Chapter 1: Introduction to Anatomy TWO TYPES OF ANATOMY

and Physiology
Gross or Macroscopic Anatomy – branch of
Anatomy = Study of the human body’s anatomy that deals with structures that can
structure. be seen by the naked eyes

Physiology = Study of the human body’s Microscopic Anatomy – branch of anatomy

function.
DOGMA (belief or principle that has been
laid down by an authority as an
undeniable truth): Structure dictates
function.
TYPES OF ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY
SUBFIELDS OF ANATOMY
Regional Anatomy – deals with structures in
a define region (study of the human body
taken from perspective of different body
region)
that deals with structures that require a
microscope observation
TYPES OF PHYSIOLOGY
The classifications usually referenced to the
organ or organ system that is being studied.
Systematic Physiology
PHYSIOLOGICAL ORGAN SYSTEM
 Cardiovascular System (Heart)
 Nervous System (Nerves)
 Digestive System (Stomach)
 Endocrine System (Hormones)
 Immune System (Cells)
 Muscular System (Muscles)
 Renal or Urinary System (Kidney)
 Reproductive System (Vagina or
Penis)
 Respiratory System (Lungs)
 Skeletal System (Bones)
 Integumentary System (Skin)

CHARACTERISTICSOF LIFE
 Order
Systematic Anatomy – looks at structures  Sensitivity or Response to Stimuli
that work together as a unit (study of the  Reproduction
human body’s organ system)  Adaptation
 Growth and Development
 Regulation
 Homeostasis
 Energy Processing

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION
 Atom
Surface Anatomy – configuration of the  Molecules
surface of the body, especially in relation to  Organelles
its internal parts (study of the surface  Cells
markings of the human body)  Tissues
 Organ
 Organ System
 Organism
 Population
 Community
 Ecosystem
 Biosphere

ANATOMICAL POSITION
Anatomical Position – the body is standing Sagittal Plane – divides body into left and
up straight, shoulder and feet width apart, right portions
upper limbs at side of trunk, head and
palms facing forward (left and right are  Midsagittal Plane – divides the body
always referred to the left or right side of the or body part into equal parts; also
body we are describing, not our own left or known as median plane
right) it’s never about you, but always  Parasagittal Plane – “para” means
about the patient near; divides the body into unequal
left and right sections
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
Are used to describe markings and
locations of the human body
Anterior or Ventral: Front
Posterior: Back
Superior or Cranial: Towards the head
Inferior or Caudal: Sway from the head
Inferior and Superior terms are only
used to reference positions on the head,
Transverse Plane (Cross-sectional Plane) –
neck, and trunk. For limbs we use
divides body into superior and inferior
Proximal and Distal.
portions
Proximal: Closer to the point of origin
Oblique Plane – any type of horizontal and
Distal: Farther away from the point of origin vertical angle; mainly use when examining
structures such as knee joints
Medial: Closer to the midline of the body
Lateral: Farther away from the midline of
the body
Superficial: Closer to the surface of the
body
Deep: Structures farther away from the
surface of the body

REGIONAL TERMS
The body can be divided into two main THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN
regions: BODY
Axial Region – Head, Neck, and Trunk Regions of the body are divided into
different cavities. A cavity is any fluid filled
Appendicular Region – Upper Limbs and
space inside of the human body.
Lower Limbs
Body cavities protect our internal organs so
PLANE SECTIONS
that they may function, move, and expand
as needed.

Coronal Plane (Frontal) – divides body into

anterior and posterior portions
Dorsal Body Cavity – located on the dorsal
(posterior) or back side of the body

 Cranial Cavity – located within the

skull; protects the brain
 Spinal or Vertebral Cavity –
located along the vertebral column;
protects the spinal cord
Both the cranial and spinal cavity are filled
with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); this fluid
keeps the brain and spinal cord floatable;
Cerebrospinal fluid – clear, colorless liquid
that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
and provides mechanical barrier against
shock.
Ventral Body Cavity – located on the
ventral (anterior) side of the body

 Thoracic Cavity – located superior

to the diaphragm; encloses the
thorax area; left and right pleural
cavity, pericardial cavity, and
mediastinum cavity
Within the thoracic cavity, there are three
smaller cavities:
o Pleural Cavities – left and
right; each surround lungs;
located within serous
membranes
o Mediastinum “middle”
Cavity – located between the
left and right pleural cavities;
house the heart, great blood
vessels, esophagus, trachea;
o Pericardial “around” Cavity
– located within the
mediastinum cavity; surround
the heart; located within
serous membrane
 Abdominopelvic Cavity – located
inferior to the diaphragm; encloses
the abdomen and pelvis; abdominal
and pelvic cavity
Within the abdominopelvic cavity, there are
two smaller cavities
o Abdominal Cavity – area
that starts at the diaphragm
and ends at the pelvic bone;
house the organs of different
systems such as the
digestive, lymphatic, and
urinary system
o Pelvic Cavity – area within
the bony pelvis
The abdominopelvic cavity can be divided
into different segments
SEROUS MEMBRANE
Are thin continuous layers of tissue; fold
over on itself to enclose a space
Cells within the membrane will produce a
thin layer of watery, slippery liquid to
lubricate organs
This thin layer of fluid is called serous fluid;
it will prevent friction between organs as
they rub against each other
This fluid can be found around organs such
as the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs
Serous Membrane contains two layers; the
Visceral Layer (“viscer” = organ) which is
the inner layer that contacts the organ itself
and the Parietal Layer which is the outer
layer that attaches to the structures
surrounding the organ
 Pleural membrane
Surrounds the lungs; consist of two layers:
 Parietal Pleura; outer layer
 Visceral Pleura; inner layer
Between both layers, you will find the
pericardial cavity
 Pericardial Membrane
Surrounds the heart; consist of two layers:
 Parietal Pericardium; outer layer that
encircles the heart in the
mediastinum
 Visceral Pericardium; inner layer,
joins to the heart muscle itself
Between both layers, you will find the
pericardial cavity
  Peritoneal Membrane
Surrounds some abdominal organs; consist
of two layers:

 Parietal Peritoneum; outer layer

 Visceral Peritoneum; inner layer
Between both layers, you will find the
peritoneal cavity

MEDICAL IMAGING
This allows us to look inside of patients
without surgical procedures. It provides a
view of the body’s internal structures using
various forms of radiation.
Different medical images provide with us
with a view of specific planes within the
body. This allows us to observe different
body cavities:

 X-Ray
o Provides a view of internal
body structures
o Use ionized radiation (a type
of high-energy that has the
ability to remove an electron
from an atom or molecule)
 Computed Tomography Scan (CT
scan)
o Gathers data using ionized
radiation
o 3D Imaging
 Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI)
o Gathers data using magnetic
radiation
o 3D Imaging
CORE PRINCIPLE
In Anatomy and Physiology, there is one
theme of the entire subject, Homeostasis.
Homeostasis is the maintenance of the
body’s internal environment.
 Feedback loops
o One mechanism that the
body uses to maintain
homeostasis
o Series of events that will
eventually lead to an output
o Outputs will eventually lead
to more events
o Either negative or positive
o Negative Feedback Loops –
opposes initial change;
reduces output (-); brings
body closer to its normal
state
o Positive Feedback Loops –
reinforces initial change;
increase output (+); results in
more of a product (ex. More
clot platelets, more
contractions); occurs when
something needs to happen
quickly
o Brings body farther away
from normal variable
The relationship between structure and
function
o “Structure dictates function”
is a key principle in Anatomy
and Physiology
o The form of a structure
always benefits its function
o Example: The lungs have
thin tissue which allows
gases to quickly cross.
However, if the lung tissue
were thick, gases would take
an extremely long time to
cross, making it difficult to
maintain homeostasis.
 Gradients
o Drive many physiological
processes that happen inside
of our body
o Exist whenever there is one
area has more of something
than another area
o Temperature gradient
o Concentration gradient
o Pressure gradient
 Cell to cell communication
o Cells work together to
maintain homeostasis by
communicating with one
another
o Cells communicate with one
another by chemical
messengers or electrical
signals
o Electrical signals may only be
sent between cells that are
directly next to one another
o Chemical messengers may
be sent directly to another
cell, released into
surrounding fluid, or these
messengers may travel
through the blood
o Example: A nerve cell will
stimulate a muscle cell by
releasing chemical
messengers into space
surrounding the muscle cells.
These chemical messengers
will lead to a contraction in
the muscle.