Anatomy and Physiology Introduction

Anatomy and Physiology

• Anatomy is the study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts
• Gross anatomy deals with large structures that are easily observable
• Microscopic anatomy deals with very small structures that can only be viewed with a microscope

Organ Systems Overview

• Integumentary System:
  • Forms the external body covering
  • Protects deeper tissue from injury and drying out
  • Synthesizes vitamin D
  • Location of cutaneous nerve receptors
• Skeletal System:
  • Protects and supports body organs
  • Provides muscle attachment for movement
  • Site of blood cell formation
  • Stores minerals
• Muscular System:
  • Allows locomotion
  • Maintains posture
  • Produces heat
• Nervous System:
  • Fast-acting control system
  • Responds to internal and external changes
  • Activates muscles and glands
• Endocrine System:
  • Secretes regulatory hormones for growth, reproduction, and metabolism
• Cardiovascular System:
  • Transports materials in the body via the blood pumped by the heart
  • Transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes
• Lymphatic System:
  • Returns fluids to blood vessels
  • Disposes of debris
  • Involved in immunity by destroying bacteria and tumor cells
• Respiratory System:
  • Keeps blood supplied with oxygen
  • Removes carbon dioxide
• Digestive System:
  • Breaks down food
  • Allows for nutrient absorption into the blood
  • Eliminates indigestible material
• Urinary System:
  • Eliminates nitrogenous wastes
  • Maintains acid-base balance
  • Regulates water and electrolyte levels
• Reproductive System:
  • Produces offspring

Language of Anatomy

• Special terminology is used to prevent misunderstanding
• Exact terms are used for position, direction, regions, and structures

Characteristics of Life

• Necessary Life Functions:
  • Maintain Boundaries
  • Movement
  • Responsiveness
  • Digestion
  • Metabolism
  • Excretion
  • Reproduction
  • Growth
• Survival Needs:
  • Nutrients
  • Oxygen
  • Water
  • Stable body temperature
  • Appropriate atmospheric pressure

Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment or a dynamic state of equilibrium
• Homeostasis must be maintained for normal body functioning and to sustain life
• Homeostatic Imbalance is a disturbance in homeostasis resulting in disease

Feedback Mechanisms

• Components:
  • Variable
  • Receptor
  • Control Center
  • Effector
• Negative Feedback Mechanisms:
  • Result when a change in condition triggers action that reverses the change
  • Includes most homeostatic control mechanisms
  • Shuts off the original stimulus, or reduces its intensity
• Positive Feedback Mechanisms:
  • Result in having the body react to a change by amplifying it
  • Increases the original stimulus to push the variable farther
  • In the body, this only occurs in blood clotting and birth of a baby

This quiz covers the basics of anatomy and physiology, including the study of body structure and function. It introduces the concept of gross and microscopic anatomy and the different levels of structural organization. The integumentary system is also briefly discussed.