Anatomy and Physiology: Body Systems

• Anatomy is the study of the human body's structure, including organs, tissues, and their relationships.
• Physiology studies how body parts function and work together to sustain life.

Subdisciplines of Anatomy

• Gross anatomy examines large, visible structures and can be systemic or regional.
• Systemic gross anatomy studies body systems.
• Regional gross anatomy studies specific areas.
• Microscopic anatomy focuses on cellular and tissue-level structures, including cytology and histology.
• Cytology is the study of cells.
• Histology is the study of tissues.
• Developmental anatomy studies anatomical structure changes from fertilization to adulthood, including embryonic development.
• Pathological anatomy studies changes in body structure due to disease.
• Radiographic anatomy uses imaging technologies like X-rays or MRIs to visualize internal structures.
• Functional morphology explores the relationship between the structure of body parts and their function.

Body Systems

• The integumentary system includes skin, hair, nails, and glands, providing protection, temperature regulation, vitamin D synthesis, and sensory information.
• The skeletal system, made of bones and cartilage, provides structure, supports weight, facilitates movement with joints, and stores minerals like calcium and phosphorus.
• The muscular system includes skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles for movement, posture maintenance, and heat generation.
• The cardiovascular system, composed of the heart and blood vessels, transports blood, delivers oxygen and nutrients, and removes waste.
• The respiratory system, with lungs and air passages, facilitates gas exchange and regulates blood pH.
• The nervous system, containing the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, controls responses to stimuli and coordinates bodily functions.
• The endocrine system is a network of glands secreting hormones for growth, metabolism, and reproduction regulation.
• The lymphatic system/immunity, including lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and the spleen, is essential for immune responses and fluid balance.
• The digestive system, with organs like the stomach and intestines, breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste.
• The urinary system, comprising kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, focuses on waste filtration, electrolyte balance, and blood pressure regulation.
• Reproductive systems produce gametes (sperm/eggs) and regulate hormones for sexual function and reproduction.

Anatomical Terminology

• Anatomical position is the standard reference: erect body, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward.
• Directional terms include superior (above), inferior (below), anterior (front), posterior (back), medial (toward midline), lateral (away from midline), superficial (closer to surface), and deep (away from surface).
• Regional terms refer to specific body areas, grouped into axial (head, neck, trunk) and appendicular (limbs).

Body Planes and Cavities

• The midsagittal plane divides the body into equal left and right halves.
• The coronal plane divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.
• The transverse plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts.
• The dorsal cavity houses the brain (cranial cavity) and spinal cord (vertebral cavity).
• The ventral cavity contains the thoracic cavity (heart and lungs) and abdominopelvic cavity (digestive organs, kidneys).
• Serous membranes provide lubrication for organs in cavities, including pleura (lungs), pericardium (heart), and peritoneum (abdominal organs).

Levels of Structural Organization

• The chemical level involves atoms forming molecules like proteins and carbohydrates.
• The cellular level is the basic unit of life, with cells containing organelles for specific functions.
• The tissue level consists of similar cells working together (e.g., muscle tissue).
• The organ level involves structures of two or more tissue types performing specific tasks (e.g., heart).

Key Topics

• Units of measurement use the metric system for scientific consistency.
• Anatomical terminology developed from ancient Greek and Latin for standardized medical communication.

Explore anatomy, the study of the human body's structure and physiology. Learn about body parts function and their work; how they work together to sustain life. This includes gross, microscopic, developmental, pathological, radiographic anatomy and functional morphology.