Biology 322
Human Anatomy I
Orientation to the Human Body
This is a course in Human Anatomy – that is, the structure of
the human body.
However, we will often relate the structure of the body to its
function, that is, its physiology, since the two are intimately
interdependent upon each other.
That is: changes in anatomy produce changes in physiology,
and
changes in physiology produce changes in anatomy
Example #1:
Your body consists of trillions of cells of at least 400
different types
About a dozen types are Lymphocytes
One type of lymphocyte is the CD4 cell
Suppose a virus attacks and destroys your CD4 cells, while
all other cells (including all other lymphocytes) remain
healthy.
Example #2:
Your body consists of trillions of cells of at least 400
different types
Four types are found in pancreatic islets
One type of islet cell is the beta cell,
which produces insulin
Suppose your body attacks and destroys the beta cells,
while all other cells (including other islet cells) remain
healthy.
Example #3:
Your body consists of trillions of cells of at least 400
different types
One type of cell in nervous
system is the oligodendrocyte
Oligodendrocytes: dozens of organelles
One organelle: plasma membrane
Plasma membrane: hundreds of types of molecules
One type of molecule: myelin
Suppose your body attacks and destroys the myelin in the
plasma membranes of oligodendrocytes, while all
molecules and all other cells remain healthy.
Two Terms You Need to Know:
Gross Anatomy:
Microscopic Anatomy:
Histology =
Cytology =
A few basic concepts of anatomy
which we will use throughout this course
1) Planes or sections
2) Terms indicating relative positions
3) Regions of the body
4) Three-dimensional relationships
1) In discussing the organization of the human body and its
parts, we establish our "point of view" according to three
three planes or sections relative to the “anatomical position:
How a structure appears depends on the plane in
which you view it:
2) In discussing parts of the human body, we also use a
number of terms of relative position:
Toward head or upper part of structure
Toward sacrum or lower part of structure
Toward the front
Toward the back
Toward the midline of the body or of a structure
To side of midline of the body or of a structure
Closer to center or origin
Away from center or origin
Toward the surface of the body or of a structure
Toward the center of the body or of a structure
3) Various regions of body have specific names:
Anterior
Various parts of body have specific names:
Posterior
You should know the following regions of the human body:
Abdominal
Acromial
Antebracheal
Axillary
Brachial
Calcaneal
Carpal
Cephalic
Cervical
Coxal
Cranial
Crural
Cubital
Facial
Femoral
Gluteal
Inguinal
Lumbar
Nuchal
Palmar
Patellar
Pectoral
Pedal
Perineal
Plantar
Popliteal
Pubic
Sacral
Scapular
Sternal
Tarsal
Thoracic
Umbilical
For example: The region of the upper
limb between the
brachial region
shoulder and elbow is the_________
carpal region is immediately distal
For example: The _________
to the antebracheal region
For example: The region of the body
commonly known as
crural
the “lower leg” is the _______region
4) Finally: As we discuss the human body, get your
brain to think three-dimensionally and focus on
relationships . . .
x