Introduction To Anatomy and Physiology

INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY
AND PHYSIOLOGY
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 with out
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 centre in
the brain to chemical substances called hormones that
are secreted by various organs directly into the blood
streams.
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.
LEVEL OF STRUCTURAL
ORGANIZATION OF THE BODY
 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 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.
 Epithelial tissue- Found in the outer layer of skin, lining of

organs, blood and lymph vessels and body cavities.
 Connective tissue- Connects and supports most part of the
body. They constitute most part of skin, bone and tendons.
 Muscle tissue- Produces movement through its ability to
contract. This constitutes skeletal, smooth and cardiac
muscles.
 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.
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.
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.
RELATIVE DIRECTIONAL TERMS
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.
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.
ABDOMINAL SUB DIVISIONS
BODY PLANES AND SECTIONS
 Body planes are imaginary surfaces or planes lines that
divide the body in to sections. This helps for further
identification of specific areas.
 Sagittal plane- divides the body into right and left half.
 Mid sagittal plane- divides body into equal left and right
halves.
 Para sagittal plane- divides body into unequal left and right
 Frontal plane- divides the body into asymmetrical antererior
and posterior sections.
 Transverse plane- divides the body into upper and
lower body section.
 Oblique plane- divides the body obliquely into upper

and lower section.
BODY CAVITIES
 The cavities of the body house the internal organs, which
commonly referred to as the viscera. The two main body
cavities are the larger ventral (anterior) and the smaller,
dorsal (posterior) body cavity.
 The ventral body cavity constitutes the thoracic cavity
and the abdomino-pelvic body cavity
 The 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).
 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.
 The pelvic cavity contains urinary bladder, rectum, and

portions of the reproductive organs.
 The dorsal body cavity: it constitutes the cephalic
cavity containing brain and the vertebral canal
containing the spinal cord.

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INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY

 Microscopic anatomy (Histology) requires the use of

 Hence, Anatomy and physiology are studied together to

 Cell- The smallest independent units of life. All life

 Epithelial tissue- Found in the outer layer of skin, lining of

 Organ- Is an integrated collection of two or more kinds

 Organism level- The various organs of the body form

 Oblique plane- divides the body obliquely into upper

 Abdominal cavity contains the stomach, intestine, liver,

 The pelvic cavity contains urinary bladder, rectum, and

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