Assignment 2: Introduction to Anatomy

1. Determine and define the levels of organization. 

When we talk about levels of organization, we are referring to the different ways in which
things are structured and organized in the natural world. The basic unit of organization is the cell,
which makes up all living things. Cells group together to form tissues, which perform specific
functions within an organism. Tissues combine to form organs that work together to accomplish
more complex tasks for the body. Organs then come together as organ systems such as the
cardiovascular, respiratory or digestive system. Lastly, all organ systems combine to create a fully
functional organism such as a human or animal.

2. Illustrate the major regions of the body.

The human body is divided into five distinct regions, each with its own unique set of
features and functions. These regions include the head, neck, torso, upper extremities, and lower
extremities. By breaking down the body into these regions, it becomes easier to locate and
describe specific parts of the body.

The head region is comprised of the skull and face, which house the brain, eyes, nose,
and mouth. The neck region connects the head to the torso and contains important structures
such as the trachea and esophagus.

The torso, also known as the trunk, is the largest region of the body and includes the
chest, abdomen, and pelvis. This area contains vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and
kidneys.

The upper extremities consist of the arms, armpits, and shoulders, which are responsible
for movement and manipulation of objects. The lower extremities include the legs, buttocks,
thighs, knees, ankles, and feet, which support the body's weight and allow for mobility.

3. Illustrate the anatomical planes of reference.

The human body is a complex and intricate system, and understanding its anatomy is
crucial for medical professionals and students alike. To help describe the relative anatomy of the
body, three planes have been identified: the sagittal plane, the coronal plane, and the transverse
plane.

The sagittal plane is a vertical plane that runs down the center of the body, dividing it into
right and left portions. This plane is particularly useful for understanding the symmetry of the body
and the placement of organs and structures.

The coronal plane, on the other hand, runs vertically through the side of the body,
dividing it into the front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions. This plane is helpful for
understanding the placement of organs and structures in relation to the front and back of the
body.

Finally, the transverse (or axial) plane runs horizontally, separating the top half of the
body from the bottom half. This plane is useful for understanding the placement of organs and
structures in relation to the upper and lower portions of the body.
4. Identify and summarize the different body systems and the body organs that comprisem each
system.
The human body is truly a complex and remarkable machine. There are actually eleven
different systems that work together to keep us alive and healthy! First off, we have the circulatory
system which pumps blood throughout the body carrying oxygen and nutrients to our cells. This
system comprises the heart, blood vessels, and blood. The heart is a muscular organ that pumps
blood throughout the body. There are three types of blood vessels: arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Arteries transport oxygenated blood away from the heart to body tissues, while veins bring
deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Capillaries are tiny vessels that connect arteries and
veins, allowing for gas exchange between tissue cells and the bloodstream. Blood carries
nutrients, oxygen, waste products, hormones, and white blood cells throughout our bodies.

The respiratory system works with the circulatory system by bringing air into our lungs
where oxygen is extracted and carbon dioxide is expelled. This is made up of a few key parts.
First up are the lungs, which are where all the gas exchange takes place - oxygen goes in and
carbon dioxide goes out. The trachea, or windpipe, connects our mouth and nose to our lungs
and is lined with tiny hairs called cilia that help trap and filter out any debris. Then there are the
bronchi, which branch off from the trachea into each lung and divide further into smaller tubes
called bronchioles. Finally, there's the diaphragm - this is a muscle located at the bottom of the
chest that helps us breathe by contracting and flattening when we inhale and relaxing when we
exhale. All these pieces work together to make sure our body gets enough oxygen while
eliminating waste gases like carbon dioxide.

Then there's the digestive system where food is broken down into smaller molecules
before being absorbed into our bloodstream for energy. The process starts in our mouth, where
enzymes begin to break down the food we chew. Then, the food travels down our esophagus and
into our stomach, where more enzymes and acid help break it down even further. Next up is the
small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed into our bloodstream. Finally, anything that's left
over heads to the large intestine (also known as the colon), where water is reabsorbed and waste
is stored until we're ready to go

The nervous system helps to control all of our bodily functions through communication
between the brain and various organs. This system is basically the communication network of our
body. It's made up of two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
The central nervous system includes your brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous
system encompasses all the nerves that branch out from those structures to every other part of
our body. Within each of these parts, there are specific components that play important roles in
relaying messages between different parts of our body. For example, there are neurons, which
are specialized cells that transmit signals between each other and throughout the body. Then
there are glial cells, which provide support to neurons and help them function properly. There's
also a division within the peripheral nervous system known as the autonomic nervous system,
which controls things like heart rate, breathing rate, and digestion without us even having to think
about it!

The skeletal and muscular systems work together to allow movement and support for our
bodies, while the integumentary system (skin, hair, nails) protects us from external harm. Well,
let's start with the skeletal system. It consists of the bones in our body that support and protect
our organs. The parts of a bone include the periosteum (outer covering), compact bone (dense
layer under periosteum), spongy bone (lighter tissue inside the compact bone), medullary cavity
(hollow space filled with yellow or red marrow), and epiphyses (the two ends of a long bone). And
then there's the muscular system, made up of various types of muscles that help our body to
move. There are three types of muscle: smooth (found in internal organs like the stomach),
cardiac (involuntary muscles found only in the heart), and skeletal (attached to bones by tendons,
allowing for voluntary movement). Muscles work by contracting and relaxing to create movement.

Other important systems include the endocrine (hormone regulation), lymphatic (immune
response), urinary (waste removal), and reproductive (sexual function) systems.

Endocrine system in humans (and many other animals), we're referring to a network of
glands that produce and release hormones to regulate different bodily functions. These glands
include the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, and
gonads (ovaries or testes). Each gland plays a unique role in maintaining homeostasis within the
body by secreting specific hormones that communicate with target cells throughout various organ
systems. For example, the pituitary gland produces growth hormone which stimulates bone
growth and development while the thyroid gland secretes thyroxine which helps maintain
metabolic processes like heart rate and body temperature. The endocrine system often works in
tandem with the nervous system to control physiological responses to external stimuli and
maintain overall health.

The lymphatic system is made up of a network of vessels that transport lymph fluid
throughout the body. Lymphatic vessels closely parallel blood vessels and contain small bean-
shaped organs called lymph nodes. These nodes are responsible for filtering harmful substances
and foreign bodies from the lymphatic fluid before it returns to the bloodstream. The spleen is
also part of the lymphatic system and acts as a filter to remove old or damaged red blood cells
from circulation. Additionally, there are tonsils located in the throat that aid in trapping and killing
bacteria and viruses before they can enter the body. Lastly, bone marrow produces white blood
cells that contribute to the immune response, which is vital to protecting us from infections and
diseases. Overall, each component serves an important role in keeping our bodies healthy and
functioning properly