UNIT I

INTRODUCTION TO
ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY
Anatomy Branch of science that deals with the
structure or morphology of body parts,
their forms, and how they are
organized.
1. Microscopic anatomy. Deals with structures
that cannot be seen without magnification.
Cytology. Structure and functions of plant &
animal cells.
 Histology. Microscopic structure of tissues.

2. Macroscopic anatomy or Gross anatomy.

Deals with the examination of large human
structures of tissues.

Surface or Visual anatomy. Study of the external

features of the body.
Regional anatomy. Anatomical organization of
specific areas of the body, such as the head, neck, or
trunk.
Systemic anatomy. Study of the structure of organ
systems.
Developmental anatomy. Deals with the changes that
occur during the period between conception and
physical maturity.
Physiology. It is the science of life. It is the branch
of biology that aims to understand the
mechanisms of living things, from the
basis of cell function at the ionic
and molecular level to the integrated
behavior of the whole body and the
influence of the external environment.
Levels of structural organization
 Composition of Organ Systems Level
1. Integumentary system. Forms
the external body
covering which protects
deeper tissue from injury,
prevents dehydration and
waterproofs the body.
2. Skeletal system. Protects and
supports body organs as well as
provides framework to the
muscles thus causing
movement.
3. Muscular system. Allows
manipulation of the
environment through
locomotion and facial
expression
4. Nervous system. Responds to
internal and
external changes by
activating appropriate
muscles and glands.
6. Endocrine system. Secrete
hormones that
regulate processes
such as growth,
reproduction, nutrient
use (metabolism) by
cells.
7. Cardiovascular system. Compose of
the heart,
blood vessels and blood which
carries oxygen, carbon dioxide,
hormones, nutrients, wastes
etc. to cells where exchanges
are made.
5. Reproductive system. Production of offspring
8. Lymphatic and Immune
system. Protects body
from invading pathogens
and disposes of dead
cells.
9. Respiratory system. Keeps
blood constantly
supplied with oxygen
and removes carbon
dioxide.
10. Digestive system. Breaks down
food into
absorbable units that
enter the blood for
distribution to body cells.
Characteristics of Human Life. Living organisms share
characteristics or functions like order, response to stimuli,
adaptation, growth and development, homeostasis, and energy
processes. When viewed together, these are
characteristics serve to define human life.
1. Irritability. The ability to
react to a stimuli (any
change from the external or
internal
environment).
2. Growth and Development
3. Reproduction
Production of new organisms
and new cells.
4. Movement. A change in position of a body or a
part.
6. Adaptation (but with tolerance limit)
5. Self Regulating Metabolism

Metabolism are all chemical reactions

happening in the body. To control or
regulate metabolism, homeostasis
comes in where body attempts to
balance regulatory processes.
Homeostasis. The body's ability to maintain relatively stable
internal conditions even though the outside world changes
continuously.
Efferent pathways carry signals away from the central nervous system. Afferent signals come from outside stimuli and
tell your brain what they are sensing, such as temperature.
Homeostatic regulation always attempts to keep the internal
environment of the person within desirable limits.

Types of Feedback Mechanisms

1. Negative feedback loop is a reaction to a stimulus that
causes a decrease in function and tends to stabilize the
system.
 Example of Negative Feedback
Receptor
Control Receptor
(Stimulus)
Center (Response)

Sending impulses to
the brain
 Example of Negative Feedback
Receptor Control Receptor
(Stimulus) Center (Response)

Threat Sending impulses to

the brain
2. Positive feedback is a process in which the end
products of an action cause more of that action
to occur in a feedback loop. This amplifies the
original action.

It is contrasted with negative feedback, which

is when the end results of an action inhibit that
action from continuing to occur.
 Control 1 enhancing
Center effect

2 enhancing
effect
Receptor

Effector
 Receptor

Control
Center
Effector
1 enhancing
effect

2 enhancing
effect
 Control
Center

Receptor

Effector
Directional Terms. Terms describe the positions of structures
relative to their structures or locations in the body.

Anatomical Terms - Described by 4 criteria: standing erect,

face forward, arms on the side with palms facing forward and
feet slightly apart.

The Different Directional Terms are as follows:

 Terms Description Sample
Superior Above Head is superior to the neck

Inferior Below Neck is inferior to the trunk

Anterior or Front Lips are anterior to the teeth

Ventral
Posterior or Back Teeth are posterior to the lips
Dorsal
Terms Description Example
Proximal Closes to the elbow is “proximal” closer
origin to the torso
Distal Farthest away Hand is “distal” further
away from the torso
Superficial Body surface
Deep Farthest from the body surface
 Terms Description Sample
Medial Midline Nose is medial of the eyes
Lateral side Arm is laterally located
Interme- Between The Heart is inter-mediate
diate to the lungs
Visceral Used instead of
deep
 Terms Description Sample
Palmar Palm side
Dorsal Back side
Plantar Bottom of the foot

Caudal At or near the tail or posterior end of the

body
 Terms Description Sample
Contralateral opposite right arm is
contralateral with the
left arm
Anatomical Reference Planes

A plane is a two-dimensional surface — its

dimensions are length and width. The body reference
planes are used to locate or describe the location of
structures in the body.
Body Cavity

Any fluid-filled space in a multicellular organism

other than those of vessels (such as blood vessels
and lymph vessels).
 It is the anterior ventral body
cavity found within the rib cage
in the torso.

It houses the primary organs of the cardiovascular and

respiratory systems, such as the heart and lungs, but also
includes organs from other systems, such as the esophagus
and thymus gland.
The spinal cavity (or vertebral
cavity or spinal canal) is the
cavity that contains the spinal
cord within the vertebral
column, formed by the
vertebrae through which the
spinal cord passes.
The cranial cavity houses the Brain, Meninges, and the
Cerebrospinal Fluid. The primary function of the brain is
supplying information to the rest of the body and to help it
function as whole.
House the digestive system and provides muscles for posture,
balance, and breathing.
Borders of the this cavity are the posterior peritoneal surface,
the anterior abdominal wall, the inferior pelvic inlet, and the
superior thoracic diaphragm.
The pelvic floor supports the urinary bladder, uterus in
females, vagina in females, pelvic colon, rectum, and anus.

The pelvis floor also functions as a bladder and anal

sphincter through tonic contractions.
Abdominal Quadrants are
another way our bodies are
divided into regions for both
diagnostic and descriptive
purposes.
Nine abdominal regions
Body
Regions
Body
Areas
Abdominal — relating to the abdomen.
Antecubital — region of the arm in front of
the elbow
Brachial — over the brachial artery in the
upper arm
Buccal — of or relating to the cheeks or
the mouth
 Calf — of or relating to the calf
Femoral — relating to the femur or thigh
Inguinal — the groin or area in lower lateral
regions of the abdomen
Lumbar — area over the lumbar spine

Popliteal — region on the back of the knee

Scapular — of or relating to the area near the
shoulder blade (scapula)

Umbilical — relating to the central area of

the abdomen near the
belly
Body membranes
Thin sheets of tissue
that cover the body, line
body cavities, and cover
organs within the
cavities in hollow
organs.