Anatomy and Physiology Summary
Anatomy and Physiology Summary
Anatomy and Physiology Summary
ANATOMY:
ANATOMY is the study of the STRUCTURES and the relationships among structures.
PHYSIOLOGY:
A. SUBDIVISIONS OF ANATOMY:
B. SUBDIVISIONS OF PHYSIOLOGY:
1. SYSTEMIC PHYSIOLOGY: Study of the FUNCTION of the SYSTEMS. e.g. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM,
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.
2. CELL PHYSIOLOGY: Study FUNCTION of the CELL.
3. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY: Study the FUNCTION of NERVE CELLS.
4. ENDOCRINOLOGY: Study of HORMONES and how they control BODY FUNCTIONS.
5. IMMUNOLOGY: Study of the BODY DEFENSE MECHANISMS.
C. HOMEOSTASIS:
HOMEOSTASIS is an inner STABILITY of the body, even if the ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE the BODY
CHANGES.
* POSITIVE FEEDBACK LEADS TO DEATH, EXCEPT IN CASES SUCH AS CHILD DELIVERY and a few other
examples.
d. NERVE TISSUE
2.) FUNCTION: responds to various STIMULI and transports NERVE IMPULSES from one area of the body
to another.
6. ORGAN: Group of TWO or MORE KINDS of TISSUE bound together to form a structure. (e.g.
STOMACH, LIVER, SKIN.)
7. SYSTEM: A group of ORGANS with their tissues that work TOGETHER to perform a MAJOR FUNCTION.
a. INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM: Made of SKIN, NAILS, HAIR, SWEAT GLANDS and OIL GLANDS. Function:
PROTECTION, REGULATE BODY TEMPERATURE CONTAINS SENSORY RECEPTORS.
Function: SUPPORT BODY, PROTECT ORGANS,MANUFACTURE RED BLOOD CELLS, PROVIDE LEVEL
MECHANISM FOR MOVEMENT.
h. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Made up of organs from MOUTH to ANUS and ACCESSORY STRUCTURES (LIVER,
PANCREAS, ETC) Function: BREAK DOWN FOOD, REMOVE SOLID WASTE.
j. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: Made of OVARIES, TESTES, GERM CELLS, ACCESSORY GLANDS and DUCTS.
FUNCTION: REPRODUCTION.
k. LYMPHATIC SYSTEM: Made of LYMPH NODES, LYMPHATIC BLOOD VESSELS, TONSILS. Function
IMMUNE SYSTEM DEFENSE, FAT TRANSPORT
FUNCTION: DEFENSE
8. Organism - the complete human (the animal); the highest level of organization
E. ANATOMICAL POSITION: In the ANATOMICAL POSITION, the BODY is STANDING ERECT and FACING
FORWARD, the FEET ARE TOGETHER, and the ARMS ARE HANGING at the SIDES WITH THE PALMS
FACING FORWARD.
1. MIDSAGITTAL OR MEDIAN PLANE: Divides the body SYMMETRICALLY into LEFT and RIGHT halves.
2. PARASAGITTAL OR SAGITTAL PLANE: Divides the body ASYMMETRICALLY into LEFT and RIGHT PARTS.
Can be any number of these.
3. FRONTAL OR CORONAL PLANE: Divides the body ASYMMETRICALLY into ANTERIOR and POSTERIOR
SECTIONS.
4. TRANSVERSE OR HORIZONTAL PLANE: Divides the body HORIZONTALLY into SUPERIOR and INFERIOR
SECTIONS.
G. DIRECTIONAL TERMS:
I. BODY CAVITIES:
1. THE VENTRAL (ANTERIOR) BODY CAVITY is located in the front aspect of the body and divided into:
1.) PERICARDIAL CAVITY: Contains the HEART. It is lined by the PERICARDIUM (= SEROUS
MEMBRANE).
2.) PLEURAL CAVITIES (2): Contains the LUNGS. It is lined by the PLEURA (= SEROUS
MEMBRANE).
3.) The MEDIASTINUM: Region or space between the lungs, the thoracic inlet, and the
diaphragm.
It contains the esophagus, trachea, primary bronchi, thymus gland, heart (pericardial cavity), large
blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.
b. ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY = LOWER VENTRAL CAVITY. It is lined by a serous membrane called the
PERITONEUM. It is subdivided into two portions:
1.) The Abdominal Cavity: It is separated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm muscle. It
contains stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, most of the small intestine, most of the
large intestine, kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, and many major blood vessels.
2.) The Pelvic Cavity: Contains urinary bladder, the remainder of the small and large intestines,
remainder of the ureters, vermiform appendix, and internal portions of the reproductive organs
of the male (_) and female (_); male reproductive organs (seminal vesicles, prostate) and female
reproductive organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, upper vagina).
* NOTE: The abdominopelvic cavity can be subdivided either into 4 quadrants or into 9 regions.
2. THE DORSAL (POSTERIOR) BODY CAVITY: is located near the back of the body. It is divided into TWO
CAVITIES:
1. METABOLISM: Sum of all CHEMICAL PROCESSES that keep our bodies alive and healthy. It is divided
into 2 phases (parts):
b. ANABOLISM: Phase of metabolism that uses the energy from CATABOLISM to build up the BODY'S
STRUCTURAL and FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS. It is also called BIOSYNTHESIS.
7. ADAPTATION:
PRACTICE ON BODY REGIONS