ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY:
INTRODUCTORY
NOTES
INTRO TO ANAT
AND PHYS
Introduction to Anatomy
and Physiology

Anatomy:
◦ Branch of science that deals with the
STRUCTURE of body parts, forms and
organization

4 Subcategories:
◦ 1) Microscopic – cell/tissue study
◦ 2) Gross – what you can SEE (w/out assistance)
◦ 3) Pathological – study of germs, pathogens
and how they affect body
◦ 4) Developmental – embryonic development
Microscopic
Gross
Pathological
Developmental
Introduction to Anatomy
and Physiology
 Physiology:
◦ Branch of science that deals with the
FUNCTIONS of body parts
 Very closely associated with each other
 Ex: human hand
◦ Anatomy: bones, length, joints, nails, skin
◦ Physiology: bones – attach to muscle; joints –
muscle movement; skin – pathogen protection
Levels of Organization

Atom – smallest particle of an element with
the properties of that element

Molecules – a particle composed of two or
more joined atoms

Macromolecules – a large molecule made of
many smaller molecules joined together
(protein, nucleic acid, carb)

Organelles – part of a cell that performs a
specific function

Cells – structural and functional unit of life
Levels of Organization

Tissue – a group of cells working together to
perform the same function (ex: cardiac muscle)

Organ – a group of tissue working together to
perform same function (ex: stomach, liver)

Organ/body systems – a group of organs
working together to perform similar functions
(ex: digestive, respiratory)

Organism/Individual – a group of body
systems performing all functions needed to
maintain homeostasis (ex: you!)
Levels of Organization
INTRO TO HUMAN
BODY SYSTEMS
11 Body Systems
Integumentary
 Skeletal
 Muscular
 Nervous
 Endocrine
 Cardiovascular/Circulatory
 Lymphatic/Immune
 Digestive
 Respiratory
 Urinary/Excretory
 Reproductive

Integumentary

Includes:
◦ Skin, accessory organs (hair, nails, sweat
glands, sebaceous glands)

Functions:
◦ Regulate body temperature
◦ Sensory reception
◦ Synthesize products
(lipids, proteins)
Skeletal

Includes:
◦ Bones, ligaments, cartilage

Functions:
◦ Provide support and protection
◦ Muscle attachment
◦ Produce blood cells
Muscular

Includes:
◦ Muscle tissue (cardiac, smooth, skeletal)

Functions:
◦ Provide forces that move body parts
◦ Maintain posture
◦ Source of heat
Nervous

Includes:
◦ Brain, spinal cord, nerves, sensory organs
(eyes, ears, tongue/mouth, nose)

Functions:
◦ Detect changes in environment
◦ Cells communication
◦ Receive and interpret
signals from receptors
Endocrine

Includes:
◦ Pituitary gland,
hypothalamus,
pancreas, liver,
ovary, testes,
adrenal, pineal
gland, thyroid,
parathyroid

Functions:
◦ Secrete hormones
(chemical
messengers)
Cardiovascular/Circulatory

Includes:
◦ Heart, arteries, veins, capillaries, blood, lungs

Functions:
◦
◦
◦
◦
Transport blood gases (O2 and CO2)
Transport nutrients
Transport hormones
Move wastes to
excretory system
Lymphatic/Immune

Includes:
◦ Lymph, nodes, thymus, spleen

Functions:
◦ Transport body tissue
fluid back to
bloodstream
◦ Carries fat away from
digestive tract
◦ Defend body against
infection
Digestive

Includes:
◦ Stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas,
intestines, mouth, teeth, pharynx, salivary
glands, esophagus

Functions:
◦ Breakdown food
◦ Absorb nutrients
◦ Send wastes to
be excreted
Respiratory

Includes:
◦ Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea,
bronchi, lungs

Functions:
◦ Exchange O2
and CO2
between blood
and air
Urinary/Excretory

Includes:
◦ Kidney, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra

Functions:
◦ Removes wastes
from blood
◦ Helps body maintain
water and salt balance
◦ Produces, stores,
excrete urine
Reproductive

Includes:
◦ Male: scrotum, testes, epididymides, vas
deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, penis,
urethra
◦ Female: ovary, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina,
clitoris, vulva

Functions:
◦ Produce and maintain gamete sex cells
◦ Transfer gametes to female (male’s system)
◦ Support development of fetus (female’s
system)
LIVING
ORGANISMS AND
THEIR PROCESSES
Characteristics of Life

All life performs metabolism
◦ Def – the sum total of all chemical reactions
in a body (includes breakdown and synthesis
of macromolecules)
 9 characteristics of life:
◦ 1) Movement:
 Ability to change positions or move internal organs
◦ 2) Respond to stimuli:
 Ability to react to change inside and outside of
body
 Respond to environmental (internal or external)
conditions/stimuli
Characteristics of Life
 9 characteristics of life:
◦ 3) Growth:
 Increase in body size (without a change a shape)
◦ 4) Reproduction:
 Ability to reproduce new organisms and new sex
cells (sperm and egg)
◦ 5) Maintain homeostasis
 Respiration, circulation, excretion, digestion,
absorption
◦ 6) Organization:
 Body is organized into levels
Characteristics of Life
 9 characteristics of life:
◦ 7) Assimilation:
 Ability to change absorbed substances into different
forms
◦ 8) Evolution:
 Ability for the species/population to evolve and
adapt to environment
◦ 9) Energy use:
 Ability to use (and convert) energy into useable
forms
Requirements of Living
Organisms
 5 Requirements:
◦ 1) Water – most abundant molecules, cells
require an aqueous/water environment
◦ 2) Food – provides nutrients, energy
◦ 3) O2 – used to release energy from food
◦ 4) Heat – energy form, determines - in part the rate of most chemical reactions in body
◦ 5) Pressure – important in maintaining
homeostasis (circulation and respiration)
Homeostasis
 Virtually all processes in the human
body occur to maintain
homeostasis
◦ Def: an organism’s maintenance of a relatively
constant internal state within set ranges.
◦ Ex:




Temp – 98.6oF
Blood Pressure – 120/80,
Blood pH – 7.4
Hydration – 60% water
Homeostasis
 Homeostatic control mechanisms
◦ This is HOW your body controls
homeostasis
◦ Three basic components:
 1) Sensor/Receptors: Provide info about
specific conditions/stimuli in internal
environment
 2) Integrator/Set point: what the value
SHOULD be (ex: temp = 98.6oF)
 3) Effectors: cause bodily responses that alter
conditions in the environment
Homeostasis
 Uses feedback
to respond to
stimuli
◦ Feedback is used
to regulate:
 Body temp, Blood
pressure,
Respiration,
Digestion,
Hormone
secretion
Homeostasis
 Negative feedback:
◦ Def: correction of deviation, moves in opposite
direction or reduces effector action
◦ Most bodily processes operated by neg feedback
 Ex: your body temp drops in response to cold weather,
you shiver, this causes rapid muscle contractions –
produces heat, body temp increases
 Ex: thermostat set @ 68oF, your air conditioning is
running all day, 68oF is reaches, air conditioner shuts off
Homeostasis
 Positive feedback:
◦ Def: amplifies or reinforces the change that is
occurring
◦ Very few normal positive feedback mechanisms
in the human body
 Ex: childbirth, blood clotting, sneeze
◦ Can be very harmful, disastrous
 Ex: cell cycle regulation
(cancer and tumors)
ANATOMICAL
TERMINOLOGY
We will be using these terms the
REST OF THE SEMESTER! It is
imperative that you learn them now
– for GOOD!!!
Body Positions
Name
Location
Superior
Above another part, closer to head
Inferior
Below another part, toward the feet
Anterior
Ventral, toward the front
Posterior
Dorsal, opposite of anterior, toward the back
Medial
Imaginary midline, close to middle
Lateral
Toward the side
Proximal
Distal
Superficial
Deep
Closer to a point of attachment to trunk
Opposite of proximal, farther from point of
attachment
Situated near surface, peripheral
Opposite of superficial, more internally located
Directional Terms
Table 1.1
Directional Terms
Table 1.1 (continued)
Directional Terms
Table 1.1 (continued)
Body Planes/Sections
Plane Name
Description
Sagittal
Lengthwise plane that divides the
body into left and right portions
Transverse
Horizontal, Plane that divides the
body into superior and inferior
portions
Coronal
Frontal, Plane that divides body into
anterior and posterior portions
Figure 1.13
pg. 15
Body Regions
Region name
Abdominal
Acromial
Description
Region b/t thorax and pelvis
Point of the shoulder
Antebrachial
Forearm
Antecubital
Space in front of the elbow
Axillary
Armpit
Brachial
Arm
Buccal
Cheek
Carpal
Wrist
Celiac
Abdomen
Cephalic
Head
Cervical
Neck
Body Regions
Region name
Description
Costal
Ribs
Coxal
Hips
Crural
Leg
Cubital
Elbow
Digital
Finger, toe
Dorsal
Back
Femoral
Thigh
Frontal
Forehead
Genital
Reproductive organs
Gluteal
Buttocks
Inguinal
Depressed area near thigh, groin
Body Regions
Region name
Lumbar
Mammary
Description
Region of lower back b/t ribs and pelvis
Breast
Mental
Chin
Nasal
Nose
Occipital
Oral
Orbital
Otic
Lower posterior region of head
Mouth
Eye cavity
Ear
Palmar
Palm of hand
Patellar
Front of knee
Pectoral
Chest
Body Regions
Region name
Description
Pedal
Foot
Pelvic
Pelvis
Perineal
Region b/t anus and external reproductive
organs
Plantar
Sole of foot
Popliteal
Area behind knee
Sacral
Posterior region b/t hipbones
Sternal
Middle of thorax
Tarsal
Instep of foot
Umbilical
Navel
Vertebral
Spinal column