Biology 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes
Chapter 1:
Lecture #1
Objectives:
The Human Body: An Orientation
1. Define anatomy and physiology and describe their subdivisions
2. List and define the functional characteristics necessary to maintain life in humans
3. Outline the levels of organization of living things.
4. List the survival needs of the body
5. Define homeostasis and explain its significance
6. Describe how negative and positive feedback are involved in maintaining body
homeostasis
7. Describe the relationship between homeostatic imbalance and disease
Anatomy: the study of the structure of the human body. (Regional, gross, systemic, microscopic,
developmental)
Physiology: the study of the function of the human body, system interactions.
Maintaining Life—Necessary Life Functions
1.
3.
5.
7.
maintaining boundaries
responsiveness or irritability
metabolism
reproduction
2.
4.
6.
8.
movement
digestion
excretion
growth
Organization of life: atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms
Survival Needs: nutrients, oxygen, water, normal body temperature, atmospheric pressure
Homeostasis: maintaining a normal body internal environment. It is a dynamic equilibrium. Variables
are controlled and it involves a receptor, a control center and an effector.
Negative Feedback: Most homeostatic controls are negative feedback; substance is in low
amount, production is increased until normal levels are reached, then product shuts down the process.
Like a thermostat. Ex. blood glucose levels.
Positive Feedback: more of the product causes more production of the same product. Ex.
more oxytocin causes more uterine contractions that cause more oxytocin release that causes more
contractions, etc.
Homeostatic Imbalances: result in disease or aging.
Lecture #2
Objectives:
Chapter 1 continued
1. Describe the anatomical position
2. Use correct anatomical terms to describe body directions, regions, and body planes or
sections
3. Locate and name the major body cavities and their subdivisions, and list the major
organs contained within them
4. Describe the specific serous membranes and indicate their common function
5. Name the nine regions or four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity and list the
organs they contain
Anatomical Position: body erect, arms at sides, legs together, palms face up. This allows proper
orientation of the parts of the body and gives us a directional reference point, regardless of the position
of the body.
Directional Terms: allows us to explain where one body structure is in relation to another.
Superior: above
Inferior: below
Medial: toward the midline
Lateral: away from the midline (sides, edges)
Anterior: in front of
Posterior: behind
Proximal: closer to the main part of body (used with appendages)
Distal: farther away from the main part of body (appendages)
Superficial (external): toward surface
Deep (internal): away from surface
Body Planes and Sections
Coronal (frontal): divides into front and back halves (like a CT scan)
Sagittal: divides into left and right halves (midsagittal divides into equal left and right halves
Transverse (axial): divides into top and bottom halves
Body Cavities
Cranial: contains brain
Spinal: contains spine
Dorsal: made of cranial and spinal cavities
Ventral: made of thoracic, abdominal and
pelvic cavities.
Thoracic: contains lungs and heart, bounded
posteriorly by diaphragm.
Abdominal: contains digestive organs,
spleen
Pelvic: contains urinary bladder,
reproductive organs, some digestive organ
Serous Membranes: like a fist in a
balloon. A double layered membrane with
fluid in the cavity between layers.
Allows organs to move without friction
(heart, lungs, etc)
Membranes in Ventral Body Cavity:
1. Parietal pleura: lines the walls of the thoracic cavity
2. Visceral pleura: covers lungs, pleural cavity is found between parietal and visceral pleura
3. Parietal pericardium: sac around heart
4. Visceral pericardium: also called epicardium, covers heart with pericardial cavity in between
5. Parietal peritoneum: lines walls of abdominal cavity
6. Visceral peritoneum: covers abdominal organs
Regions and Quadrants
Rt hypochondriac
Epigastric
Lf hypochondriac
Rt lumbar
Umbilical
Lf lumbar
Rt iliac (inguinal)
Hypogastric (pubic)
Lf iliac
Upper right quadrant
Upper left quadrant
Lower right quadrant
Lower left quadrant