INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Part 1
Anatomy  Regional anatomy
- Studies structures found within specific
 Field in the biological sciences concerned with
regions of the body.
the identification and description of the body
- Studying organs per region of the body.
structures of living things.
 Radiographic anatomy – studies structures
 We deal with identifying the different organs in
that can be viewed with x-rays, MRI and CT
the body.
scans.
 Label the structures associated with that organ.
 Pathological anatomy – studies changes
(Gross to Microscopic) in organs or tissues
associated with the disease process.
 Embryology – study of the development of
the first 8 weeks of development after
fertilization of the human egg.
 Developmental Biology – studies the
complete development of an individual from
Branches of Anatomy: fertilization to death.
 Gross anatomy – studies structures that can Physiology
be seen by the naked eye.
 Field in the biological sciences concerned with
the functions of the structures (cells, tissues and
organs).
 More concerned with the function of the organ.
What is the function of the heart?
 Pump blood so that the blood can circulate
 Microscopic anatomy – studies structures
throughout the body so that the blood can
that can only be seen with the aid of
distribute oxygen and nutrients.
microscope.
Branches of Physiology:
 Endocrinology – study of hormones
 Immunology – study of body’s defense against
invading microorganism
 Neurophysiology – function of nerves
 Renal physiology – function of the kidneys
 Surface anatomy – studies surface  Respiratory physiology – function of the lungs
markings of the body to understand internal and air passageways
anatomy through visualization and palpation.  Cardiovascular physiology – function of the
 Systemic anatomy heart and blood vessels
- Studies structures of specific body  Pathophysiology – functional changes
systems. associated with the disease and aging
- Studying organs per body system.

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 INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Part 1
Levels of Structural Organization and Body Systems  Organ Level
o Group of two or more tissues functioning
Organization of the Human Body
together.
 System Level
o Group of related organs with common
function
o Digestive system = Esophagus,
Stomach, Intestine
 Organism Level
o Digestive + Integumentary + Skeletal +
Cardiovascular + Respiratory +
Reproductive + Muscular + Nervous +
Urinary + Endocrine + Lymphatic System

 Chemical Level Characteristics of the Living Organism

o Atoms and Molecules; smallest unit of 1. Metabolism - sum of all the chemical processes that
matter that can participate in chemical occur in the body.
reactions.
 Cellular Level  Catabolism - breakdown of complex
o Molecules combine to form cells chemical substances into simpler
o Cells are basic structural and functional components.
unit of an organism; smallest living unit in - is the set of metabolic
the human body. pathways that breaks down molecules into
o Cells are studied under cytology. smaller units that are either oxidized to
 Tissue Level release energy or used in other anabolic
o Group of cells and (fiber and ground reactions.
substance) extracellular matrix that work  Anabolism - building of complex chemical
together to perform a particular function. substance from smaller and simpler
o Tissues are studied under histology. components.
- is the set of metabolic pathways
that construct molecules from smaller units,
these reactions require energy, known also
as an endergonic process.

CYTOLOGY and HISTOLOGY are branches of

Microscopic Anatomy.

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 INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Part 1
Example: Control of Homeostasis
 Excess glucose in the blood - STORED in  Feedback Systems – cycle of events in
the liver and skeletal muscles as glycogen which the status of a body condition is
 Fasting - Glycogen broken down into glucose monitored, evaluated, changed, remonitored,
to provide energy reevaluated and so on.
2. Responsiveness – ability to detect and respond to (1) Control center – most of the time the
changes brain; sets range of values within which a
 Turning of head towards a sound to prepare controlled condition should be
the body for a possible threat maintained.
 Infection = Temperature is raised = Fever (2) Receptor/Sensor center – body
structure that monitors changes in
3. Movement – motion of the whole body and even the controlled condition and sends input to
organelles within the cells. the control center.
4. Growth – an increase in body size that results from (3) Effector – body structures that receives
increase in the number and size of cells. output from the control center and
produces a response or effect that
5. Differentiation – development of cell from an changes controlled condition.
unspecialized to specialized state.  Negative Feedback system – reverses the
6. Reproduction – (1) production of new individual or (2) change in the controlled condition.
formation of new cells for tissue repair or replacement.  Positive Feedback system – tends to
strengthen or reinforce a change in one
Homeostasis body’s controlled conditions.
 Any process that living things use to actively
maintain fairly stable conditions necessary
for survival.
Example:
o Hyperglycemia – increase in blood
insulin
o Hypoglycaemia – decrease in blood
insulin

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