Organic Compounds and Anatomy Basics

Organic Compounds and Life Characteristics

Organic Compounds

• Proteins:
  • Building blocks are amino acids.
• Nucleic Acids:
  • Examples: DNA and RNA.
• Metabolism:
  • Breaking down ingested food into components and monomers.
  • Using monomers to fuel cells for growth, development, and specialization.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

1. Growth:
   • Increase in size.
   • Specialization.
2. Response to Stimuli:
   • External stimuli:
     • Example: Stretching the patella ligament leads to quadriceps contraction and hamstring relaxation.
     • Example: Feeling a mosquito on the skin.
   • Internal stimuli:
     • Example: Removing excess water after drinking.
3. Adaptation:
   • Adjusting to different environments.
   • Creating different physiology.
     • Example: Walking differently to compensate for knee pain.
   • Behavioral changes to increase reproductive success and pass on genes.
4. Regulation (Homeostasis):
   • Maintaining internal stability despite external or internal changes.
   • Covered in more detail in physiology.
5. Reproduction:
   • Passing on genes.
   • Growth for maintenance and repair.
   • Making gametes for reproduction.

Organ Systems

• 11 organ systems.
• Mnemonic: RUN MISS IS LDEC
  • R: Respiratory
  • U: Urinary
  • N: Nervous
  • M: Muscular
  • R: Reproductive
  • S: Skeletal
  • L: Lymphatic
  • I: Integumentary
  • D: Digestive
  • E: Endocrine
  • C: Circulation
• Endocrine system primarily covered in physiology.
• Each organ system is made of different cells with different structures working together for a specific function to maintain homeostasis.

Anatomical Language and Position

• Anatomical Position:
  • Standing upright.
  • Feet parallel.
  • Head level.
  • Eyes looking forward.
  • Arms at sides.
  • Palms facing forward.
  • Thumbs away from the body.

Body Cavities

• Divided into posterior and anterior cavities.
  • Posterior = Dorsal
  • Anterior = Ventral

Posterior (Dorsal) Cavity

• Cranial portion:
  • Protected by the skull.
  • Contains the brain.
• Vertebral canal portion:
  • Protected by vertebrae.
  • Contains the spinal cord (brain stem tail).
• Organs protected by meninges.

Anterior (Ventral) Cavity

• Divided by a muscle (details to follow).