Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 1

Anatomy Defined Anatomy is the study of body structure, asking the questions: Where is it located? What does it look like? How does it relate to other body parts? It includes microanatomy, surface anatomy, medical anatomy, histology, and cytology. Two alternate approaches are systemic anatomy and regional anatomy.

Physiology Defined Physiology is the study of body function, asking the question: How does it work? It centers on the study of how the body adjusts of changes, and the various ways in which the body obtains and manages the use of energy.

Levels of Organization Chemical Cellular Tissue Organ System (Organ System) Organism

Chemical Chemical level is the most basic level of organization It is composed of nonliving subunits called atoms and molecules that undergo assembly. Large molecules are called Macromolecules Small molecules are called Micro molecules

Cellular Cellular level is the most basic living structural level. It consists of cells, which are the most basic living unit.

Tissue Tissue level is composed of a group of similar cells that combine to perform a common function. The four basic types of tissues are epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous.

Organ Organ level consists of organs, each of which is composed of two or more different types of tissues that, when combined, perform a general function

System System level consists of two or more different organs that perform a more general function.

Organism Organism level is the most complex level of structural organization, composed of all systems that are integrated for survival of the individual.

Basic Terminology Medical terminology refers to the construction of new terms by the use of word parts, includ ing: Word roots Prefixes Suffixes

Directional Terminology Directional terminology helps to describe relative locations of body parts. It uses the accepted position of the body as a reference, known as the anatomical position.

Directional Terms Superior- toward the head Inferior- away from the head Anterior- toward the front side Posterior- toward the back Medial- toward the midline Lateral- away from the midline

Directional Terms Superficial- surface of the body Deep- toward the inside of the body For the extremities Proximal- closer to the core Distal- away from the body

Sectional Planes Sectional planes are imaginary flat surfaces that are useful to provide information on sections through the body for visual purposes.

frontal plane, dividing the body into front and back portions; sagittal plane, dividing the body into right and left portions; transverse plane, AKA horizontal plane, dividing the body horizontally into upper and lower portions.

THE BODY PLAN

Body Regions Body regions are major areas of the body that are structurally distinguishable, Head Neck Trunk Upper appendages Lower appendages

Body Cavities Body cavities are spaces within the body containing many of the body organs. Each cavity is lined with a membrane, and the internal organs are called visceral organs.

Dorsal cavity: Cranial cavity housing the brain Vertebral canal housing the spinal cord

Ventral cavity The ventral cavity is devided into 2 smaller cavities, The thoracic The abdominopelvic

thoracic cavity, pericardial cavity surrounding the heart, two pleural cavities surrounding the two lungs, and the mediastinum superior to the heart Abdominopelvic cavity, abdominal cavity housing the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and much of the intestines, pelvic cavity housing the urinary bladder, part of the intestines, and internal reproductive organs. The abdominopelvic cavity may also be divided into four quadrants or into nine areas.