Allied Health I- Unit C
C. BODY SYSTEMS
1H03.01
Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy studies the shape an structure of an organisms body and the
relationship of one body part to another.
Physiology studies the function of each body part and how the functions of
the various body parts coordinate to form a complete living organism.
For our purposes in this unit it is the study of directions, positions, planes,
sections, cavities, and abdominal and pelvic regions.
Directions/Position
Anatomical Position
Anterior and ventral -------------------------------------front or in front of
Posterior or dorsal ---------------------------------------back or in back of
Cranial and caudal ---------------------------------------cranial:head end
caudal: tail end
Superior and inferior------------------------------------superior: upper or above
inferior: lower or below
Medial and lateral ----------------------------------------medial: toward the
midline
lateral: away from midline
Proximal and distal --------------------------------------proximal: toward the
trunk
distal: farthest from trunk
Superficial or external ----------------------------------on or near the surface of
body
Deep or internal ------------------------------------------inside or about a body
cavity
Planes and Sections
Sagittal plane ---------------------------------divides the body into right
and left parts
Coronal (frontal) plane ---------------------a vertical cut at right
angles to the sagittal plane,
dividing the body into
anterior and posterior
portions.
Transverse (cross section) -----------------a horizontal cut that
divides the body into upper
and lower parts.
Cavities
Dorsal cavity – contains the brain and spinal cavity
Cranial cavity – where the brain is located
Spinal cavity – thoracic cavity
Abdominal cavity – contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder,
pancreas, spleen, small intestine, appendix, and part of the
large intestine.
Pelvic cavity – urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum,
remainder of the large intestine, and the appendix.
Abdominal/Pelvic Regions
 Epigastric – located just below the sternum (breast
bone), and the right hypochondriac and the left
hypochondriac regions are located below the ribs.
 Umbilical – located around the naval or umbilicus,
and the right lumbar region and the left lumbar
region extend from anterior to posterior. ( A
person will complain of back pain or lumbar
sprain.)
 Hypogastric – the pubic area
Nine regions of Abdominal Area
Right
Hypochondriac
Epigastric
Left
Hypochondriac
Right Lumbar
Left Lumbar
Umbilical
Right Inguinal
Left Inguinal
Hypogastric
1H03.02
Body Tissues and Membranes
Tissues
-Epithelial tissue
-Connective Tissue
*adipose
*cartilage
*tendons
*ligaments
-Muscle Tissue
-Nervous Tissue
TISSUES
 Epithelial Tissue – protects the body by covering internal and
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external surfaces
Connective Tissue- supports and connects organs and tissue
Muscle Tissue – has the ability to contract and move the body
Nervous Tissue – cells that react to stimuli and conduct an
impulse
Adipose Tissue– type of connective tissue that stores fat cells
Ligaments– strong, flexible bands of connective tissue that hold
bones firmly together at the joints (bone to bone)
Tendons – white bands of connective tissue attaching skeletal
muscle to bone (muscle to bone)
Cartilage – firm, flexible support of the embryonic skeleton and
part of the adult skeleton
TISSUES
 MEMBRANES – formed by putting two thin
layers of tissue together, cells may secrete
a fluid
 MUCOUS MEMBRANES– lines digestive,
respiratory, reproductive and urinary
systems – produces mucous to lubricate
and protect the lining
TISSUES
 SEROUS MEMBRANES – double-walled membrane -
produces a watery fluid, lines closed body cavities
1. the outer part of the membrane that lines the
cavity is the PARIETAL membrane
2. the part that covers the organs is the
VISCERAL membrane.
 PLEURAL MEMBRANE – lines thoracic or chest
cavity and protects the lungs
 PERICARDIAL MEMBRANE – lines the heart cavity
and protects the heart
 PERITONEAL MEMBRANE – lines the abdominal
cavity and protects abdominal organs
ORGANS AND SYSTEMS
 ORGAN SYSTEM – a group of organs which act
together to perform a specific, related function
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 Integumentary
 Skeletal
 Muscular
 Digestive
 Respiratory
 Circulatory
 Excretory
Nervous
 Endocrine
 Reproductive