Anatomy and Physiology Basics

Anatomy and Physiology

• The term "anatomy" comes from Greek and means "cutting open", referring to the study of internal and external body structures and their relationships.
• Physiology, also from Greek origin, is the study of how organisms perform vital functions.

Human Cell

• The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms, and the smallest unit of life.
• There are millions of different types of cells, including organisms unto themselves (e.g., amoeba and bacteria) and those that function as part of a larger organism (e.g., body cells).

Cell Structure and Function

• The cell has a 'skin' called the plasma membrane, which protects it from the outside environment and regulates the movement of water, nutrients, and wastes.
• The cell nucleus, located at the center of the cell, contains the cell's DNA, which coordinates protein synthesis.
• Organelles inside the cell, such as ribosomes, participate in protein synthesis by translating mRNA into proteins.
• Mitochondria, often referred to as the cell's "power plants", perform many of the cell's energy-producing reactions.