Basic Anatomy and Physiology
Basic Anatomy and Physiology
Basic Anatomy and Physiology
The cell is the fundamental unit of all beings. All cells contain a gelatinous substance composed of water, protein, sugar, acids, fats, and
various minerals.
Parts of cell:
1. Cell Membrane: The cell membrane not only surrounds and protects the cell but also regulates what passes into and out of the cell.
2. Nucleus: Nucleus controls the operations of the cell. It directs cell division and determines the structure and function of the cell.
3. Chromosomes: Chromosomes are rod-like structures within the nucleus. All human body cells—contain 23 pairs of chromosomes.
However, each sperm and each egg cell have only 23 unpaired chromosomes. On fertilization of egg and sperm, an embryo would have 23
paired chromosomes.
4. Genes: Chromosomes contain regions called genes. There are several thousand genes, in an orderly sequence, on every chromosome.
5. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a chemical contained in each gene. DNA regulates the activities of the cell according to its sequence
(arrangement into genes) on each chromosome. The DNA sequence resembles a series of recipes in code.
B. Tissue:
A tissue is a group of similar cells working together to do a specific job. Few examples are as below.
1. Epithelial Tissue: Epithelial tissue, located all over the body, forms the linings of internal organs, and the outer surface of the skin
covering the body, all exocrine and endocrine glands.
2. Muscle Tissue: Tissues of the muscles. 1. Voluntary muscle - found in arms and legs and parts of the body where movement is under
conscious control 2. Involuntary muscle, found in the heart and digestive system, as well as other organs, allows movement that is not
under conscious control.
3. Connective Tissue: Adipose or fat tissue, cartilage (elastic, fibrous tissue attached to bones), bone, and blood are made of connective
tissue.
4. Nerve Tissue: Nerve tissue conducts impulses all over the body.
C. Organ:
Different types of tissue combine to form an organ. The medical term for internal organs is viscera. Viseral (internal) organs is the medical
term for internal organs.
D. Organ System:
2. Reproductive System:
Female: consists of ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus (womb), vagina, mammary glands.
Male: consists of testes and associated tubes, urethra, penis, prostate gland.
3. Endocrine System: consists of thyroid gland (in the neck), pituitary gland (at the base of the brain), sex glands (ovaries and testes),
adrenal glands, pancreas (islets of Langerhans), parathyroid glands.
4. Nervous System: consists of Brain, spinal cord, nerves, and collections of nerves.
5. Circulatory system: consists of Heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), lymphatic vessels and nodes, spleen, thymus gland.
7. Skin and sense organs: consist of skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous (oil) glands; eye, ear, nose, and tongue.
II-Body Positions:
1. Dorsal or Posterior side – pertaining to the back side of the body is called dorsal side or posterior side of the body.
3. Deep: Away from the surface. Example: The stab wound penetrated deep into the abdomen.
4. Superficial: On the surface. Example: Superficial veins can be viewed through the skin.
5. Proximal: Near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure. Example: The proximal end of the thigh bone
(femur) joins with the hip socket.
6. Distal: Far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure. Example: At its distal end, the femur joins
with the knee.
7. Inferior: Below another structure or pertaining to lower part of the body. For example, legs, knee, foot, etc.
8. Superior: Above another structure. Pertaining to the upper portion of the body. For example, head, neck, etc.
9. Medial: Pertaining to the middle, or nearer the medial plane of the body.
10. Lateral: Pertaining to the side. For example, shoulder, arms, elbow, hands, fingers, Legs, knee, foot, toes, etc.
11. Supine: Lying on the back. For example: The patient lies supine during an examination of the abdomen. The face is up in the supine
position.
12. Prone: Lying on the belly. For example: The backbones are examined with the patient in a prone position. The patient lies on his or
her stomach in the prone position.
2. Sagittal plane: Sagittal or lateral plane is a lengthwise vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right and left sides. The
midsagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves.
3. Transverse plane: Transverse or axial plane is a horizontal (cross-sectional) plane running across the body parallel to the ground and
divides the body or structure into upper and lower portions.
IV- Body Cavities:
A body cavity is a space within the body that contains internal (visceral) organs.
Based on the location there are 2 types of cavities – Dorsal (backside/posterior) and Ventral (frontside/ventral) body cavities.
1. Dorsal body Cavities are Body cavities that are towards the backside of the body. Cranial and vertebral cavities are dorsal cavities of the
human body. a. Cranial Cavity - Space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by the skull. Cranial means pertaining to the skull.
b. Spinal Cavity: Space within the spinal column (backbones) containing the spinal cord. Also called the spinal canal.
一 2. Ventral body Cavities are cavities that are present on the ventral (anterior/back) side of the body. a. Thoracic Cavity: Space in
the chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, oesophagus, and other organs. i. Mediastinum: Centrally located space
outside of and between the lungs.
一 ii. Pleura: Double-folded membrane surrounding each lung. Pleural means pertaining to the pleura.
2. Left upper quadrant (LUQ)—contains the liver (left lobe), stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, parts of the small and large
intestines.
3. Right lower quadrant (RLQ)—contains parts of the small and large intestines, right ovary, right fallopian tube, appendix, right
ureter.
4. Left lower quadrant (LLQ)—contains parts of the small and large intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, left ureter.
2. Left hypochondriac region: left upper region below the rib cartilage.
8. Left inguinal region: left lower region near the groin. Also called the left iliac region.
VI-Spiral Column:
The spinal column is composed of a series of bones that extend from the neck to the tailbone. Each bone is a vertebra (plural: vertebrae).
There are 29 + 1 vertebra in the spinal cord.
A. Divisions of the back (33 bones)
1. Cervical Neck region (C1 to C7).
3. Pharynx: Throat. The pharynx serves as the common passageway for food (from the mouth going to the oesophagus) and air (from the
nose to the trachea).
5. Thyroid gland: Endocrine gland that surrounds the trachea in the neck.
6. Trachea: “Windpipe” (tube leading from the throat to the bronchial tubes).
7. Ureter: One of two tubes, each leading from a single kidney to the urinary bladder. Spelling clue: Ureter has two e’s, and there are two
ureters.
8. Urethra: Tube from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. Spelling clue: Urethra has one e, and there is only one urethra.
9. Uterus: The womb. The organ that holds the embryo/fetus as it develops.