ORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN BODY 6.

Organism Level= living things considered as a

(CHAPTER 1) whole.
(THE HUMAN ORGANISM) Humans= organisms, sharing characteristics with
other organisms.
Anatomy= scientific discipline that investigates the Life= most important common feature of all
body’s structures. “Dissect”. organisms.
Developmental Anatomy= structural changes that 6 Characteristics of Life:
occur between conception and adulthood. 1. Organization= specific interrelationships
among parts of an organism and how those
Embryology= subspecialty of developmental
parts interact to perform specific functions.
anatomy, changes from conception to the end of
2. Metabolism= all of the chemical reactions
the eighth week of development.
taking place in the cells and internal
Cytology=Cell, structural features of cells. environment of an organism.
3. Responsiveness= organism’s ability to sense
Histology= Tissues, composed of cells and changes in its external or internal environment
materials surrounding them. and adjust to those changes.
4. Growth= increase in the size of number of cells.
Gross Anatomy= study of structures that can be
5. Development= changes an organism
examined without the aid of a microscope.
undergoes through time, beginning with
System= group of structures that have one or fertilization and ending at death.
more common functions. 6. Reproduction= formation of new cells or new
organisms.
Systematic Anatomy= body is studied system by
system. Differentiation= changes in a cell’s structure and
function from an immature, generalized state to a
Regional Anatomy= body is studied by area. mature, specialized state.
Regional Approach= taken most in graduate Morphogenesis= change in shape of tissues,
programs at medical and dental schools. organs and entire organism.
Systematic Approach= taken most in introductory HUMAN ORGANISM/ 11 ORGAN SYSTEMS
textbooks.
1. Integumentary System
Surface Anatomy= looking at the exterior of the 2. Skeletal System
body 3. Muscular System.
Physiology= scientific investigation of the 4. Lymphatic System
processes or functions of living things. To 5. Respiratory System
understand and predict body’s responses to stimuli 6. Digestive System
and to understand how the body maintains 7. Nervous System
condition. Studies Human Organism. 8. Endocrine System
9. Cardiovascular System
6 levels of organization of body: 10. Urinary System
11. Female Reproductive System
1. Chemical Level= involves interactions between 12. Male Reproductive System
atoms, which are tiny building blocks of matter.
Smallest level. Atoms, Chemical Bonds, Homeostasis= existence and maintenance of a
Molecules relatively constant environment within the body
2. Cell Level= are basic structural and functional and ideal normal value or set point.
units. Compartments & Organelles.
Mitochondria. Variables= we continuously exposed to new
3. Tissue Level= is composed of group of similar conditions. Measures of body properties that may
cells. change value.
4. Organ Level= is composed of two or more
tissue types that perform common function.
5. Organ System Level= is a group of organs that
together perform a common set of functions
Examples of Variables:
viewed as a unit.
1. Body Temperature
2. Heart Rate
3. Blood Pressure
4. Blood Glucose Levels
5. Blood Cell Counts
6. Respiratory Rate

Homeostatic Mechanisms= sweating, shivering,

normally body temperature.

Set Point= Value, normal or average value.

Normal Range= normal extent of increase or

decrease around a set point.

NEGATIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISMS

= Most systems of the body regulated which
maintains homeostasis. Main mechanism.

Negative= any deviation from the set point is

made smaller or is resisted.

3 components of negative feedback

mechanisms:

1. Receptor= monitors the value of a variable

such as body temperature. Detect changes.
2. Control Center= part of the brain, which
establishes the set point, Hypothalamus.
Receives receptor signal.
3. Effector= sweat glands, which can adjust the
value of the variable. Changes in variable.

Stimulus= changed variables, because it initiates

homeostatic mechanisms.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISMS

= occurs when a response to the original stimulus
results in the deviation from the set point
becoming even greater.

Etymology= derivation of words

Anatomical Positions= person standing erect with

the face directed forward, the upper limbs hanging
to the sides, and the palms of the hands facing
upward.

Central Region of the Body:

1. Head
2. Neck
3. Trunk
Abdomen is subdivided superficially into
quadrants by 2 imaginary lines.

1. Horizontal &
2. Vertical that intersects at the navel.

Abdomen= subdivided into 4 imaginary lines. Trunk contains 3 large cavities that do not
open to the outside of the body:
2 horizontal & 2 vertical lines
1. Thoracic Cavity
PLANES 2. Abdominal Cavity
= imaginary flat surfaces. 3. Pelvic Cavity

Sagittal Plane= runs vertically through the body. Thoracic Cavity= rib cage surrounds, and muscular
diaphragm separates it from the abdominal cavity.
Median Plane= sagittal plane that passes through
the midline of the body. Divides body into equal = divided into right and left parts by a middle
left and right parts. section called “MEDIASTINUM” (Middle Wall)

Transverse (horizontal) Plane= runs parallel to the Mediastinum contains:

ground. Separates body into superior and inferior
1. Heart
parts.
2. Thymus
Frontal (coronal)(Vertical) Plane= runs vertically to 3. Trachea
divide the body into anterior (front) and posterior 4. Esophagus
(back) parts. Separates body into anterior & 5. Blood Vessels & Nerves
posterior parts.
Abdominal Cavity= abdominal muscles, space
Longitudinal Section= cut through the length of an between diaphragm and pelvis, which contains:
organ.
1. Stomach
Transverse (cross) Section= cut at a right angle to 2. Intestines
the length of an organ. Straight cut 3. Liver
4. Pancreas
Oblique Section= cut is made across the length of 5. Kidneys
an organ at other than right angle.
Pelvic Cavity= pelvic bones, which contains:

1. Urinary Bladder
2. Part of the Large Intestine
3. Internal Reproductive Organs

SEROUS MEMBRANES
= lines the trunk cavities and cover the organs
within these cavities.

=can become inflamed, result to infection.

Parietal Membranes= found against the outer wall

of a body cavity.

Visceral Membranes= found covering the organs in

BODY CAVITIES a body cavity.
Body= contains many cavities
Cavity= fluid-filled space between the membranes.
Nasal Cavity= open to the outside of the body and
some do not. Thoracic Cavity contains 3 serous membrane-
lined cavities:

1. Pericardial= cavity of heart

2. Pleural= cavity of two lungs
3. Visceral Pericardium= covers the heart, which
contained within a connective tissues sac lined.
Pericardial Cavity= contains pericardial fluid,
located between the visceral pericardium and the
parietal pericardium.

Lungs= covered by visceral pleura surrounded by a

pleural cavity.

Parietal Pleura= inner surface of the thoracic wall.

Abdominopelvic Cavity= contains a serous

membranes-lined called “Peritoneal Cavity”.

Visceral Peritoneum= covers many of the organs of

abdominopelvic cavity.

Parietal Peritoneum= lines wall of the

abdominopelvic cavity and the inferior surface of
the diaphragm.

Peritoneal Cavity= located between the visceral

peritoneum and the parietal peritoneum.

Mesenteries= specialized membranes in addition

to the parietal and visceral membranes.

= anchor organs to the body wall and provide a

pathway for nerves and blood vessels to reach the
organs.

= consists of 2 layers of peritoneum fused

together.

Retroperitoneal= parietal peritoneum coverts

these organs.

Retroperitoneal Organs includes:

1. Kidneys
2. Adrenal Glands
3. Pancreas
4. Parts of the Intestines
5. Urinary Bladder