1

An Introduction
to Anatomy &
Physiology

PowerPoint® Lecture Presentations prepared by

Jason LaPres
Lone Star College—North Harris
NOTE:  Presentations  extensively  modi6ied  for  
use  in  MCB  244  &  246  at  the  University  of  
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Illinois  by  Drs.  Kwast  &  Brown  (2013-­‐2014)  
Chapter 1 Learning Objectives
• Describe the basic functions of organisms.
• Define anatomy & physiology and the various specialties of
each.
• Identify and understand the major levels of organization of
our bodies.
• Identify and describe the 11 organ systems of the body.
• Understand and be able to explain the concept of
“homeostasis” and describe the roles of negative and
positive feedback in regulating body functions.
• Identify the major body cavities using proper anatomical
terms.

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Anatomy & Physiology: The study of structure-
function relationships in biology
• Anatomy
• Describes the structures of the body including
• What they are made of
• Where they are located
• Associated structures

• Physiology
• Is the study of the function of biological systems including,
of course, anatomical structures
• It includes both individual and cooperative functions
• Anatomy & Physiology: forms the foundation for
understanding the body’s parts and functions in concert.

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 Introduction – A Brief History of Anatomy
• Anatomy (anatome = to cut up): study of “cutting up” of the structural parts
• Oldest medical science; cadaver dissection (dis = apart; secare = to cut)
Egypt:
• Anatomical or Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus (1600 BCE):
• Contains 48 case histories of medical trauma and their treatment; describes closing
wounds with sutures, preventing and curing infection with honey, stopping bleeding
with raw meat as well as immobilizing the head and neck to prevent spinal cord
injuries during transport.
• Also contain the first known descriptions of the cranial sutures, meninges, external
surface of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and intracranial pulsations. Also basic
anatomy of major organs and blood vessels as well as use of plants for treating
medical conditions.

Greece:
• Hippocrates (5th & 4th century BCE) – Greek physician/medical scientist
• Aristotle (4th century BCE) – text based in animal dissections: arteries, veins,
organs and organ systems
• Herophilos & Erasistratus (4th century BCE) – extensive cadaver dissections
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Introduction – A Brief History of Anatomy Cont…
Greece Cont.: Herophilos & Erasistratus even performed vivisections on
criminals!
•Claudius Galenus (a.k.a. Galen of Pergamon (Turkey)--2nd century BCE) –
compiled previous knowledge and filled in gaps with animal (e.g., monkey & pig)
dissections (“Ancient World’s Gray’s Anatomy” [1500 years]) – physician to
Roman Emperors

•Renaissance (1500s)— Andreas Vesalius (“De humani corporis fabrica” – On

the workings of the human body) – founder of modern human anatomy

•Gallows (Roman 14th – 16th BCE) & Graves (Michelangelo 17th – 18th century)

•Galileo charged admission for traveling cadaver dissections

•Anatomy Act of 1832 (UK) – finally provided for an adequate legal supply of
cadavers for medicine (lead to Gray’s Anatomy) [Murder
Act of 1752 --stipulated that only the bodies of convicted murderers were allowed
for legal dissection]

•What about recent advances? Are there any or has it all been done? ...
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Introduction – Modern Anatomical Projects

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 Introduction – Human Anatomy as Art?
• Body Worlds™, Bodies™, etc. = traveling
exhibitions of preserved human bodies
prepared using a technique called
plastination (German anatomist Gunther
von Hagens - water and fat replaced by
acetone then plastics [silicone rubber,
polyester & epoxy resins] – up to 12
month process); have done animals as
large as horses.
• Controversial: Who are these people and
were they willing participants?
• Also debate over Texas inmate used in
Visible Human Project
• Finally, there continue to be advances in
paleopathology, showing evolution of the
human form (not only from distant
relatives but of modern humans—height)
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Introduction – Human Physiology

• Physiology comes from Ancient Greek: physis, "nature, origin";

and -logia, "study of".

• Anatomy & Physiology together is the study of structure-function

relationships in biological systems

• Human Physiology is the study of the mechanical, physical, and

biochemical functions of humans, their organs, and the cells of
which they are composed.

• Physiology includes: Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology &

Chemistry, Endocrinology, Genetics, Genomics, Immunology,
Kinesiology, Neurobiology, Pathology, etc.

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Introduction – Brief History of Human Physiology
• Human physiology dates back to the time of Hippocrates — father of
modern medicine (5th century BCE)
• Claudius Galenus [a.k.a. Galen of Pergamon] (c. 126-199 A.D.) used
experiments to probe body functions; the founder of experimental
physiology.
• Middle Ages — the Muslim physician Avicenna (980-1037) introduced
experimentation and quantification in The Canon of Medicine.
• Ibn al-Nafis (1213–1288) — first physician to correctly describe the
anatomy of the heart, the coronary circulation, the structure of the
lungs, and the pulmonary circulation
• Renaissance (1500s)— Andreas Vesalius (De humani corporis fabrica)
– founder of modern human anatomy
• Herman Boerhaave (Leiden 1708) — father of clinical physiology —
textbook Institutiones medicae

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Introduction – Brief History of Human Physiology
• 19th century — Cell theory of Schleiden & Schwann, which “radically”
stated that organisms are made up of units called cells.
• Claude Bernard's (1813–1878) concept of milieu interieur (internal
environment), which would later be taken up and championed as
"homeostasis" by American physiologist Walter Cannon (1871–1945)
• 20th century — comparative physiology and ecophysiology (Knut
Schmidt-Nielsen and George Bartholomew). Most recently, evolutionary
physiology has become a distinct subdiscipline.
• Recent advances are in the Systems Biology subdisciplines, such as
physiological genomics (functional genomics)
• In addition, advances in cell physiology/ biology can be expected for
decades (centuries?)
• Physiology IS at the center of systems biology and, indeed,
personalized medicine.

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1-4 Relationships between Anatomy & Physiology

• Anatomy
• Gross anatomy, or macroscopic anatomy,
examines large, visible structures
• Surface anatomy: exterior features
• Regional anatomy: body areas
• Systemic anatomy: organ systems
• Developmental anatomy: from conception to death
• Clinical anatomy: medical specialties

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1-4 Relationships between Anatomy & Physiology

• Anatomy

• Microscopic anatomy examines cells and

molecules

• Cytology: study of cells and their structures

• cyt- = cell

• Histology: study

• hist- = tissue

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1-4 Relationships between Anatomy & Physiology

• Physiology Subdisciplines
• Cell physiology: processes within and between cells
• Organ physiology: functions of specific organs
• Systemic physiology: functions of an organ system
• Pathological physiology: effects of diseases

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 1-5 Levels of Organization
• Chemical (or Molecular)
• Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical events that occur within and between cells

• Cellular
• The fundamental compartments of all known living organisms and the
molecules and organelles within working together

• Tissue
• Group of cells working together in a concerted manner

• Organ
• A group of tissues working together to perform specific functions

• Organ System
• An organ system is a group of organs working together
• Humans have 11 organ systems

• Organism
• A human is an organism
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Figure 1-1 Levels of Organization

Organ system Organism

level level
Organ Level
Tissue Level

Cardiac muscle The heart

tissue

The
cardiovascular
system

Cellular Level

Chemical and Molecular Levels

Heart muscle
cell
Protein filaments
Complex protein molecule
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Atoms Education, Inc.
in combination
1-5 Levels of Organization – Organ Systems (11)
• Integumentary (Chpt 5) • Skeletal (Chpts 6-9)
• Major Organs • Major Organs
• Skin • Bones (>270)
• Hair • Cartilages
• Associated
• Sweat glands ligaments
• Nails • Bone marrow
• Functions • Functions
• Protects against • Provides support and
protection for other tissues
environmental hazards
• Stores calcium and other
• Helps regulate body minerals
temperature • Forms blood cells
• Provides sensory
information
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1-5 Levels of Organization – Organ Systems (11)
• Muscular (Chpts 10-11) • Nervous (Chpts 12-17)
• Major Organs • Major Organs
• Brain
• Skeletal muscles
(>650) and associated • Spinal cord
tendons • Peripheral
nerves
• Functions
• Sense organs
• Provides movement
• Functions
• Provides protection
• Directs immediate
and support for other responses to stimuli
tissues
• Coordinates or moderates
• Generates heat that activities of other organ
maintains body systems
temperature • Provides and interprets
sensory information about
external conditions
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1-5 Levels of Organization – Organ Systems (11)
• Endocrine (Chpt 18) • Cardiovascular (Chpts 19-21)
• Major Organs • Major Organs
• Pituitary gland • Heart
• Pancreas • Thyroid gland • Blood
• Gonads • Adrenal glands • Blood vessels
• Endocrine tissues in other • Functions
systems • Distributes blood
• Functions cells, water and
dissolved materials
• Directs long-term changes in
including nutrients, waste
the activities of other organs
products, oxygen, and
• Adjusts metabolic activity carbon dioxide
and energy use by the body • Distributes heat and assists in
• Controls structural & control of body temperature
functional changes during
development
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1-5 Levels of Organization – Organ Systems (11)
• Lymphatic (Chpt 22) • Respiratory (Chpt 23)
• Major Organs • Major Organs
• Spleen • Nasal cavities
• Thymus • Sinuses • Bronchi
• Lymphatic vessels • Larynx • Lungs
• Lymph nodes • Trachea • Alveoli
• Tonsils • Functions
• Functions • Delivers air to alveoli

• Defends against • Provides oxygen to bloodstream

infection and disease • Removes carbon dioxide from
• Returns tissue fluids to bloodstream
the bloodstream • Produces sounds for
communication
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1-5 Levels of Organization – Organ Systems (11)
• Digestive (Chpts 24-25) • Urinary (Chpts 26-27)
• Major Organs • Major Organs
• Teeth • Small intestine • Kidneys
• Tongue • Large intestine • Ureters
• Pharynx • Liver • Urinary bladder
• Esophagus • Gallbladder • Urethra
• Stomach • Pancreas • Functions
• Functions • Excretes waste products
from the blood
• Processes and digests food
• Controls water balance by
• Absorbs and conserves water regulating volume of urine
produced
• Absorbs nutrients
• Stores urine prior to
• Stores energy reserves voluntary elimination
• Regulates blood ion
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. concentrations and pH
1-5 Levels of Organization – Organ Systems (11)
• Male & Female Reproduction (Chpts 28-29)
• Major Organs • Major Organs
• Testes • Ovaries • Vagina
• Epididymides • Uterine tubes • Labia
• Ductus deferentia • Uterus • Clitoris
• Seminal vesicles • Mammary glands
• Prostate gland • Functions
• Penis and Scrotum • Produces female sex cells
• Functions (oocytes) and hormones
• Supports developing embryo from
• Produces male sex cells
conception to delivery
(sperm), suspending
fluids, and hormones • Provides milk to nourish newborn
• Sexual intercourse infant
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. • Sexual intercourse
1-6 Homeostasis – Keeping our organ systems in
balance
• Homeostasis: the ability of an organism to harness mechanisms for
the preservation (maintenance) of an almost constant internal state in
the face of perturbations

• Homeostasis first put forth by Claude Bernard and later championed by

Walter Cannon

• Systems respond to external and internal changes to function within a

normal range (body temperature, fluid balance, etc.)

• Both passive and active mechanisms involved

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1-6 Homeostasis
• Mechanisms of Regulation
• Autoregulation (intrinsic)

• Automatic response in a cell, tissue, or organ to some

environmental change (e.g., cells release chemicals in response
to decline in O2 during exercise that increase blood vessel
dilation and thus blood flow to active tissues)

• Extrinsic regulation

• Simultaneous control of several systems by nervous or

endocrine input (e.g., nervous system control of heart rate and
central and peripheral blood flow to active tissues in low O2)

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Figure 1-2 The Control of • Required Parts for Control:
Room Temperature • Receptor – Receives stimulus
• Control center - processes signal &
RECEPTOR sends instructions
Information
Normal
condition
Thermometer affects • Effector – Carries out instructions
disturbed
STIMULUS:
Room temperature
rises

HOMEOSTASIS CONTROL CENTER

(Thermostat) Air Air
Normal room
temperature conditioner conditioner

Room temperature (°C)

turns on turns off

RESPONSE:
Room temperature 20° 30° 40°
drops Normal
22 range
Normal
condition EFFECTOR Sends
restored commands
Air conditioner
to
turns on Time
In response to input from a receptor (a thermometer), a thermostat With this regulatory system, room
(the control center) triggers an effector response (either an air condi- temperature fluctuates around the
tioner or a heater) that restores normal temperature. In this case, set point.
when room temperature rises above the set point, the thermostat
turns on the air conditioner, and the temperature returns to normal.

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Figure 1-3 Negative Feedback in the Control of Body Temperature

RECEPTORS
Temperature Information
sensors in skin affects
Normal and
temperature hypothalamus CONTROL
disturbed CENTER
STIMULUS:
Body temperature
rises

HOMEOSTASIS Thermoregulatory
Normal body center in brain Vessels Vessels
temperature dilate, constrict,
RESPONSE: sweating sweating
Increased heat loss, increases decreases
body temperature

Body temperature (°C)

drops

Normal EFFECTORS 37.2

Sends Normal
temperature 37 range
• Sweat glands commands
restored in skin increase 36.7
to
secretion
• Blood vessels
in skin dilate
Time
Events in the regulation of body temperature, which are The thermoregulatory center keeps
comparable to those shown in Figure 1-2. A control center body temperature fluctuating
in the brain (the hypothalamus) functions as a thermostat within an acceptable range, usually
with a set point of 37°C. If body temperature exceeds between 36.7 and 37.2°C.
37.2°C, heat loss is increased through enhanced blood flow
to the skin and increased sweating.

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1-7 Negative and Positive Feedback
• The Role of Negative Feedback

• The response of the effector negates the stimulus or disturbance (i.e.,

inverts the signal)

• Body is brought back into homeostasis

• Normal range is achieved

• The Role of Positive Feedback

• The response of the effector increases and amplifies the stimulus or
disturbance (i.e., in the same direction as the original signal)

• Body is moved away from current “set point”

• Normal range is lost

• Used to speed up certain processes (e.g., blood clotting, child birth)

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Figure 1-4 Positive Feedback: Blood Clotting

Clotting
accelerates

Positive
feedback
loop

Chemicals Blood clot

Chemicals

Damage to cells in the The chemicals start chain As clotting continues, This escalating process
blood vessel wall releases reactions in which cells, each step releases is a positive feedback
chemicals that begin the cell fragments, and chemicals that further loop that ends with the
process of blood clotting. soluble proteins in the accelerate the process. formation of a blood clot,
blood begin to form a clot. which patches the vessel
wall and stops the bleeding.

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1-7 Negative and Positive Feedback

• Systems Integration
• Systems work together to maintain homeostasis

• Homeostasis is a state of equilibrium

• Opposing forces are in balance
• Dynamic equilibrium — continual adaptation

• Physiological systems work to restore balance

• Failure results in disease or death

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Table 1-1 The Roles of Organ Systems in Homeostatic Regulation

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1-8 Anatomical Terminology

• Although we will often examine the integration of various

organ systems in the maintenance of whole-body
homeostasis, it is easier for introductory students to learn
the anatomy and physiology of each organ system one
at a time (Chapters 5 – 29).

• Thus, your text book begins with some basic anatomical

terminology in Chapter 1 that we will now examine as it
will be used throughout the two semestesr.

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1-8 Anatomical Terminology
• Anatomical position: hands and arms extended at sides, palms
forward, legs straight, feet together

Supine: lying down, face up

Prone: lying down, face down

• Superficial Anatomy – structures on or near the body surface

• Anatomical Landmarks
• References to palpable (those that can be felt or touched) structures
• Anatomical Regions
• 4 Abdominopelvic quadrants – often used by clinicians
• 9 Abdominopelvic regions – often used by anatomists
• Anatomical Directions
• Reference terms based on subject
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Figure 1-5a: Frontal or
Anatomical Landmarks forehead Nasal or nose
Ocular, orbital
or eye
Cranial Otic or ear
or skull
Cephalic or head
Buccal or cheek
Facial
or face
Cervical or neck
Oral or mouth
Mental or chin Thoracic or
thorax, chest
Axillary or armpit
Mammary
or breast
Brachial
or arm Trunk
Abdominal
Antecubital (abdomen)
or front of Umbilical
elbow or navel

Anterior view
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Figure 1-5a Anatomical Landmarks
Antebrachial Pelvic Trunk
or forearm (pelvis)
Carpal or wrist
Palmar or palm
Manual
or hand

Pollex Digits Inguinal

or thumb (phalanges) or groin
or fingers (digital
or phalangeal) Pubic
Patellar (pubis)
or kneecap
Femoral
Crural or thigh
or leg
Tarsal or
ankle

Digits (phalanges)
or toes (digital or
phalangeal) Pedal
or foot
Hallux or
great toe
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Anterior view
Figure 1-5b Anatomical Landmarks

Cephalic
or head

Acromial or
shoulder Cervical
Dorsal or or neck
back

Olecranal Upper
or back limb
of elbow

Posterior view

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Figure 1-5b Anatomical Landmarks
Upper
Lumbar
limb
or loin

Gluteal
or buttock
Lower
Popliteal or limb
back of knee

Sural
or calf

Calcaneal or
heel of foot

Plantar or
sole of foot

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Posterior view

Figure 1-6a Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions

Right Upper Left Upper

Quadrant Quadrant
(RUQ) (LUQ)
Right Lower Left Lower
Quadrant Quadrant
(RLQ) (LLQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrants. The four

abdominopelvic quadrants are formed by two
perpendicular lines that intersect at the navel. The
terms for these quadrants, or their abbreviations,
are most often used in clinical discussions.
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Figure 1-6b Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions

Right Left
hypochondriac hypochondriac
region Epigastric region
region

Right lumbar Umbilical Left lumbar

region region region

Right Hypogastric
(pubic) Left inguinal
inguinal region
region region

Abdominopelvic regions. The nine abdominopelvic

regions provide more precise regional descriptions.

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Figure 1-6c Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions

Liver
Stomach
Gallbladder
Spleen
Large intestine

Small intestine
Appendix
Urinary
bladder
Anatomical relationships. The relationship between
the abdominopelvic quadrants and regions and the
locations of the internal organs are shown here.

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Figure 1-7 Directional References
Cranial Superior Right Left

Proximal

Posterior Anterior
or dorsal or ventral

Lateral Medial

Caudal Proximal

Distal

Distal
Inferior
A lateral view. An anterior view. Arrows
indicate important directional
terms used in this text;
definitions and descriptions
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. are given in Table 1-2.
Table 1-2 Directional Terms

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Figure 1-8 Sectional Planes

Frontal plane

Sagittal plane

Transverse plane

• Plane: a three-dimensional axis

• Section: a slice parallel to a plane
• Important in radiological techniques
(e.g., MRI, PET, CT)
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Table 1-3 Terms That Indicate Sectional Planes

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1-9 Body Cavities

• Essential Functions of Body Cavities

1. Protect organs from accidental shocks
2. Permit changes in size and shape of internal organs

• Ventral body cavity (coelom)

• Divided by the diaphragm

• Thoracic cavity

• Abdominopelvic cavity

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Figure 1-9 Relationships among the Subdivisions of the Ventral Body Cavity

Ventral Body Cavity

• Provides protection
• Allows organ movement
• Linings prevent friction
Subdivides during development into

Thoracic Cavity Abdominopelvic Cavity

Surrounded by chest wall and

diaphragm
Peritoneal Cavity
Extends
throughout
abdominal cavity
Right Pleural Cavity Mediastinum Left Pleural Cavity and into superior
portion of pelvic
Surrounds right lung Contains the Surrounds left lung
cavity
trachea, esophagus,
and major vessels
Abdominal Cavity Pelvic Cavity
Contains many Contains urinary
Pericardial Cavity digestive glands bladder,
and organs reproductive
Surrounds heart organs, last
portion of
digestive tract

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1-9 Body Cavities
• Serous Membranes

• Line body cavities and cover organs

• Consist of parietal layer and visceral layer

• Parietal layer — lines cavity

• Visceral layer — covers organs

• For example within the Abdominopelvic Cavity:

• Peritoneal cavity — chamber within abdominopelvic

cavity

• Parietal peritoneum lines the internal body wall

• Visceral peritoneum covers the organs

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Figure 1-10a The Ventral Body Cavity and Its Subdivisions

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1-9 Body Cavities – Abdominopelvic Cavity
• Abdominal cavity — superior portion
• Diaphragm to top of pelvic bones
• Contains digestive organs
• Retroperitoneal space
• Area posterior to peritoneum and anterior to muscular
body wall
• Contains pancreas, kidneys, ureters, and parts of the
digestive tract

• Pelvic cavity — inferior portion

• Within pelvic bones

• Contains reproductive organs, rectum and bladder

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1 Objective Summary Review
• Be able to name the various specialties of anatomy
and physiology.
• Be able to name the major levels of organization in
organisms, from molecular to organisms.
• Be familiar with the 11 organ systems of the body
and their major components. (MURDERS LINC)
• Be able to explain the concept of homeostasis,
including both positive and negative feedback.
• Be able to identify the major body cavities using
proper anatomical terms.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.