Anatomy and Physiology Overview

Page 1: Basic Concepts

• Anatomy vs. Physiology

  • Anatomy: Study of shape and structure of the human body.

  • Physiology: Study of function of the human body.

• Body Positions and Planes

  • Anatomic Position: Body standing erect, face forward, feet together, arms at sides.

  • Midsagittal Plane: Divides body into equal left and right halves.

  • Transverse Plane: Divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

  • Frontal Plane: Divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

• Body Terminology

  • Proximal: Closer to the trunk.

  • Distal: Farther from the trunk.

• Structural Units of the Body

  • Cells → Tissues → Organs → Body Systems.

  • Cells: Basic units of structure; surrounded by a cell membrane, containing cytoplasm and nucleus.

  • Tissues: Four categories - epithelial, connective, muscle, nerve.

• Body Systems

  • 11 systems: Skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, lymphatic, nervous, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, integumentary, reproductive.

Page 2: Body Cavities and Skeleton

• Body Cavities

  • Ventral Cavity: Front of the body; subdivided into thoracic and abdominal cavities.

  • Dorsal Cavity: Back of the body; divided into cranial and spinal cavities.

• Skeletal Regions

  • Axial Skeleton: 80 bones (skull, spinal column, ribs, sternum).

  • Appendicular Skeleton: 126 bones (upper and lower extremities).

• Bone Structure

  • Periosteum: Covers bone surfaces; contains osteoblasts.

  • Types of Bone: Compact (dense outer layer) and cancellous (lighter inner structure).

  • Bone Marrow: Produces blood cells.

• Joints

  • Types: Fibrous (immovable), cartilaginous (slightly movable), synovial (freely movable).

  • Disorders: Arthritis (joint inflammation), osteoporosis (bone density loss).

Page 3: Muscular and Cardiovascular Systems

• Muscle Types

  • Skeletal: Voluntary, striated muscles attached to bones.

  • Smooth: Involuntary, non-striated muscles.

  • Cardiac: Striated muscle found in the heart.

• Cardiovascular System

  • Composed of circulatory system, heart, lymphatic system.

  • Functions: Transports oxygen/nutrients, regulates temperature, maintains chemical stability.

• Blood Vessels

  • Arteries: Carry blood away from the heart.

  • Veins: Return waste-filled blood to the heart.

  • Capillaries: Connect arterial and venous systems.

• Lymphatic System

  • Structures: Lymph vessels, nodes, fluid, lymphoid organs.

  • Functions: Disease defense through antibody production.

Page 4: Other Body Systems

• Respiratory System

  • Function: Delivers oxygen, removes carbon dioxide.

  • Disorders: Tuberculosis (infectious disease).

• Digestive System

  • Processes: Ingestion, digestion, absorption, elimination.

  • Disorders: Gastroesophageal reflux (backward flow of gastric juices).

• Endocrine System

  • Controls growth through hormone-producing glands (pancreas, thyroid, etc.).

  • Disorders: Diabetes mellitus (chronic condition).

• Urinary System

  • Disorder: Renal failure (loss of kidney function).

• Integumentary System

  • Largest organ (skin); protects against environment, regulates temperature.

  • Disorders: Abscess (bacterial infection).

Page 5: Embryology and Development

• Embryology

  • Study of embryo and fetus development.

  • Prenatal Development: Germinal, embryonic, fetal periods.

• Embryonic Layers

  • Ectoderm: Skin, brain, spinal cord.

  • Mesoderm: Bone, muscle, reproductive system.

  • Endoderm: Lining of digestive and respiratory systems.

• Facial Development

  • Branchial arches form facial structures.

  • Palate formation occurs in three stages.

Page 6: Tooth Anatomy

• Tooth Structure

  • Crown and roots; anatomical vs. clinical crown.

  • Enamel: Hardest material, covers crown.

  • Dentin: Surrounds pulp, contains dentinal tubules.

• Pulp and Periodontium

  • Pulp: Contains blood vessels, nerves, connective tissue.

  • Periodontium: Supporting structures for teeth (alveolar bone, periodontal ligament).

Page 7: Skull and Facial Anatomy

• Skull Structure

  • Divided into cranium (8 bones) and face.

  • Major bones: Frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, maxillae, mandible.

• TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)

  • Allows jaw movement; involves hinge and gliding actions.

  • Disorders: TMD (temporomandibular disorder).

Page 8: Muscles and Salivary Glands

• Facial Muscles

  • Major muscles of expression and mastication.

  • Innervation: Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.

• Salivary Glands

  • Major glands: Parotid, submandibular, sublingual.

  • Minor glands: Numerous, smaller glands.

Page 9: Lymphatic System and Disorders

• Lymphatic System

  • Lymph nodes: Fight disease, produce antibodies.

  • Lymphadenopathy: Swelling of nodes due to infection or cancer.