Introduction to Anatomy (Chapter 1)
Anatomy
 The study of external structures & internal structures
 The study of relationships between body parts
 Provides clues about physiological functions
Physiology
 The study of how the body functions
 The study of mechanisms in the body
Microscopic Anatomy
 The study of structures that cannot be seen without magnification
o Cytology = study of cells
o Histology = study of tissues
Levels of Organization (from simple to complex)
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Chemical/Molecular
Cell (smallest living thing)
o Consists of Organelles
Tissue
o Combination of cells and some surrounding material
 4 types: epithelial, connective, muscular, neural = KNOW THESE!!!
Organ
o Combination of tissues
Organ system
o Combination of organs
Organism
o Combination on organ systems (humans are composed of 11 organ systems)
Levels of Organization(cont’d)
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Eleven (11) Organ System
Integumentary = protection from environmental hazards
Skeletal = support, protection of soft tissues, mineral storage, blood formation
Muscular = locomotion, support, heat production
Nervous = directing immediate responses to stimuli, coordination of activities
Endocrine = directing long-term changes in activities of other organ systems
Cardiovascular = internal transport of cells/dissolved
material(nutrients/gas/wastes)
7. Lymphatic = defense against infection and disease
8. Respiratory = delivery of air to sites of gas exchange w/circulating blood
9. Digestive = processing of food; absorption of organic nutrients, minerals,
vitamins, and WATER
10. Urinary = elimination of excess water, salts, & waste products;
CONTROL pH
11. Reproductive = production of sex cells and hormones
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The Language of Anatomy
 Anatomical Regions. You will see these throughout the semester as we name
anatomical structures such as bone, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, etc.
Used for communication purposes
Used to give precise information
Latin and Greek words form the basis of numerous anatomical terms
 Anatomical Regions. You will see these throughout the semester as we name
anatomical structures such as bone, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, etc.
Anatomical Regions(cont’d)
Hypochondriac comes ultimately from the Greek word hypokhondria, which literally means “under
the cartilage (of the breastbone).” In the late 16th century, when hypochondriac first entered the
English language, it referred to the upper abdomen.
Anatomical Regions (cont’d)
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Anatomical Regions
Sectional anatomy: body cavities
Each cavity consists of a double-layered membrane
 Parietal... = The membrane nearest the wall of the body (farthest from the organs) is
the parietal membrane (parietal pleura, parietal pericardium, parietal peritoneum)
 Visceral… = The membrane farthest from the wall of the body (nearest the organs)
is the visceral membrane (visceral pleura, visceral pericardium, visceral peritoneum)
Anatomical Directions
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All anatomical directions use the anatomical position as the standard point of reference
When following anatomical descriptions, it is useful to remember that the terms left and right REFER
to the left and right side of the subject NOT THE OBSERVER
 Although some reference terms are equivalent, such as posterior and dorsal or anterior and ventral
anatomical descriptions DO NOT MIX THE TERMS OF THE OPPOSING PAIRS
For example, a discussion would reference either posterior versus anterior or dorsal versus ventral;
it would not reference posterior versus ventral
 The most common directional terms used are:
o Superior vs Inferior
o Proximal vs Distal
o Medial vs Lateral
o Deep vs Superficial
o Cranial vs Caudal
o Anterior (ventral) vs Posterior (dorsal)
Sectional Anatomy
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The word anatomy comes from a Greek word meaning “to cut apart”. To fully understand
anatomy, one must understand how the plane of section - how something is cut apart changes the appearance of a structure
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Planes and Sections
 You can describe a slice through a three-dimensional object by referencing one of three
sectional planes: frontal, sagittal, or transverse
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Frontal plane (aka Coronal plane)
 Parallels the longitudinal axis of the body
o Extends from side to side dividing the body into anterior and
posterior section
Sagittal plane (also midsagittal and parasagittal)
 Also parallels the longitudinal axis of the body
o Extends from anterior to posterior diving the body into left and
right
o A section passing along the midline that divides the body into
roughly equal left and right halves is a midsagittal
section(median section)
o A section that runs parallel to the midsagittal line is a
parasagittal section
Transverse plane
 Lies at right angles(perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis of the part
of the body being studied
o A division along this plane is a transverse
section(horizontal/cross-section)
Sectional Anatomy (cont’d)
If you remove an organ from the body, you will leave a cavity
The body cavities are studied in this manner
 POSTERIOR CAVITY (DORSAL CAVITY)
 Cranial cavity: consists of the brain
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 Spinal cavity: consists of the spinal cord
ANTERIOR CAVITY (VENTRAL CAVITY)
 Thoracic cavity
 Abdominal cavity (Abdominopelvic cavity)
 Pelvic cavity (Abdominopelvic cavity)
Each sectional plane gives a different perspective on the structure of the body. You could develop an even
more complete picture by choosing one sectional plane and making a series of sections at small intervals. This
process, called serial reconstruction, allows us to analyze complex structures
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Sectional Planes and Visualization. The diagram below shows the serial reconstruction of a bent
tube (like a piece of elbow macaroni). Notice how the sectional views change as the plane approaches
the curve. Keep the effects of sectioning in mind when looking at slides under the microscope.
Sectional views of internal organs, such as those taken via a CT or MRI scan, can vary. For example,
although it is a simple tube, the small intestine can look like a pair of tubes, a dumbbell, an oval, or a
solid, depending on where the section was taken.
Sectional anatomy: body cavities:
If you remove an organ from the body, you will leave a cavity.
 Each cavity consists of a double-layered serous membrane.
 The membrane nearest the wall of the body (farthest from the organs) is the
parietal membrane (parietal pleura, parietal pericardium, parietal peritoneum)
The body cavities are studied in this manner
 Posterior cavity
 Cranial cavity: consists of the brain
 Spinal cavity: consists of the spinal cord
 Anterior cavity (ventral cavity)
 Thoracic cavity
 Abdominal cavity (Abdominopelvic cavity)
 Pelvic cavity (Abdominopelvic cavity)
Anatomical Regions:
Sectional anatomy: body cavities
Each cavity consists of a double-layered membrane
 The membrane nearest the wall of the body (farthest from the organs) is the parietal
membrane (parietal pleura, parietal pericardium, parietal peritoneum)
 The membrane farthest from the wall of the body (nearest the organs) is the visceral
membrane (visceral pleura, visceral pericardium, visceral peritoneum)
Study Guide on Intro to Anatomy
1.
Know the difference between Anatomy and Physiology.
Anatomy = Study of FORM
Physiology = Study of FUNCTION
2.
Understand the level of organization from simple to complex.
3.
Know the general function of the eleven organ systems.
4.
Know what anatomical position is and why it is important.
5.
Know the common terms for anatomical landmarks on page 15. Know the common term
which is the one in parenthesis. The picture in the lecture power point only has the common
term.
6.
Name and be able to use the directional terms accurately.
7.
Know the sectional planes.
8.
Know the two posterior cavities, three anterior cavities and the six serous membranes
in the anterior cavities.
TWO Posterior(dorsal) cavities = Cranial cavity and Vertebral cavity
THREE Anterior(ventral) cavities = Thoracic cavity, Abdominal cavity, Pelvic cavity
TWO Posterior(dorsal) cavities = Cranial cavity, Vertebral cavity