An Overview
of Anatomy
and Physiology
Objectives:
1. Define anatomy and physiology and name
several sub disciplines of these sciences.
2. Describe the levels of structural organization
that make up the human body.
3. List the eleven systems of the human body, the
organs present in each, and their general
functions.
ANATOMY
the study of the structures and shape of the body
and body parts and their relationships to one
another
derived from the Greek words meaning to cut
( tomy ) apart (ana)
Selected subdivision of Anatomy:
Regional anatomy
- Specific region of the body such as head or chest
Gross anatomy
- to study large body structures such as the
heart or bones
Microscopic anatomy
- if a microscope or magnifying instrument
used to see very small structures in the body ( cells and
tissues)
PHYSIOLOGY
is the study of how the body and its parts work or
function
(physio) nature and (ology) study of
Selected subdivision of Physiology:
Neurophysiology
- explains the workings of the nervous system
Cardiac physiology
- studies the function of the heart
Immunology
- study of how the body defends itself against disease-
causing agents
Give me an example of how the structure
of a part of the body is related to its
function?
Levels of Structural Organization
in the Human Body:
1. Chemical level - these include:
Atoms( the smallest units of matter that
participate in chemical reaction)
Molecules( if two or more atoms joined
together)
2. Cellular level molecules combine to
form cells, the basic structural and
functional units of an organism
3. Tissue level
Tissues - are group of cells and the
materials surrounding them that
work together to perform a
particular function
4 basic types of tissue in our body:
1. Epithelial tissue
2. Connective tissue
3. Muscle tissue
4. Nervous tissue
4. Organ level – different kinds of tissue
joined together
Organs – are structures that are composed
of two or more different types of
tissues
5. System level
System – consists of related organs that
have a common function
6. Organismal level - the largest organizational
level
Organism – is any living individual
Organ System Overview
Integumentary System
Components; skin, and structured
derived from it, such as hair, nails,
sweet gland, and oil glands
Functions: protects the body,; helps
regulate body temperature;
eliminates some wastes; helps make
vitamin D; and detects sensation
such as touch, pain, warmth, and
cold
Muscular System
Components: Muscles composed of
skeletal muscle tissue, so-named
because it is usually attached to
bones
Functions: produces body movements, ,
such as walking; stabilized body
position (posture); generates heat
Skeletal System
components: Bones and joints of
the body and their associated
cartilages
functions: supports and protects the
body; aids body movement;
houses cells that produce blood
cells; stores minerals and
lipids(fats)
Nervous System
Components: brain, spinal cord , nerves
and special sense organ
Functions: generates action potentials
(nerve and impulses) to regulate
body activities; detects changes ,
and responds by causing muscular
contractions or glandular secretions
Endocrine System
components: Hormone- producing
glands (pineal gland, hypothala
mus, pituitary gland, para-
thyroid glands, adrenal glands,
pancreas, ovaries, and testes);
and hormone producing cells
in several other organs
Functions: Regulates body
activities by releasing hormones
which are chemical messenger
transported in blood from an
endocrine gland to a target
organ
Cardiovascular System
Components: Blood, heart, and blood
vessels
Functions: Heat pumps blood through
blood vessels; blood carries oxygen
and nutrients to cells and carbon
dioxide and wastes away from cells
and helps regulate acid-base
balance, temperature and water
content of body fluids; blood
components help defend against
disease
Digestive System
Components: Organs of gastro-
intestinal tract, a long tube that
includes the mouth, esophagus,,
stomach, small and large intestines,
and anus; also includes accessory
organs that assist in digestive
processes, such as the salivary glands
, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
Functions: Achieves physical and
chemical breakdown of food;
absorbs nutrients; eliminates solid
wastes.
Urinary System
Components: Kidneys, ureters,
urinary bladder, and urethra
Functions: Produces, stores, and
eliminate urine; eliminates wastes
and regulates volume and
chemical composition of blood;
helps maintain the acid-base
balanced.
Reproductive System
Components: Gonads (testes in
males and ovaries in females)
and associated organs (uterine
tubes, uterus, and vagina in
females and epidiymis, ductus
deferens, and penis in males)
Functions: Gonads produce
\ gametes (sperm or oocytes)
that unite to form a new
organism; gonads also release
hormones that regulates
reproduction and other body
processes; associated organs
transport and store gametes
Lymphatic and Immune System
Components: Lymphatic fluid and
vessels; also includes spleen, thymus ,
lymph nodes, and tonsils
Functions: return proteins and fluid to
blood; carries lipids from gastro-
intestinal tract to blood; includes
structure where lymphocytes where
protect against disease- causing
organisms mature and proliferate
Respiratory System
Components: Lungs, and air passage-
ways such as the pharynx,(throat),
larynx(voice box),
trachea(windpipe), and bronchial
tubes leading into and out of them.
Functions: Transfer oxygen from inhaled
air to blood and carbon dioxide
from blood to exhaled air; helps
regulate acid-base balance of
body fluids; air flowing out of lungs
through vocal cords produces
sounds.
3 Non-invasive Technique
1. Palpation the examiner feels body
surfaces with the hands.
2. Auscultation the examiner listens to
body sounds to evaluate the
functioning of certain organs
using a stethoscope to
amplify the sounds
3. Percussion the examiner taps on the
body surface with the
fingertips and listens to the
resulting echo
