Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Lecture
An Overview of Anatomy
Anatomy - The study of the structure of the human body
ana- = apart; -tomy = to cut
Subdivisions:
Gross vs Microscopic
Systemic vs Regional
Developmental vs Functional
Physiology - The study of body function
An Overview of Anatomy
Branches of anatomy:
Gross (macroscopic) vs Microscopic
Gross Anatomy – visible with little or no visual aid
Surface anatomy – without dissection and with little, or no,
visual aid
Microscopic Anatomy – can only be seen through extreme
magnification
Histology – the study of tissues
Cytology – the study of cells
Regional vs Systemic
Regional Anatomy – anatomical structures in a region
The blood and lymphatic vessels of the lower leg
Systemic Anatomy – anatomical structures of an organ system
Alimentary canal: oral cavity  pharynx  esophagus  stomach  duodenum
 jejunum  ileum  cecum  ascending colon  transverse colon 
descending colon  sigmoid colon  rectum
Hierarchical Organization of Structure
Levels of organization of the body:
>> Chemical
>> Cellular
>> Tissue
>> Organ
>> System
>> Organism
1
Chemical Level – atomic & molecular level
CHNOPS (or SPONCH)
Four most common elements:
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen
Six essential elements: carbon,
hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen,
phosphorus, sulfur (CHNOPS) plus
potassium and calcium = 99% of
human body mass
Molecules:
H2O, carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
and nucleic acids
All of these molecules are organic (except water because it does not contain carbon)
Cellular - Smallest living unit of the body
A cell is the basic unit of both structure
and function in a living being, smallest
unit capable of carrying out the
processes associated with life.
Examples:
Hepatocytes (liver cells)
Adipocytes (fat cells)
Leukocytes (immune cells)
Keratinocytes (skin cells)
Chondrocytes (cartilage cells)
Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
More Examples of Body Cells:
2
Tissue - A group of cells performing a common function
A tissue is a group of cells & the materials surrounding them that have a common function or provide a
similar service for the body.
There are 4 primary tissue types in the human body: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous
Organ – Two or more tissue types
Two or more types of basic tissues organized together to perform a particular function or functions
Example: Stomach
Inside of stomach lined with epithelial tissue
Wall of stomach contains smooth muscle tissue
Nervous tissue in stomach controls muscle contraction and gland secretion
Connective tissue proper binds all the above tissues together
3
System – Groups of organs
Groups of organs that perform related functions and interact to accomplish a common activity essential
to survival of the whole body.
Sometimes an organ is part of more than one system. There are eleven human body systems. They do
not act in isolation from one another
Organism – A living entity
Various body systems structurally and functionally linked together as an entity separate from the
external world. One living individual.
Systemic Anatomy
- The Integumentary System - Forms external body covering, protects deeper tissues from injury,
synthesizes vitamin D, site of cutaneous receptors (pain, pressure, etc.) and sweat and oil glands
-
The Skeletal System - Protects and supports body organs, provides a framework for muscles, blood
cells formed within bones, stores minerals
-
The Muscular System - Allows manipulation of environment, locomotion, facial expression, maintains
posture, produces heat
-
The Nervous System - Fast-acting control system, responds to internal and external changes
-
The Endocrine System - Glands secrete hormones that regulate growth, reproduction, and
metabolism
-
The Cardiovascular System - Blood vessels transport blood, carries oxygen and carbon dioxide, also
carries nutrients and wastes, heart pumps blood through blood vessels
-
The Lymphatic System - Picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels, disposes of debris in the lymphatic
system, houses white blood cells (lymphocytes), mounts attack against foreign substances in the body
4
-
The Respiratory System - Keeps blood supplied with oxygen, removes carbon dioxide, gas exchange
occurs through walls of air sacs in the lungs
-
The Digestive System - Breaks down food into absorbable units, indigestible foodstuffs eliminated as
feces
-
The Urinary System - Eliminates nitrogenous wastes, regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base
balance
-
Reproductive System - Overall function is to produce offspring, testes produce sperm and male sex
hormones, ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones, mammary glands produce milk
Gross Anatomy
Anatomical position – a common visual reference point
Person stands erect with feet together and eyes forward
Palms face anteriorly with the thumbs pointed away from the body
Regional Terminology
- Regional terms name the specific body areas.
o Axial region – the main axis of the body (head, trunk)
o Appendicular region – the limbs (arms, legs)
- Use the figures and your textbook to define the following regions:
o Oral –
o Lumbar –
o Orbital –
o Pubic –
o Occipital –
o Inguinal –
o Cervical –
o Gluteal –
o Thoracic –
o Femoral –
o Axillary –
o Patellar –
o Brachial –
o Popliteal –
o Antecubital –
o Sural –
o Antebrachial –
o Calcaneal –
o Abdominal –
o Digital –
5
6
Directional Terminology
Orientation and Directional terminology
Refers to the body in anatomical position
Standardized terms of directions are paired
Be able to define:
Superior
Inferior
Anterior
Posterior
Ventral
Dorsal
Medial
Lateral
Proximal
Distal
Superficial
Deep
Ipsilateral
Contralateral
7
Orientation and Directional Terms
8
Body Planes
Coronal (frontal) plane - Lies vertically and divides the body into anterior and posterior parts
Sagittal plane – Lies vertically and divides the body into left and right divisions; may or may not be
symmetrical
Midsagittal (median) plane – A specific sagittal plane that directly on the midline and divides
body into symmetrical left and right divisions
Parasagittal (non-median) plane – Any sagittal plane other than the midsagittal plane that
divides the body into non-symmetrical left and right divisions
Transverse (horizontal) plane - runs horizontally and divides body into superior and inferior parts
Body Cavities
Dorsal body cavity
Cranial cavity
Brain
Vertebral cavity
Spinal cord
Ventral body cavity
Thoracic cavity
Two pleural cavities
Left pleural cavity
Right pleural cavity
Mediastinum
contains the heart surrounded by the pericardial sac
Abdominopelvic cavity
Abdominal cavity
contains the liver, stomach, kidneys, and other organs
Pelvic cavity:
contains the bladder, some reproductive organs, and rectum
9
Serous Cavities and Membranes
Serous cavities – the slit-like space within a body cavity lined by serous membranes
There are three enclosed serous cavities with no openings to the external surface of the body
Pericardial cavity surrounds the heart
Pleural cavity surrounds the lung
Peritoneal cavity surrounds abdominopelvic viscera
The serous membrane (serosa) that lines the cavities is either parietal or visceral
A parietal serosa covers the wall of the cavity (parietal = wall)
A visceral serosa covers the organs within the cavity (visceral = organs)
Serous Cavities and Membranes
The pericardial cavity surrounds the heart
Serous membranes
Parietal pericardium
Visceral pericardium
10
Serous Cavities and Membranes
Pleural cavities surround the lungs
Serous membranes
Parietal pleura
Visceral pleura
Peritoneal cavity surrounds abdominopelvic viscera
Serous membranes
Parietal peritoneum
Visceral peritoneum
Other Body Cavities
Oral cavity – lined with mucous membrane
Nasal cavity – lined with mucous membrane
Orbital cavities - house the eyeballs
Middle ear cavities - house the tiny ear ossicles
Synovial cavities – also known as joint cavities
11
Abdominal Regions
Abdominal regions divide the abdomen into nine regions
Abdominal Quadrants
Abdominal quadrants divide the abdomen into four quadrants
Right upper and left upper quadrants
Right lower and left lower quadrants
12