Anatomy and Physiology Overview

Anatomy and Physiology

• Anatomy studies the structure of organisms and their parts.
• Physiology studies how organisms and their parts function.
• Organism Organization:
  • Atoms
  • Molecules
  • Organelles
  • Cells
  • Tissues
  • Organs
  • Organ Systems
  • Organism
• Cells: Basic building blocks of life, combinations of organelles.
• Homeostasis: Body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions, response to environmental changes (e.g., sweating, shivering).

Skeletal System

• Function: Support, movement, and protection of organs.
• Adult Bones: 206 bones
• Infant Bones: More bones that fuse together as the child grows.
• Bone Structure:
  • Ligaments: Connect bone to bone
  • Tendons: Connect bone to muscle
  • Cartilage: Protects bones
• Bone Diseases: Various bone diseases exist. Treatment and prevention vary by condition.

Cardiovascular System

• Function: Circulates blood, delivering oxygen and removing waste.
• Heart Parts: Chambers (atria, ventricles), valves (tricuspid, mitral, aortic, pulmonary), arteries (aorta, pulmonary arteries), veins (superior and inferior vena cava, pulmonary veins).
• Blood Flow: Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart via vena cava, moves to the right atrium, ventricle, and pulmonary arteries to lungs for oxygenation, oxygenated blood is returned to the left atrium, ventricle, and aorta to the body.
• Heart Layers:
  • Epicardium: Outer, protective layer.
  • Myocardium: Middle, muscular layer responsible for contraction.
  • Endocardium: Inner lining of chambers and valves.
  • Pericardium: Outer membrane encasing the heart.
• Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium.
• Coronary Circulation: Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart; cardiac veins remove deoxygenated blood.
• Atherosclerosis: Hardening and thickening of artery walls.
• Pulmonary vs. Systemic Circulation:
  • Pulmonary: Lungs, oxygenation
  • Systemic: Body, distribution of oxygenated blood and removal of waste.

Respiratory System

• Function: Ventilation (airflow), gas exchange (O2/CO2), and protection (mucus, cilia).
• Respiratory System Parts:
  • Nose (nostrils)
  • Nasal cavity (cilia, mucus)
  • Pharynx: Directs air to trachea
  • Larynx (voice box): Vocal cords, epiglottis (prevents food from entering airway)
  • Trachea (windpipe): Cartilage rings, cilia - keeps its shape
  • Bronchi, Bronchioles: Divide to supply air throughout lungs
  • Lungs, Alveoli: Gas exchange occurs
• Epiglottis: Flap of cartilage that covers the trachea during swallowing.
• Cilia: Hair-like structures that trap and remove foreign particles.
• Capillaries: Facilitate gas exchange between blood and air in the lungs.

Nervous System

• Function: Controls and coordinates body functions, processes information, enables movement, and thought.
• Neuron: A nerve cell.
• Reflex: Automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus.
• Motor vs. Sensory Neurons:
  • Motor: Carry signals from CNS to muscles/glands.
  • Sensory: Carry signals from sensory organs to CNS.
• CNS (Central Nervous System): Brain and spinal cord, surrounded by protective bone and fluid (cerebrospinal fluid).
• PNS (Peripheral Nervous System): Cranial and spinal nerves.
• Brain Damage Assessment:
  • Normal Findings: Clear speech, memory, coordination, reflexes.
  • Abnormal Findings: Confusion, memory loss, weakness, coordination problems and abnormal reflexes.
  • Neurological Examination: Assessing mental state, reflexes, sensation, coordination.
  • Imaging Studies (CT/MRI) & EEG: Detect abnormalities in the brain.
• Concussion: Mild traumatic brain injury.
• Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE): Progressive degenerative brain disease related to repeated head injuries (often in athletes).

Digestive System

• Function: Ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination of nutrients.
• Pathway: Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus.
• Digestion Location: Primarily in the small intestine. 
• Absorption Location: Primarily in the small intestine (villi and microvilli).
• Peristalsis: Muscle movements that move food through the digestive tract.
• Accessory Organs:
  • Pancreas: Creates insulin and other digestive enzymes.
  • Liver: Filters toxins.
  • Gallbladder: Stores bile.

Lymphatic System

• Function: Drains excess fluid, fights infection.
• Lymphatic Vessels: Open-ended vessels that absorb fluid and potentially disease causing bacteria.
• Swollen Glands/Ankles: Potential signs of inflammation or illness.