Module 1

INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Overview:
Most of us naturally curious about our bodies; we want to know what makes us
tick. This curiousity is even seen in infants, who can keep themselves for a long staring
at their own hands or pulling their mother’s nose. Older children wonder where food
goes when they swallow it, and some believe that they will grow a water-melon in their
belly if they swallow the seeds. They scream loudly when approached by medical
personnel (fearing shots that sting), but they like to play doctor. Adults become upset
when their hearts pound, when they have uncontrollable hot flashes, or when they
cannot keep their weight down.
Anatomy and Physiology, subdivisions of biology, explore many of these topics
as they describe how our bodies are put together and how they work.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:
1. Define Anatomy and Physiology
2. Describe levels of structural organization of the human body.
3. Discuss directional terms, anatomical position, planes and sections used in
Anatomy.
4. Differentiate body cavities.
5. Explain homeostasis

Materials:
Laptop, cellphone, Textbook, Internet link, Wifi
References:
Human Anatomy and Physiology retrieved on September 10,2020 from
www.cartercenterorg>LN-human.anat.
Anatomy and Physiology retrieved on September 10,2020 from
d3xy9euw4147.cloudfront.net>media>documents
Marieb, Elaine N. 9th edition (2009). Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology.
Pearson Education, Inc. New York, USA.
Lesson Proper:
1.1 What are Anatomy and Physiology?
Anatomy: the word anatomy is derived from a Greek word “Anatome” meaning
to cut up. It is the study of structures that make up the body and how those
structures relate with each other. The study of anatomy includes many sub
specialties. These are Gross anatomy, Microscopic anatomy, Developmental
anatomy and Embryology. Gross anatomy studies body structure without
microscope. Systemic anatomy studies functional relationships of organs within a
system whereas Regional anatomy studies body part regionally. Both systemic and
regional approaches may be used to study gross anatomy Microscopic anatomy
(Histology) requires the use of microscope to study tissues that form the various
organs of the body. Physiology: the word physiology derived from a Greek word for
study of nature. It is the study of how the body and its part work or function.
 Hence, Anatomy and physiology are studied together to give students a full
appreciation and understanding of human body. Homeostasis When structure and
function are coordinated the body achieves a relative stability of its internal
environment called homeostasis / staying the same. Although the external
environmental changes constantly, the internal environment of a healthy body
remains the same with in normal limits. Under normal conditions, homeostasis is
maintained by adaptive mechanisms ranging from control center in the brain to
chemical substances called hormones that are secreted by various organs directly
into the blood streams. Some of the functions controlled by homeostasis
mechanisms are blood pressure, body temperature, breathing and heart rate.

1.2. Level of structural organization of the body. The human body has different
structural levels of organization, starting with atoms molecules and compounds and
increasing in size and complexity to cells, tissues, organs and the systems that make up
the complete organism.

Figure: 1. Levels of structural organization of the body (source: Elaine n. MARIEB, (2000),
Essentials of human anatomy and physiology, Addison Welsey Longman Inc., San Francisco, 6th ed)

Atoms molecules and compounds: - At its simplest level, the body is composed of
atoms. The most common elements in living organism are carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen phosphorus and sulfur.
Atoms → Molecule → Compounds.

Cell: The smallest independent units of life. All life depends on the many chemical
activities of cells. Some of the basic functions of cell are: growth, metabolism,
irritability and reproduction.
Tissue: tissue is made up of many similar cells that perform a specific function. The
various tissues of the body are divided in to four groups. These are epithelial,
connective, nervous and muscle tissue.
1. Epithelial tissue: Found in the outer layer of skin, lining of organs, blood and
lymph vessels and body cavities.
2. Connective tissue: Connects and supports most part of the body. They
constitute most part of skin, bone and tendons.
3. Muscle tissue: - Produces movement through its ability to contract. This
constitutes skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscles.
4. Nerve tissue: Found in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It responds to various
types of stimuli and transmits nerve impulses.
Organ: - Is an integrated collection of two or more kinds of tissue that works together
to perform specific function. For example: Stomach is made of all type of tissues.
 System: Is a group of organs that work together to perform major function. For
example: Respiratory system contains several organs. Organism level: - The various
organs of the body form the entire organism.

Organism level: The various organs of the body form the entire organism

1.3 Anatomical Terminologies The language of anatomy will probably be unfamiliar to

you at first. But once you have understood the basic word roots, combining word forms,
prefixes and suffix you will find that anatomical terminologies are not as difficult as you
first imagined.
1.3.1. Anatomical Position. Anatomical positions are universally accepted as the
starting points for positional references to the body. In anatomical position the
subject is standing erect and facing the observer, the feet are together, and the arms
are hanging at the sides with the palms facing forward.

Figure 1.2 Relative directional terms of the body. (Source: Carola, R., Harley,J.P., Noback R.C., (1992),
Human anatomy and physiology, Mc Graw
Hill Inc, New York, 2nd ed, pp 15)

1.3.2 Relative Directional terms Standardized terms of reference are used when
anatomists describe the location of the body part. Relative means the location of one
part of the body is always described in relation to another part of the body.

Term Definition and Example:

1. Superior (cranial) toward the head. The leg is supper to the foot.
2. Inferior (caudal) Toward the feet. The foot is inferior to the leg.
3. Anterior (ventral) Toward the front part of the body. The nose is anterior to the
ears.
4. Posterior (dorsal) Towards the back of the body. The ears are posterior to the
nose.
5. Medial Towards the midline of the body. The nose is medial to the eyes.
6. Lateral Away from the midline of the body. The eyes are lateral to the nose.
7. Proximal Toward (nearer) the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb. The
shoulder is proximal to the wrist.
8. Distal Away (farther) from the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb.
The wrist is distal to the forearm.
9. Superficial Nearer the surface of the body. The ribs are superficial to the heart.
Deep Farther from the surface of the body. The heart is deeper to the ribs.
10. Peripheral Away from the central axis of the body. Peripheral nerves radiate
away from the brain and spinal cord.

1.3.3. Body Parts Regions. The body can generally be described to have areas of:
Axial body part:. It is the part of the body near the axis of the body. This includes
head, neck, thorax (chest), abdomen, and pelvis.
Appendicular body part. It is the part of the body out of the axis line. This includes
the upper and lower extremities. It is customary to subdivide the abdominal area into
nine regions or more easily in to four quadrants.

Figure 1.3 Abdominal sub divisions (Source: Carola, R., Harley,J.P.,

Noback R.C., (1992), Human anatomy and physiology, Mc Graw hill inc, New
York, 2nd ed, pp 17)

1.4. Body Planes and Sections

Body planes are imaginary surfaces or planes lines that divid the body in to
sections. This helps for further identification of specific areas.

1.Sagittal plane: - divides the body into right and left half.
2.Mid sagittal plane: - divides body into equal left and right halves.
3. Para sagittal plane: - divides body into unequal left and right
4.Frontal plane - divides the body into asymmetrical anterior and posterior sections.
5.Transverse plane-divides the body into upper and lower body section.
6. Oblique plane - divides the body obliquely into upper and lower section.

Figure 1.4 Body planes (Source: Carola, R., Harley,J.P., Noback R.C., (1992), Human anatomy and
physiology, Mc Graw hill inc, New York, 2nd ed, pp18)

1.5 Body Cavities .

The cavities of the body house the internal organs, which commonly referred to as the
viscera. The two main body cavities are:
1.The dorsal body cavity: it constitutes the cephalic cavity containing brain and the
vertebral canal containing the spinal cord.
2. The ventral body cavity constitutes the thoracic cavity and the abdomino-pelvic body
cavity.
2.1. Thoracic cavity houses lung and heart. It is protected by the rib cage &
associated musculature and the sternum anteriorly. It consists of the right and left
pleural cavities and mediastinum (the portion of tissues and organs that
separates the left and right lung).
2.2.Abdomino-pelvic cavity extends from the diaphragm inferior to the floor of the
pelvis. It is divided into superior abdominal and inferior pelvic cavity by imaginary line
passing at upper pelvis. Abdominal cavity contains the stomach, intestine, liver, spleen
and gallbladder.
2.3.The pelvic cavity contains urinary bladder, rectum, and portions of the
reproductive organs.

Figure: 1.5 Body cavities (Source: Memmler, Ruth Lundeen, Barbara

Jansen Cohen and Dena Lin Wood (1996), The Human Body in Health and
Disease, 8th Ed, pp 9).
Evaluation:
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer in your paper.

1. The anatomical term opposite to lateral is:

a) Proximal
b) Distal
c) Medial
d) Superficial
e) Caudal
 2. When structure and function coordinated the body gets a relative stability. This
phenomenon is called:
a. anatomical integrity
b physiological stability
c homeostasis
d hemostasis
3. Which of the following is not the correct description of anatomical position?
a. body facing forward
b head turned to side
c palms facing forward
d body standing
4. A plane that divided the body into anterior and posterior parts is
a. medial plane
b coronal or frontal plane
c saggital plane
d transverse plane

5.The abdominal cavity contains the

a heart and lung
b reproductive organs and urinary bladder
c liver, spleen and stomach
d urinary bladder and lungs
6. Physical and chemical changes or reactions that occur within the body are
collectively known as:
a. metabolism
b. physiology
c. assimilation
d. excretion
7. Which of the following list illustrates the idea of increasing levels of complexity?
a. cells, tissues, organelles, organs, systems
b. tissues, cells, organs, organelles, systems, cells, tissues
c. organs, organelles, systems, cells, tissues
d. organelles, cells, tissues,, organs, systems
8. Homeostasis is defined as the:
a. ability of human beings to keep body weight within normal limits.
b. maintenance of a constant external temperature inside a room.
c. Ingestion of enough food to keep hunger pains from developing.
d. Tendency of the body to maintain a stable environment.

9. Which plane of the body divides it into dorsal and ventral regions?
a. transverse
b. axial
c. coronal
d. sagittal
10. The directional term “superior” in anatomy means which of the following?
a. cephalic
b. ventral
c. closer to the top of the head
d. closer to the skin surface.
Essay.
Instructions: Explain your answer with supporting facts and reasons that make the idea
or concept clear and understandable. Write your answer in your paper.

1. Why is understanding the anatomical position important to an anatomy student?

5points
2. Explain the meaning of homeostasis is applied to the living organism.(5points)
3. List the 11 organ systems of the body, briefly describe the function of each, and
then name two organs in each system (10points)

Assignment:
Instructions: Discuss your answer with supporting facts, details, and reasons that
make the idea or concept clear and understandable. Encode your answer and print it.
Use long bond paper.

1. Explain the structural levels of organization of the human body from smallest to
largest. (10 points)
2. Explain the cavities of the body and how they are organized. Quadrants of
abdominal cavity from left to right, top down looking at patient, (10 points)