Overview of Anatomy and
Physiology
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR
What is It?
The branches of anatomy and physiology are
complementary to each other
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body
parts and their relationships with one another
Gross anatomy or macroscopic-study of LARGE body
structures (those that would be visible with the naked eye)
Microscopic anatomy-cannot be seen with the naked eye, must
use a microscope
Developmental anatomy traces structural changes that occur
in the body through life (embryology)
Physiology deals with the study of function of the
body
The Subdivisions of Anatomy
Gross Anatomy
Microscopic
Regional anatomy-
Cytology-study of cells
studies the structures
in a particular region
Systemic-system by
system
Surface-study of
internal structures as
they relate to the
overlying skin
Histology-study of
tissues
Levels of Organization
The human body has many levels of organization
The most basic is the chemical level (chapter 2)-at
this level atoms combine to form molecules which
will combine to make organelles
Organelles make cells (chapter 3)
Cells make tissues (chapter 4)
Tissues make organs which in turn make organ
systems (chapters 5-27)
How Do We Live?
Maintaining boundaries- internal environment
remains distinct from external environments
Movement
Responsiveness (irritability)-ability to sense
changes in the environment and respond
Digestion
Metabolism-breaking substances down
Excretion-removing wastes
Reproduction
Growth
Nutrition
Pause-Activity 1
Break into 9 groups
Each group will have a different topic of how we live
and will create a poster
You will only get ONE piece of construction paper
You must include the following:
What is your topic
What does it mean to you
Examples
Pictures
Which body systems help
Anything relevant
Homeostasis
The ability to maintain a relatively stable internal
environment in an ever-changing outside world
The internal environment of the body is in a dynamic
state of equilibrium
Chemical, thermal, and neural factors interact to
maintain homeostasis
There are two types of feedback mechanisms: positive
and negative
Feedback Mechanisms
Negative Feedback
Positive feedback
In negative feedback
systems, the output
The output enhances
or exaggerates the
shuts off/declines the
original stimulus
Most common type
found in the human
body
EX: body temperature
original stimulus
EX: Regulation of
blood clotting (once
clotting starts, it
speeds up)
Homeostatic Control Mechanisms
There are three essential components of control
mechanisms: Control Center, Receptor and Effector
Control Center: analyzes the input, determines the
appropriate response and activities the effector
Receptor: senses changes in the environment and
responds by sending information to the control center
Effector: makes the changes needed to maintain
homeostasis
Pathways for Homeostasis
Afferent: the nerve structures through which an
impulse, especially a sensory impression, is conducted
to the cerebral cortex.
Efferent: the nerve structures through which an
impulse passes between groups of nerve cells or
between the central nervous system and an organ or
muscle
The Language of Anatomy
These MUST be memorized!!
Directional Terms
Anatomical Position- The body is erect (standing up straight)
with feet slightly apart and palms facing forward so that your
thumbs point away from the body
Note: the terms left and
right refer to the position
of the person being viewed
NOT the observer
UP and DOWN
Superior (Cranial)
Toward the head or upper
body (above)
Inferior (Caudal)
Away from the head or lower
body (below)
FRONT and BACK
Anterior (ventral)
Toward or at the front of
the body
Posterior (dorsal)
Toward or at the back of the
body
In Between
Medial
Toward or at the midline of
the body (inner side of)
Lateral
Away from the midline of the
body (outer side of)
Intermediate
• Between a more medial and
more lateral structure
Extremities-UP and Down
Proximal
Closer to the origin of the
body part or point of
attachment of a limb to the
trunk
Distal
Farther from the origin of a
body part of the point of
attachment of a limb to the
body trunk
IN and OUT
Superficial (external)
Toward or at the body
surface
Deep (internal)
Away from the body surface
Activity 2-in pairs
• Create one set of labels for the anatomical
directions we’ve just learned (EXCEPT
superficial and deep)
• Have one person in the group lay in the
CORRECT anatomical position and have the
other partner label the directions
• When finished, switch and let the other
person try
Activity 3
• Create a foldable using a different color for
each pair; put the pairs across from one
another (for example: hot would be on one
side, cold on the other-both would be written
in the same color)
• Fold paper into hot dog shape, and make six
tabs (five cuts) on each side
• The top two tabs, cut completely off your
paper this will be the title of the foldable:
directional terms
More on Activity 3
• For the rest of the tabs label as follows:
Superior, Inferior, Anterior, Posterior, Medial,
Lateral, Proximal, Distal, Superficial, Deep
• Inside the tab you need to define what each is
AND provide an example; use BASIC anatomy
parts in which you know such as arm,
shoulder, chest, leg, foot, etc.
Regional Terms
Axial
Appendicular
Makes up the main axis
Consists of appendages
of our body
Includes head, neck
and truck
(limbs)
These are attached to
the axis
More Regional Terms
IN YOUR TEXTBOOK, PG. 14
FIGURE 1.7 LISTS ALL THE
REGIONAL TERMS USED TO
DESIGNATE SPECIFIC BODY
AREAS-YOU MUST KNOW
THESE AS WELL!!!
Body Planes and Sections
Sagittal Plane
Frontal/coronal Plane
A vertical plane that divides
Lie vertically and divides the
the body into right and left
parts
A sagittal plane that lies
exactly in the midline is the
midsagittal plane
All other sagittal planes are
called parasagittal planes
(para-near)
body into anterior and
posterior parts
Transverse/horizontal Plane
Runs horizontally from left to
right dividing the body into
superior and inferior parts
Sometimes these are referred
to as cross sections
Body Cavities
Dorsal Cavity
Protects the organs of the
nervous system
Has TWO subdivisions:
Cranial (skull) and
Vertebral (spinal cord)
Because both of these are
essentially part of the
same organ, the two
cavities are continuous
with one another
Ventral Body Cavity
More anterior and larger
cavity
Houses internal organs
collectively called the
viscera
Has TWO major
subdivisions: Thoracic
(surrounded by ribs) and
abdominopelvic (abdomen
and pelvic regions)
The two major divisions
are separated by the
diaphragm
Other Cavities
Oral and digestive
Nasal
Orbital (eyes)
Middle ear
Synovial (joint)
Subdivisions of Abdominopelvic Region
Left/Right hypochondriac region: Part of the liver,
gallbladder, & part of diaphragm in right; part of
diaphragm and part of stomach in left
Left/Right lumbar region: Ascending colon of large
intestine in right; Descending colon of large intestine in
left
Left/Right iliac/inguinal region: Cecum of large intestine
in right; Part of sigmoid colon of large intestine in left
Epigastric Region: Most of the stomach
Umbilical Region: Transverse colon of large intestine,
small intestine
Hypogastric/pubic Region: Bladder
Activity 4-pairs
Again make labels, this time for the body cavities
AND their subdivisions (use chart paper for the
abdominal subdivisions)
Repeat the same procedure as we did in activity 1
0
