A&P LEC 1

Introduction

Human Anatomy & Physiology

2025-2026

HTHSCI 1H06 A/B

McMaster

Mohawk

1Dr. Peter Helli (PhD)

Questions? Ask on

hellipb@mcmaster.caLecture Outline

• Introduction to the course

• Learning activities

• Required resources

• Tips for success

• Introduction to anatomical terminology

• Origins of terms

• Body positions & regions

• Directional terms & planes of section

• Body cavities

• Abdominal regionsLearning Activities

Lectures:

• Weekly, in-person

• Core content

• Live demonstrations

Tutorials:

• Every other week, alternating with labs

• Problem based learning activities

• Small group presentations

Labs:

• Every other week, alternating with tutorials

• Hands on learning exercises

• Human cadaveric specimens, dissections, etc.

Human

Specimens

Animal

Dissections

Power Lab

ExperimentsRequired Resources

Lab Manual / Study Guide

Anatomy & Physiology: Lab Manual and Study

Guide | 2025/6 (10th ed)

ISBN 978-1-988941-84-4

Contains instructions for exercises that you will

perform during lab sessions.

• Also doubles as a study guide.

Lab Coat

To protect your clothes…How to Succeed in 1H06

• Attend the lectures

• Complete the readings before lecture and make notes after lecture

• Do extra practice questions – textbook has checkpoint questions;

practice tests are provided by your instructor; other practice questions

can be found online; create your own questions...

• Study with a peer

• Use active learning strategies – see Student Resources folder

• The course builds, so if you don’t understand a concept, ask for help

early and often!Anatomical

Terminology

Human Anatomy & PhysiologyWhat is Anatomy and Physiology?

Ana-tomy = to take apart (structure)

Physiol-ogy = study of natural phenomena (function)

Key principle: “form follows function”.

Why is it important to understand anatomy & physiology?

• It informs our understanding of the structural and functional changes

caused by disease or disease processes (pathology / pathophysiology)

• It helps to improve communication among health care professionals

• A shared language of anatomy that has precisely defined meaningsLevels of Organization

MOLECULAR

CELLULAR

TISSUE

epithelial, muscle, nervous, connective

ORGAN SYSTEM

ORGANISMOrigins of Anatomical Terms

A combination of Greek, Latin, and English terms

Femur

“Thigh”

Foramen

Magnum

“Big Hole”

Flexor Digitorum

“Flexes the

fingers”

Sartorius

“Tailor”

Region

Shape

Function

Clever Story

Circle of “Willis”

“Thomas Willis”

DiscovererWord Origins & Combinations

English, Greek, and Latin Comparisons:

• under = hypo = sub

• hypogastric = subgastric

Substances and Colours:

• coll = glue (coll-agen)

• cyano = blue (cyano-tic)

Descriptions and Directions:

• brady = slow (brady-cardia)

• ab = away (ab-duct)

Common suffixes:

• itis = inflammation (bronch-itis)

• ic, ac, ary, ous = pertaining to (apne-ic, cardi-

ac, coron-ary, cutane-ous)

Refer to the “word roots, prefixes,

suffixes and combining forms”

section inside the back cover of the

textbook

…and word origins.docx on avenueLearn to Understand – don’t memorize!

Cardiovascular Section (lecture material):

“A patent foramen ovale allows blood to

pass between the atria…”

heart

trachea

Cartilage rings

and plates

bronchus

Respiratory Section (final exam question):

“What structural feature of the bronchus

helps to maintain a patent airway?”Body Positions

• Anatomical position

• Prone

• Supine

Prone

• Other positions used in Nursing

• Semi Fowler’s

• Fowler’s

• Lateral

• Sims, etc.

Supine

Anatomical PositionEnglish and Latin terms

Regional Names

and associated structures

The human body is divided up into

several major regions that can be

identified externally.

These regions consist of the:

• Head

• Neck

• Trunk

• Upper limb

• Lower limb

Dorsal Surface Ventral SurfaceDirectional Terms

Directional terms describe the position of

one body part relative to another and are

DISTAL PROXIMAL

often grouped in pairs with opposite

meanings, e.g.:

MEDIAL

LATERAL

• Superior / inferior

• Anterior / posterior

• Medial / lateral

• Proximal / distal

• Superficial / deep

PROXIMAL DISTAL

SUPERIOR

(CRANIAL)

(ROSTRAL)

INFERIOR

(CAUDAL)Planes & Sections

Parts of the body can

be studied in relation

to planes, imaginary

flat surfaces that pass

through body parts.

Not shown here is the

parasagittal plane

(para = near) and

oblique plane.

TRANSVERSE

Cross, Axial

SAGITTAL

Longitudinal

Median

CORONAL

FrontalPlanes & Sections

Medical imaging

Some examples of common diagnostic images obtained through X-rays and MRI

Chest X-ray obtained in PA view.

X-rays are viewed as if facing the patient

(anterior view).

MRI and CT scans are viewed as if the patient is

in the supine position, and you are looking at

them from the feet towards the head (caudal to

cranial view)

What is the sectioning plane? Where is the left lung?Body Cavities

Examples

Organs that move are

pushed into body cavities.

Body cavities are lined by a

serous membrane (that

secretes serous fluid) and

consists of two layers:

• Parietal layer adheres to

the cavity wall

• Visceral layer adheres to

the surface of organs

1) Cranial Cavity (meninges)

brain and spinal cord

2) Pericardial Cavity

heart

3) Pleural Cavity

lungs

4) Peritoneal Cavity

(abdominopelvic)

GI, urinary & repro organs

heart

Pericardium

Midsagittal view Anterior viewBody Cavities

Concept

Are the organs inside the body cavities? NO!

Body cavities are potential spaces.Body Cavities

Demonstration

The concept of a ‘potential space’Body Cavities

Examples of pathology

• Body cavities are potential spaces that have the “potential” to be filled with fluid,

blood, or air, resulting in disease or even death.

Cardiac tamponade – due to

accumulation of blood, fluid or

pus in the pericardial cavity

Ascites – due to

accumulation of fluid in

the peritoneal cavity

Pneumothorax – due to

accumulation of air in the

pleural cavityThoracic Landmarks & Abdominal Quadrants

Surface anatomy can be used to locate deep

organs. It is the basis for physical assessment.

Thoracic Landmarks

• Ribs and intercostal spaces

Abdominal Quadrants

• Right upper quadrant

• Left upper quadrant

• Right lower quadrant

• Left lower

1 2

3 4Abdominal Regions

Surface anatomy

Most abdominal regions

are named after

structures that lie deep

to the skin

REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN

1 Right hypochondriac region

2 Epigastric region

3 Left Hypochondriac region

4 Right lumbar region

5 Umbilical region

6 Left lumbar region

7 Right iliac (inguinal) region

8 Hypogastric (pubic) region

9 Left iliac (inguinal) regionAbdominal Regions

Deep structures

Shown here are

the internal organs

that lie deep to

the abdominal

regions.

Some organs may

be in more than

one region (e.g.,

the liver occupies

the right

hypochondriac

and epigastric

regions).

REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN

1 Right hypochondriac region

2 Epigastric region

3 Left Hypochondriac region

4 Right lumbar region

5 Umbilical region

6 Left lumbar region

7 Right iliac (inguinal) region

8 Hypogastric (pubic) region

9 Left iliac (inguinal) regionHomework

Please familiarize

yourself with the

names and locations

of the bones of the

human body.

Appendicular

Upper Limb

scapula

clavicle

humerus

radius

ulna

carpal bones

metacarpals

phalanges

Lower Limb

pelvic bones

femur

patella

tibia

fibula

tarsal bones

metatarsals

phalanges

Axial

skull

mandible

sternum

ribs (costa)

vertebrae

cervical (7)

thoracic (12)

lumbar (5)

sacrumNext time

• We will discuss the concept of homeostasis