Unit 1 – Levels of
Organization
Chapter 1 – Introduction to
Human Anatomy & Physiology
CITATION: Retrieved July 2010 from:
http://paramedicine.wikispaces.com/A
natomic+Position
Anatomy vs Physiology
• Anatomy - branch of science that deals
with structure of body parts – their
forms and how they are organized
• Physiology – concerns the functions of
body parts – what they do and how
they do it.
Characteristics of Life
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Movement
Responsiveness
Growth
Reproduction
Respiration
Digestion
Absorption
Circulation
Assimilation (change of
substances into a chemically
different form)
• Excretion
All of these
work
together to
make your
metabolism!
Maintenance of Life
• All organisms need basic essentials!
WATER – needed to transport fluids and
substances throughout your body & to
regulate body temperature.
FOOD – source of energy.
OXYGEN – used to release energy from
food.
HEAT – related to metabolism. Direct
relationship.
PRESSURE – pressure of gravity on body
is called atmospheric pressure.
- pressure of water on body is
called hydrostatic pressure.
Homeostasis
• Maintaining a stable internal condition
with water, food, oxygen, heat, and
pressure.
• A homeostatic mechanism is the way
that the body maintains homeostasis
through a number of self-regulating
control systems.
Examples of Homeostasis
Mechanisms
• Body Temperature
• Problem: Drops below
• Solution: Shiver
• Problem: Rises above
• Solution: Sweat
• Blood Pressure
• Problem: High Blood Pressure
• Solution: Heart beats less often
• Problem: Low Blood Pressure
• Solution: Heart beats more often
Levels of Organization
Atoms
Molecules
Macromolecules
Organelles
Cells
Tissue
Organ
Organ System
Organism
Organization of the Human
Body
• Two Main Body Portions:
• Axial portion
• Appendicular portion
CITATION: Adam.com. 2001. Retrieved: July 2010 from :
http://www.besthealth.com/besthealth/bodyguide/reftext/html/skel_sys_fin.html#append
• Three cavity regions in the axial portion:
1. Dorsal Cavity:
•
•
Cranial Cavity – skull & brain
Spinal Cavity – spinal cord & vertebrate
2. Ventral Cavity:
•
•
Thoracic Cavity – heart & lungs
Abdominopelvic Cavity –
• Upper Abdominopelvic Cavity – stomach, liver,
spleen, gall bladder, small intestine, large intestine
• Lower Pelvic Cavity – large intestine, urinary
bladder, reproductive organs
3. Other Cavities:
•
•
•
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Oral Cavity – teeth & tongue
Nasal Cavity – nostrils & sinuses
Orbital Cavity – eyes
Middle Ear Cavity – middle ear bones
CITATION: Retrieved: July 2010 from: http://www.physioweb.org/direction/body_cavities.html
• Mediastinum – a region that separates
the thoracic cavity into two
compartments.
• Diaphragm – a structure that separates
the thoracic cavity from the
abdominopelvic cavity
Membranes
1. Thoracic Membranes
A. Pleural Membranes – membranes that
surround the lungs
1. Parietal pleural membrane – membrane that
is attached to the wall of the thoracic cavity
& forms a lining
Pleural cavity is the space (fluid) what
separates the two membranes.
2.
Visceral pleural membrane – membrane
that covers the organ
B. Pericardial Membranes - membranes
that surround the heart
1. Parietal pericardium membrane – outer
most lining around the heart
Pericardial cavity is the space (fluid) what
separates the two membranes.
2. Visceral pericardium membrane – inner
most lining around the heart
2. Abdominopelvic Membrane
A. Peritoneal Membranes – membranes
that surrounds organs in the abdomen
1. Parietal peritoneum membrane – outer
most lining around the organs
Peritoneal cavity is the space (fluid) what
separates the two membranes.
2.
Visceral peritoneum membrane – inner
most lining around the organs
Organ Systems
Organ System
Definition/Function
Organs
Integumentary
Body covering; aides skin, hair, nails,
in regulating body
sweat glands,
temperature & in
sebaceous glands
sensory
Skeletal
Support
bones, ligaments,
cartilage
Muscular
Movement
muscles
Organ System
Definition/Function
Organs
Nervous
Adjust body for
homeostasis; detects
changes in body or that
occurs around body
brain, spinal cord,
nerves, sense organs
Endocrine
Adjust body for
homeostasis; hormones –
produced by glands to
effect a target tissue.
Hormones will alter the
metabolism of the target
tissue. Will occur for a
relatively long period.
pituitary gland,
thyroid, parathyroid,
adrenal, pancreas,
thymus, ovary,
testes, pineal
Respiratory
Processing &
nasal cavity,
transporting intake &
pharynx, trachea,
output of air for exchange brochi, lungs
if gases between blood &
air
Organ System
Definition/Function
Organs
Digestive
Processing & transporting
nutrients, oxygen, and
wastes; breaks down food
into smaller molecules to get
energy
mouth, tongue, teeth,
salivary glands,
pharynx, esophagus,
stomach, liver, gall
bladder, pancreas,
small, intestine, large
intestine
Circulatory
Processing & transporting
blood
heart, arteries, veins,
capillaries, blood
Lymphatic
Processing & transporting;
transport tissue fluid from
tissue back to blood stream
& carries fatty substances
away from digestive organs;
also aids in defending your
body against infections
lymphatic vessels,
lymphatic fluids,
lymph nodes, thymus
gland, spleen
Organ System
Definition/Function
Organs
Urinary
Processing & transporting;
maintaining body’s water,
electrolyte, & acid/base
balance
kidneys, ureters,
urinary bladder,
urethra
Reproductive
Reproduction
Male- scrotum, testes,
epididymides, vasa
deferentia, seminal
vesicles, prostrate
gland, bulbourethral
gland, penis, urethra
Female – ovaries,
uterine tube, uterus,
vagina, clitoris, vulva
Anatomical Positions
Anatomical position is standing upright,
face forward, arms at side, palms
forward.
CITATION: Retrieved July 2010 from:
http://www.healthyintentions.com.au/pag
e/fitness.html
Superior vs. Inferior
• Superior is above a body part or close to
the head.
• Inferior is below a body part or close to
the feet
Anterior vs. Posterior
• Anterior – front
• Posterior - back
Medial vs. Lateral
• Medial – imaginary midline that
divides the body into right and left
halves
• Lateral - sides
Proximal vs. Distal
• Proximal – a body part that is closer to a
point of attachment or closer to the
trunk of the body than another part
• Distal – a boy part that is farther to a
point of attachment or farther from the
trunk of the body than another part
Superficial vs. Deep
• Superficial – near the surface
• Deep – describes where the internal
organ are
CITATION: Retrieved July 2010 from:
http://www.nikonianthailand.com/forum/show.php?Category=webboard&No=6752
Body Sections
• Sagittal – diving the body into right and
left portions
• Transverse – dividing the body into a
top and bottom portion (also called
horizontal)
• Frontal – dividing the body into a front
and back portion (also called coronal)
CITATION: Retrieved July 2010 from:
http://www.apsu.edu/thompsonj/Anatomy%20&%20Physiology/2010/2010%20Exam%20Reviews/Exam%201%20R
eview/Ch01%20Gen%20Terms%20and%20Gen%20Anat%20Terms.htm
Body Regions
• Epigastric Region – upper region where
stomach is
• Umbilical Region – middle portion;
intestines behind belly button
• Hypogastric Region – lower region of
the intestine
CITATION: Retrieved July 2010 from: http://www.learn-free-medical-transcription.blogspot.com/2008/12/lesson-12abdominopelvic-regions.html