Chapter 1: Anatomy

Anatomy: study of the structure of living things

  • Gross or Macroscopic: (large structures you can see with your eyes)

  • Microscopic: (cells, tissue)

  • Development: (changes in the structure)

Physiology: study of the function of living things



Anatomy + Physiology Conecpts:


  1. Structure determines Function: shape + where its located will tell you its function

Example: Teeth - Front teeth (incisors) flat and shart for chewing, molars for grinding 


  1. Levels of structural organization 

From small to large: Atoms(simplest), molecules, cell, tissue, organ, organ systems, organism(most complex)

  • Atoms: smallest particles of matter (anything that takes up space, has mass or weight) Link them together with chemical bonds to make

  • Molecules: 2 or more atoms held together by chemical bonds 

  • Cell: structural unit of all living things

  • Tissue: group of similar cells having a common function 

  • Organ: structure made of 2 or more tissue types having a specific function

  • Organ system: 7 organs working together to accomplish a common purpose 

Example: Cardiovascular system: heart pumpling blood, tubes transport it carrying oxygen

  • Organism: individual living thing


  1. Homeostasis: the ability to maintain stable internal conditions 

Negative feedback mechanism (most common)

  • Output(response) reverses the direction of the stimulus (imbalance)

  • Example: regulation of body temp, blood sugar, blood pressure, heartrate 

Body temp too high, we lower it by sweating 


Positive feedback mechanism (rare)

  • Output increases or enhances the stimulus (triggering event)

  • Examples: blood clotting, labor contraction 









11 Organ Systems: NURSEDRCLIM

Nervous

  • Fast-acting control system using electrical signals/impulses 

  • Brain, spinal cord, nerves

Urinary

  • Removes nitrogenous wastes that comes from our own tissue 

Respiratory

  • Gas exchange: supplies oxygen removescarbon dioxide

Skeletal

  • Framework of the body, gives us our shape

  • Produces blood cells (red bone marrow), stores minerals mainly calcium

  • Bones, joints

Endocrine

  • Slow-acting control system growth, reproduction, nutrients 

  • Produces chemicals called hormones 

  • System of glands 

Digestive

  • Breaks down food and removes solid waste from our body 

Reproductive

  • Produces offspring 

  • Male: produces sperm

  • Female: produces eggs 

Cardiovascular

  • Transports blood containing oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, waste 

  • Blood vessels, heart

Lymphatic

  • Fluidretrieval: removes fluid within tissues and returns it to cardiovascular system (blood)

  • Defends the body/immunity (houses many white blood cells)

Integumentary

  • Covers and protects surface of the body

  • Makes vitamin D

  • Skin, hair, nails

Muscular

  • Movement 

  • Produces heat and keeps us warm 

  • Skeletal muscles 








Anatomy Language 

Anatomical position

  • body is standing up, facing forward, arms down, palms forward 


Directional terms

  • Superior: above 

  • Inferior: below

  • Anterior or Ventral: front

  • Posterior or Dorsal: back

  • Superficial or External: closer to the surface

  • Deep or Internal: away from the surface 

  • Contralateral: opposite side

  • Ipsilateral: same side 


Midline (line runs down center of body)

  • Medial: close to midline

  • Lateral: further away from the midline 

  • Intermediate: between 2 other structures 

Arms and legs (and sometimes tubes)

  • Proximal: closer to the shoulder/hip

  • Distal: closer to the finger points/toes 

Closed body cavities

  • Dorsal (closer to back): Brain, spinal cord (continuous body cavity)

Vertical cavity holds spinal cord

Cranial cavity holds brain

  • Ventral (closer to front): Divided by the diaphragm


Ventral Body Cavity

Therasic cavity (top)

  • Pleural cavities (lungs)

  • Mediastinum 

  • Pericardial cavity (holds heart)


Divided by the diaphragm


Abdominal Pelciv cavity (bottom) 

  • Holds most digestive organs and some urinary/reproductive organs