Anatomy and Physiology Fundamentals

Importance of Foundational Knowledge in A&P

• Students in Phlebotomy and/or MLA courses require a solid understanding of the human body as a whole and its individual components.
• The human body is a complex organism that relies on the interaction of multiple processes to function properly.

Body Functions and Control Mechanisms

• The body's proper functioning involves the production, cessation, increase, decrease, and variations of chemicals, hormones, analytes, and water.
• These processes are regulated by control mechanisms that are influenced by factors such as sex, age, time of month, and time of day.

Interconnecting Systems

• The body is a complex final product of many interconnecting systems that are under varying levels of control and expression throughout an individual's life.
• Understanding these systems is crucial in the medical industry to identify normal function, pathologies, and corrective interventions.

Hierarchy of the Human Body

• The human body is organized in a hierarchical structure, comprising cells, tissues, organs, and body systems.
• Each body system has different organs, tissues, and cells that work together to maintain normal operations and functions.

Body Systems and Pathologies

• The examination of signs and symptoms by clinicians is essential in identifying abnormalities in patients.
• Pathologies often present with changes in structure, function, and general operations of tissues, organs, or systems as a whole.
• These changes can also cause alterations in chemicals, analytes, and substances.