural hierarchy. It represents the sum total of all structural levels working together to promote life.

Integumentary System

Forms the external body covering, and protects the deeper tissues from injury. Synthesizes vitamin D and houses the cutaneous (pain, pressure, etc.) receptors, sweat glands, and oil glands.

Skeletal System

Protects and supports the body organs, and provides a framework the muscles use for movement.

Muscular System

Consists of the muscles that provide body movement, maintain posture, and generate body heat.

Lymphatic System

Picks up fluid leaked from the blood vessels and returns it to blood. Disposes of debris in the lymphatic stream. Houses white blood cells (lymphocytes) involved in immunity.

Respiratory System

Takes in oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide.

Digestive System

Makes food absorbable into the body.

Nervous System

The body system of nervous tissues, organized into the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, that send and receive messages, and integrate the body's activities.

Endocrine System

Glands that secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells.

Cardiovascular System

Circulates blood and lymph throughout the body. Also called the circulatory system. It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Urinary System

Eliminates nitrogenous waste from the body.

Reproductive System

Functions in creating offspring (organs include the penis and testes in males; ovaries, uterus, and vagina in females)

Homeostasis

The state of relatively stable, although dynamic, internal conditions

superior

aka in humans: 'cranial' - toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above

inferior

aka in humans: 'caudal' - away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below

ventral

aka in humans: 'anterior' - toward or on or near the belly (front of a primate or lower surface of a lower animal)

dorsal

aka in humans: 'posterior' - towards the back side of the body.

medial

toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of

lateral

away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of

intermediate

between a more medial and a more lateral structure

proximal

closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

distal

farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

superficial

aka 'external' - toward or at the body surface

deep

aka 'internal' - away from or at the surface; more internal

anatomical position

standard reference position in which the body is facing forward, feet are parallel, and the arms are at the sides with palms facing forward

axial

pertaining to the central part of the body, the head, neck, and trunk

appendicular

consist of the appendages, or limbs, which are attached to the body's axis.

sagittal plane

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

midsagittal plane

aka median plane - divides the body into right and left halves, and is located in the very center of the plane.

coronal plane

aka frontal plane - separates body from front and back. (Ventral or anterior = front half and dorsal or posterior = back half)

transverse plane

aka horizontal plane - separates upper and lower halves of the body. (superior = upper half and inferior = lower half)

dorsal body cavity

cavity near the dorsal or posterior surface of the body that consists of the cranial cavity & spinal (vertebral) cavity

cranial cavity

space inside the skull containing the brain

spinal cavity

aka vertebral cavity - a dorsal body cavity within the spinal column that contains the spinal cord.

ventral body cavity

cavity along the anterior side of the body made of the abdominopelvic cavity and the thoracic cavity

viscera

the organs that are contained within the ventral body cavity

abdominopelvic cavity

the portion of the ventral body cavity that is inferior to the diaphragm

thoracic cavity

the superior ventral body cavity that is surrounded by the ribs and muscles of the chest.

serous membrane

aka serosa - a double-layered membrane that covers the walls of the ventral body cavity and the outer surfaces of the organs within this cavity

antebrachial

forearm

antecubital

front of the elbow

axillary

armpit

brachial

arm

buccal

cheek

calcaneal

heel

carpal

wrist

cephalic

head

cervical

neck

coxal

hip

cranial

skull

crural

front of the leg

cubital

elbow

digital

digits (fingers or toes)

facial

face

femoral

thigh

fibular

lateral side of the leg

gluteal

buttocks

inguinal

groin where the thigh attaches to the pelvis

lumbar

lower back or loin region

manual

hand

mental

chin

nasal

nose

occipital

back of head

olecranal

back of the elbow