Anatomy and Physiology Overview

Anatomy

• Definition: Study of the structure of the body and its parts.

• Divisions:

  • Gross (macroscopic) anatomy: Study of large body structures visible to the naked eye (e.g., organs, systems).
  • Microscopic anatomy: Study of structures at the cellular and tissue levels (e.g., histology).

• Key Concepts:

  • Body Planes:
    • Sagittal plane: Divides body into right and left.
    • Frontal (coronal) plane: Divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back).
    • Transverse plane: Divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower).
  • Body Cavities:
    • Dorsal cavity: Contains the cranial and spinal cavities.
    • Ventral cavity: Contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Physiology

• Definition: Study of the functions and processes of the various parts of the body.

• Divisions:

  • Cell physiology: Study of cell function, including cellular metabolism and communication.
  • Systemic physiology: Study of organ systems and their interactions (e.g., cardiovascular physiology, respiratory physiology).

• Key Concepts:

  • Homeostasis: The body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions (e.g., temperature, pH).
  • Feedback mechanisms:
    • Negative feedback: Reduces the output or activity when a certain level is reached (e.g., thermoregulation).
    • Positive feedback: Increases the output or activity in response to a stimulus (e.g., childbirth).

Body Systems

1. Skeletal System:

   • Function: Provides structure, protects organs, facilitates movement.
   • Key components: Bones, cartilage, ligaments.

2. Muscular System:

   • Function: Enables movement, maintains posture, produces heat.
   • Key components: Skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, cardiac muscles.

3. Nervous System:

   • Function: Controls and coordinates body activities, processes sensory information.
   • Key components: Brain, spinal cord, nerves.

4. Endocrine System:

   • Function: Regulates bodily functions through hormones.
   • Key components: Glands (e.g., pituitary, thyroid, adrenal).

5. Cardiovascular System:

   • Function: Transports nutrients, gases, hormones, and wastes.
   • Key components: Heart, blood vessels, blood.

6. Respiratory System:

   • Function: Facilitates gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
   • Key components: Lungs, trachea, bronchi.

7. Digestive System:

   • Function: Processes food, absorbs nutrients, eliminates waste.
   • Key components: Mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines.

8. Urinary System:

   • Function: Eliminates waste, regulates blood volume and pressure.
   • Key components: Kidneys, ureters, bladder.

9. Reproductive System:

   • Function: Produces gametes, supports embryonic development (female).
   • Key components: Ovaries, testes, uterus.

10. Integumentary System:

    • Function: Protects body, regulates temperature, provides sensory information.
    • Key components: Skin, hair, nails.

Anatomy

• The study of the structure of the human body and its parts.
• Broken down into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy.
• Gross anatomy studies large body structures visible to the naked eye, such as organs and systems.
• Microscopic anatomy examines structures at the cellular and tissue levels, including histology.
• Body planes divide the body into sections:
  • Sagittal plane divides the body into right and left.
  • Frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back).
  • Transverse plane divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower).
• Body cavities house vital organs:
  • Dorsal cavity contains the cranial and spinal cavities.
  • Ventral cavity contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Physiology

• The study of how the different parts of the body function and interact.
• Broken down into cell physiology and systemic physiology.
• Cell physiology examines cell function, including cellular metabolism and communication.
• Systemic physiology studies the function of organ systems and their interactions.
• Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment, regardless of external changes.
• Feedback mechanisms control and regulate various bodily functions:
  • Negative feedback reduces the output or activity of a system when a certain level is reached, like thermoregulation.
  • Positive feedback increases the output or activity of a system in response to a stimulus, such as childbirth.

Body Systems

• Skeletal system
  • Provides framework, protects organs, facilitates movement.
  • Composed of bones, cartilage, and ligaments.
• Muscular system
  • Enables movement, maintains posture, produces heat.
  • Composed of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles.
• Nervous system
  • Controls and coordinates body activities, processes sensory information.
  • Composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
• Endocrine system
  • Regulates bodily functions through hormone production.
  • Consists of glands, including the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands.
• Cardiovascular system
  • Transports nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste throughout the body.
  • Composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
• Respiratory system
  • Facilitates gas exchange, delivering oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.
  • Consists of the lungs, trachea, and bronchi.
• Digestive system
  • Processes food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste.
  • Consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
• Urinary system
  • Eliminates metabolic waste, regulates blood volume and pressure.
  • Consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder.
• Reproductive system
  • Supports the production of gametes and embryonic development in females.
  • Consists of ovaries, testes, and uterus.
• Integumentary system
  • Provides a protective barrier, regulates temperature, and contains sensory receptors.
  • Consists of the skin, hair, and nails.

Explore the foundational concepts of anatomy and physiology in this quiz. Understand the structure of the body, including body planes and cavities, as well as the functions of various systems. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their knowledge in these essential biological fields.