Anatomy and Physiology Overview

Study Notes

Anatomy is the study of the structure or form of the body.
Systemic anatomy focuses on the body systems, which is the approach we will use in this course.
Physiology is the study of how body systems function to sustain life.

The body is organized into several levels, with each level made up of many of the level below.
Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life.
Tissues are groups of similar cells that perform a specific function.
Organs are composed of different tissues that work together to perform a more complex function.
Systems are groups of organs that work together to carry out major bodily functions.
The organism represents the highest level of organization, encompassing all the body's systems.

Planes of reference are imaginary slices through the body that help describe the location of structures relative to each other.
Transverse Plane: Divides the body into head (cranial) and tail (caudal) portions.
Dorsal Plane: Divides the body into top and bottom halves (also known as the axial plane).
Median Plane: Divides the body into equal left and right halves.
Sagittal Plane: Divides the body into unequal left and right halves (any slice parallel to the median plane).

Directional terms describe the location of structures relative to other structures or to the body as a whole.
Cranial: Towards the head.
Caudal: Towards the tail.
Rostral: Towards the nose (used for structures on the head).
Medial: Towards the middle or median plane.
Lateral: Away from the middle or median plane.
Dorsal: Towards the back (also refers to the top surface of the foot).
Ventral: Towards the underside or belly.
Proximal: On a limb, closer to the body.
Distal: On a limb, further from the body or towards the foot.
Palmar: Bottom surface of the front foot (the standing surface).
Plantar: Bottom surface of the hind foot (the standing surface).
Cranial (limb): Front side of the limb.
Caudal (limb): Back side of the limb.
Superficial: Towards the body surface.
Deep: Towards the inside of the body.

Thorax (Thoracic Cavity):
- Contains the heart, lungs, and esophagus.
- Bounded by:
  - Spine dorsally.
  - Ribs laterally.
  - Diaphragm caudally.
  - Neck cranially.
  - Sternum ventrally.
Abdomen (Abdominal Cavity):
- Contains digestive organs (liver, stomach, intestines, etc.), reproductive organs, urinary organs, etc.
- Bounded by:
  - Spine dorsally.
  - Abdominal muscles laterally and ventrally.
  - Diaphragm cranially.
  - Pelvis caudally.