Introduction to Anatomy &
Physiology
http://ukol.ds7424.dedicated.turbodns.co.uk/AdvHTML_Upload/Anatomy.bmp
First a Review….Levels of
Organization within the Body
• Subatomic particles
– Proton, neutron, electron
• Atom
– Carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen
• Molecule
– Water molecule, glucose molecule
• Macromolecule
– Protein molecule (enzyme), DNA molecule
• Organelle (“tiny organs” within cells)
– Mitochondria, nucleus, Golgi apparatus
Levels of Organization cont…
• Cells
– Specialized to perform a certain function
– Ex: Cardiac cells are specialized to contract – help
the heart beat
• Tissue
– 4 major types: epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous
• Organ
– Skin, kidney, heart, femur
• Organ system
– Skeletal system, digestive system
• Organism
– Human, cat
Anatomy
• Study of the structure of an organism
• Looks at the appearances, location and
relationships of body parts
– Example: How do the bones of the leg fit
together?
• Anatomy can be studied through
dissection
Physiology
• Study of the function of living organisms
and its parts
– How the body works
Unifying Concept
Structure is always related to
Function
(Structure determines Function)
Body structures (anatomy) seemed
“designed” to perform their function
(physiology)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/phelps_438v2.jpg
Example within the Body:
• Cilia (an organelle)
– Structure: hair-like projection of cells
• Found on the cells that make up the tissue lining of
the respiratory tract
– Function: trap and eliminate inhaled
contaminants (dust and other allergens)
Review:
• Anatomy is the study of?
• Physiology is the study of?
• ________ determines ________?
Which of the following correctly describes the
levels of organization with the body?
A: Subatomic particle  atom  macromolecule 
molecule  cell  organelle  tissue  organ 
organism  organ system
B: molecule  macromolecule  subatomic particle
 atom  organelle  cell  tissue  organ 
organ system  organism
C: subatomic particle  atom  molecule 
macromolecule  organelle  cell  tissue 
organ  organ system  organism
Characteristics of Life
• What is life?
• What does it mean to be alive?
• What differentiates a functioning, living
being from a dead body?
Characteristics of Life
•
•
•
•
•
Responsiveness
Conductivity
Growth
Respiration
Digestion
•
•
•
•
•
Absorption
Secretion
Excretion
Circulation
Reproduction
Characteristics of Life
• Responsiveness
– Allows an organism to sense, monitor and respond to
changes in the environment
– Ex: withdrawing from a painful stimuli (pinprick)
• Conductivity
– Cells and tissue transmit a wave of excitement from
one point to another with the body
– Ex: heart beat
• Growth
– Normal increase in the size or number of cells
– Shape remain the same
– Ex: bone growth
Characteristics of Life cont…
• Respiration
– Exchange of respiratory gases (oxygen &
carbon dioxide) between an organism and the
environment
• Digestion
– Food products are broken down into simpler
substances that can be used by cells within
the body
• Ex: Lactose (the sugar in milk) is broken down by
lactase (an enzyme) into glucose and galactose to
be used by the body for energy
Characteristics of Life cont…
• Absorption
– Digested nutrients are absorbed through the digestive
tract to be used by cells
• Secretion
– Production & delivery of specialized substances for
diverse body functions
– Ex: Pancreas secretes insulin
• Excretion
– Removal of wastes products
– Ex: Renal system (kidneys) filter blood, remove
wastes, wastes excreted in urine
Characteristics of Life cont….
• Circulation
– Movement of body fluids throughout the body
– Ex: blood carries oxygen throughout the body
• Reproduction
– Formation of new individuals
• Ex: sexual reproduction
– Formation of new cells via cell division
(mitosis)
• Ex: growth, wound repair
Metabolism
Used to describe all the physical and
chemical processes taking place within the
body to maintain life.
Homeostasis
• Body strives to maintain a constant internal
environment
– Ex: Temperature, water balance, blood sugar (fig
1-12)
• Regulatory mechanisms within the body are
responsible for maintaining homeostasis
Homeostatic Control Mechanisms
• Groups of processes that maintain or
restore the body’s internal homeostasis
• Processes are known as feedback control
systems (or loops)
• 3 components:
1. Sensor (or receptor)
2. Integrator (Control Center)
3. Effector
Homeostatic Control Mechanisms
Negative Feedback Loop
• Negative feedback systems are inhibitory
– Oppose change within the body by creating
an opposite response
– Stabilize physiological variables
– Help maintain homeostasis
– Ex: temperature regulation (previous slide)
Positive Feedback Loops
• Positive feedback loops are stimulatory
– Amplify or reinforce changes within the body
– Can be (not always) harmful because of the
disruption of homeostasis
– Ex: child birth
Positive Feedback Loop – Child Birth
• During the delivery of an infant, the baby is
pushed from the uterus (womb) into the
birth canal
Baby (stimulus)  stretch receptors
(receptor/sensor) brain (control center)
 oxytocin release (effector)  uterus
contracts increasing the movement of the
baby
Review
Negative Feedback = inhibits
Positive Feedback = stimulates
Anatomical Position
•Reference
position that
gives meaning
to the
directional
terms used to
describe body
parts and
regions
Directional Terms
Label the following on your handout:
• Anterior/Posterior (9/11)
• Ventral/Dorsal (9/11)
• Superior/Inferior (10/6)
• Proximal/Distal (7/12)
• Lateral/Medial (8/4)
Subdivisions of the Body
• Axial
– Along the middle or axis
– spine, ribs, skull
• Appendicular
– Appendages
– Arms, legs
Body Cavities & Subdivision
The body is not a solid structure – contains
two main cavities:
1. Dorsal body cavity (8)
– Cranial cavity (1)
– Spinal cavity (2)
2. Ventral body cavity (7)
– Thoracic cavity (4)
» Mediastinum (9)
» Pleural cavities (3)
– Abdominal cavity (5)
– Pelvic cavity (6)
Body Planes
Sagittal (5)
Transverse
(1)
Frontal or
Coronal (3)
4 Abdominal Quadrants
•
•
•
•
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
Mechanisms of Disease
1. Genetic Mechanisms
– Altered or mutated genes code for abnormal
proteins
•
•
•
Results in altered/abnormal structure
Abnormal structure = absence of function or
abnormal or disruptive function
Overall result = disruption of body’s homeostasis
Mechanisms of Disease
2. Pathogenic Organisms (pathogenic =
disease causing)
– Prions: proteins that convert normal proteins
in the nervous system to abnormal proteins
•
•
Abnormal protein can be inherited
Ex: mad cow disease
– Viruses: Intracellular parasites that invade
human cells and cause them to produce
viral components
Mechanisms of Disease
– Bacteria: Primitive cells that lack nuclei.
Cause infection by parasitizing tissues and/or
disrupting normal function
– Fungi: Cannot make their own food so they
parasitize on human tissue
– Protozoa: Protist (unicellular organism), also
parasitize human tissue
– Pathogenic animals: Large multicellular
organisms such as insects or worms
• Parasitize human tissue via bite or sting
• Ex: hook worm
Mechanisms of Disease
3. Tumors and cancer
– Cause abnormal tissue growth
– Abnormal structure = abnormal function
4. Physical & chemical agents
– Toxic or destructive chemicals
– Extreme hear or cold
– Radiation
**All affect normal homeostasis of the body**
Mechanisms of Disease
5. Malnutrition
– Insufficient or imbalanced nutrient intake can
cause various diseases
•
Ex: Low fiber/high fat diet is a known risk factor
for colorectal cancer
6. Autoimmunity
– Immune system attacks one’s own body
•
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Mechanisms of Disease
7. Inflammation
– Normal response that occurs after an
infection/injury
– Damage occurs when inflammation occurs
at inappropriate times or is abnormally
prolonged
8. Degeneration
– Still unknown process
– Tissues break apart or degenerate
– Results from disease or aging
Body Types
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bUCqkiK4wSk/ScKbtI_vRrI/AAAAAAAABDU/6I8K0srO8qE/s400/body_type21.jpg
Endomorph: Apple vs Pear Shape
http://charlesgoldman.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/apple-vs-pear-nytimes-20073.jpg?w=400&h=320