ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Ma. Millicent M Mercado, RN, MAN

Anatomy
 The study of the structures in the body
 The identification and description of the structures of living things
 Describes the structure and location of the different components of an organism
Two Types:
A. Gross Anatomy- the study of anatomy at the visible or macroscopic level
1. Macroscopic- the study of anatomical structure that can be seen by the naked eye
 Superficial- the study of external anatomical features without dissection
 Regional- focuses on specific external and internal regions of the body
 Systemic- focuses on the different organ systems in the body
2. Microscopic- the study of normal structure of an organism under the microscope
 Cytology- the study of the structure and function of cells
 Histology- the study of the organization and details of biological tissues.
Physiology
 The study of how the body functions and works
 It describes the chemistry and physics behind each basic body functions from how
molecules behave in cells to how system of organs work together.
Pathophysiology
 The study of disorders of functioning
Cells
 The smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism.
 Nervous cell, Stem Cell, Fat Cell, Sex Cell, Immune Cell, Epithelial Cell, Muscle Cell,
Bone Cell, Blood Cell
Tissue
 A group of many similar cells that work together to perform a specific function
 Connective Tissue- fibrous tissues that is responsible for binding, supporting, protecting,
insulating and storing reserve fuel (Bone, Ligaments, Tendons, Cartilage, Adipose
Tissue)
 Epithelial Tissue- they form the covering of the body surface, line body cavities and
hollow organs and responsible for protection, secretion, absorption, excretion, filtration,
diffusion and sensory perception
  Muscle Tissue- composed of cells that have the special ability to shorten and contract in
order to produce movement. It is further categorized into skeletal, smooth and cardiac.
 Nervous tissue found in the brain, spinal cord and nerves responsible for coordinating and
controlling body activities.
Organ
 An anatomically distinct structure of the body composed of two or more tissue types
which performs one or more specific physiological functions.
Organ System
 A group of organs that work together to perform major functions or meet physiological
needs of the body.
Inorganic Compounds
 Include Water, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide and Calcium Phosphate.
 Water is the most abundant inorganic compound making up over 60% of the volume of
cells and over 90% of body fluids like blood.
 Many substances dissolve in water and all chemical reactions that take place in the body
do so when dissolved in water.
Organic Compounds
 Include CHO, CHON, Lipids and Fats
 All contain CARBON ATOMS
 Are larger and complex molecules because each Carbon can link with 4 other atoms
Language of Anatomy
Superior Higher Dorsal Back
Inferior Lower Ventral Front
Anterior Front Internal Inner
Posterior Back External Outer
Medial Towards the Midline Superficial Closer to the Surface
Lateral Away from the Deep Away from the
Midline Surface
Proximal Closer Central Towards the Center
Distal Away Peripheral Away from the
Central
Parietal Cavity Wall Frontal/ Coronal Vertical Plane
running from Side to
Side which divides
the body into Ventral
and Dorsal
Visceral Covers the Organs Sagittal/ Median Longitudinal Plane
which divides the
 body into the Left
and Right parts

Metabolism
 Describes all the chemical processes that go on continuously inside the body to keep one
alive and one’s organs functioning normally.
Homeostatis
 The maintenance of the body’s overall inner resistance to change. This resistance
stabilizes the body by regulating the internal environment even as the environment
changes.
 A stable internal internal environment is needed for normal physiological function and
survival of a living system
 Maintaining this requires a constant monitoring mostly done by the brain and the nervous
system.
 The brain detest irregularities and responds appropriately through the release of
neurotransmitters which also send signals to the affected organs to stimulate them to
function in maintaining a homeostatic environment in the body.