1. The Human Body: An Orientation
Chapter 1

2. Overview of Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy – the study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts and their relationship to one another
Gross anatomy- large, easily observable structures
Microscopic anatomy – structures too small to be seen with the naked eye
Physiology – study of how the body and its parts work or function
many different branches

3. Levels of structural Organization
Atoms – smallest units of matter
Molecules – groups of atoms boded together
Cells – smallest unit of life
Tissues – groups of cells with similar functions
Four types: Epithelial, connective, nervous, muscle
Organs – groups of tissues working with a single common function
Organ systems – groups of organs together with a common function
Organism – the functioning individual, the highest level

4. Organ System Overviews
Integumentary
Skeletal
Muscular
Nervous
Endocrine
Cardiovascular
Lymphatic/Immune
Respiratory
Digestive
Urinary
Reproductive
Make sure you have a description
For each of these systems in your
Notes! Know the major functions
Of each one and the major organs
Of each one! We will be covering
Each system in extreme detail this
Year and having a solid background
On them is paramount to success!

5. 8 Necessary Life Functions
Truth is, these are slightly different depending on which source you are looking at…your textbook describes the following as the 8 Life Functions:
Maintaining boundaries
Movement/Transport
Responsiveness (to stimuli)
Digestion
Metabolism
Excretion
Reproduction
Growth

6. Survival Needs
The integrated goal of the body systems is to maintain homeostasis and life. In order to achieve this, several survival needs must be available
Nutrients – carbs, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, minerals, vitamins
Oxygen – required for cellular respiration and energy harvesting
Water
Normal body temperature – required for proper metabolic enzyme function
Atmospheric pressure – allows breathing and gas exchange to occur
These must be presence in “appropriate amounts” otherwise disease and dysfunction may ensue

7. Homeostasis
Maintenance of a stable internal environment in response to internal and external environment changes
Homeostatic controls:
Receptor- a receptor that senses changes, called stimuli, and sends and afferent pathway signal to the control center
Control center – determines the set point at which the variable is to be maintained, analyzes input and coordinates a response
Effector – “provides the means for the control center’s response.” Information reaches the effector via the efferent pathway
The results then feedback to the stimulus by either depressing the stimulus and shutting the system off (negative feedback) or enhancing the system and promoting the reaction at a faster rate (positive feedback)
Most feedback mechanisms are “negative feedbacks”
Homeostatic imbalance results in disease or dysfunction of systems

8. Homeostatic Control System
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9. Language of Anatomy
To avoid confusion about anatomical position, scientists have developed a set of positional and directional terms
Anatomical position – a standard position used as a basic reference point
Body erect, feet parallel and arms hanging at the sides with palms facing forward (thumbs pointing away from the body)
Directional terms – identify where one body part is in relation to another
These condense much description into a few simple words and are quite precise

10. Basic Orientation and Directional Terms
Superior (cranial or cephalad)
Inferior (caudal)
Ventral (anterior)
Dorsal (posterior)
Medial
Lateral
Intermediate
Proximal
Distal
Superficial (external)
Deep (internal)

11. Language of Anatomy Practice
The wrist is _________________ to the hand
The breastbone is ____________ to the spine
The brain is _____________ to the spinal cord
The thumb is _______________ to the fingers
The navel is ___________________ to the ribs
The skin is ______________ to the abdominal organs

12. Regional Terms Used to designate specific body areas
Study the lists on pages 16 to 17 in your textbook intensively.
These reference words will appear over and over and you MUST know them to be successful in this course
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13. Body Planes and Sections
A section is a linear “cut” made through the body
The plane is the imaginary line along which the cut is made
3 planes of the body
Sagittal section – cut lengthwise (long ways) divides the body into left and right parts
Midsagittal – results in symetrical right/left sides
Parasagittal- results from any other cut
Frontal section – cut lengthwise again, but results in a front and back (anterior and posterior) parts
A.k.a. – Coronal section – “coronal” means “crown”
Transverse section – cut along the horizontal plane and results in inferior and superior parts
A.k.a. – cross section

14. Body Planes and Sections

15. Body cavities Many textbooks reference two internal body cavities
The dorsal cavity
The ventral cavity
These differ in embryological development and in their lining membranes
Dorsal cavity – further subdivided into cranial cavity and spinal cavity
Ventral cavity – much larger than the dorsal cavity
Contains all chest and abdominal structures
Subdivided into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity, separated by the diaphragm muscle

16. Body cavities continued
The thoracic cavity includes the lungs, heart and some other organs and is protected by the ribcage
The mediastinum is the central area of the thoracic cavity and separates the right from the left lung. This area houses the heart, trachea and other visceral organs
The abdominopelvic cavity is subdivided into the abdominal cavity and an inferior pelvic cavity which contains reproductive organs, the bladder and rectum
No physical structure separates these two cavities, instead, the pelvic cavity is tilted away from the abdominal cavity plane

17. Abdominopelvic Cavity Further Divided
Due to the size of the abdominopelvic cavity, anatomists have further subdived the space into either:
4 Quadrants:
RUQ – Right upper quadrant
RLQ – Right lower quadrant
LUQ – Left upper quadrant
LLQ – Left lower quadrant
(or) 9 regions separated by four planes
Umbilical region (center)
Epigastric region – “above the stomach”
Hypogastric region – “below the stomach”
Right and Left iliac (or inguinal) regions – lower right and left corners including top of hip bone
Right and Left Lumbar regions – to the right and left of the umbilical area
Right and Left hypochondriac regions – “under cartilage” meaning these are right below the ribs on the right and left next to the epigastric area

18. Abdominopelvic Cavity
Using the terms on the previous slide, identify sections 1 - 9

19. Other Body Cavities
There are many smaller cavities throughout the body in addition to the major ones
Most are in the head and most open to the body exterior
Oral and digestive cavities
The mouth contains the teeth and tongue and is continuous with the cavity throughout the digestive organs, which opens to the exterior at the anus
Nasal cavity
Orbital cavities
Middle ear cavities