SUMMARY FOR
THE HUMAN BODY : ANATOMY
AND PHYSIOLOGY
,Chapter 1 – An introduction to the human body
1.1 Anatomy and physiology defined
Define anatomy and physiology, and name several subspecialties of these sciences
- Anatomy is the science of body structures and the relationships among them
- Physiology is the science of body functions – how the body parts work
1.2 Levels of structural organisation and body systems
Describe the body’s six levels of structural organisation
- The six levels
o Chemical level - This includes atoms (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorus, calcium and sulfur) and molecules (DNA)
o Cellular level - Molecules bind together to form cells (muscle cells, nerve cells and
epithelial cells), the basic structural and functional units of an organ
o Tissue level – Tissues are group of cells that work together to perform a particular
function. There are four basic types of tissue:
Epithelial – covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs and cavities, and forms
glands.
Connective – connects, supports and protects body organisms
Muscular – contracts to make body parts move and generates heat
Nervous – carries information from one part of the body to another through
nerve impulses
o Organ level – Organs are structures that are composed of two or more different
types of tissues: they have specific functions and usually have recognisable shapes.
o System level – A system consists of related organs with a common function , such as
the digestive system
o Organismal level – All the parts of the human body functioning together constitutes
the total organism
List the 11 systems of the human body
System Components Functions
Integumentary system Skin, hair, finger and toenails,
,sweat glands and oil glands
- Protects body
- Helps regulate body temperature
- Eliminates some wastes
- Helps make vitamin D
- Detects sensations such as touch,
pain, warmth and cold
Skeletal system Bones and joints of the body and
their associated cartilages
- Supports and protects the body
- Provides surface area for muscle
attachments
- Aids body movement
- Houses cells that produce blood
cells
- Stores minerals and lipids
Muscular system Skeletal muscle tissue – muscle
usually attached to bones
- Participates in body movements,
such as walking
- Maintains posture
- Produces heat
Nervous system Brains, spinal cord, nerves and
special sense organs, such as eyes
and ears
- Generates action potentials to
regulate body’s activities
- Detects changes in body’s internal
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and external environments,
interprets changes, and responds
by causing muscular contraction
or glandular secretions
Endocrine system Hormone-producing glands and
hormone-producing cells in several
other organs
- Regulates body activities by
releasing hormones
Cardiovascular system Blood, heart and blood vessels - Heart pumps blood through blood
vessels
- Blood carries oxygen and nutrients
to cells and carbon dioxide and
wastes away from cells and helps
regulate acid-base balance,
temperature and water content of
body fluids
- Blood components help defend
against disease and repair
damaged blood vessels
Lymphatic system and
immunity
Lymphatic fluid and vessels; spleen,
thymus, lymph nodes and tonsils; B
cells and T cells
- Returns proteins and fluid to
blood
- Carries lipids from gastrointestinal
THE HUMAN BODY : ANATOMY
AND PHYSIOLOGY
,Chapter 1 – An introduction to the human body
1.1 Anatomy and physiology defined
Define anatomy and physiology, and name several subspecialties of these sciences
- Anatomy is the science of body structures and the relationships among them
- Physiology is the science of body functions – how the body parts work
1.2 Levels of structural organisation and body systems
Describe the body’s six levels of structural organisation
- The six levels
o Chemical level - This includes atoms (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorus, calcium and sulfur) and molecules (DNA)
o Cellular level - Molecules bind together to form cells (muscle cells, nerve cells and
epithelial cells), the basic structural and functional units of an organ
o Tissue level – Tissues are group of cells that work together to perform a particular
function. There are four basic types of tissue:
Epithelial – covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs and cavities, and forms
glands.
Connective – connects, supports and protects body organisms
Muscular – contracts to make body parts move and generates heat
Nervous – carries information from one part of the body to another through
nerve impulses
o Organ level – Organs are structures that are composed of two or more different
types of tissues: they have specific functions and usually have recognisable shapes.
o System level – A system consists of related organs with a common function , such as
the digestive system
o Organismal level – All the parts of the human body functioning together constitutes
the total organism
List the 11 systems of the human body
System Components Functions
Integumentary system Skin, hair, finger and toenails,
,sweat glands and oil glands
- Protects body
- Helps regulate body temperature
- Eliminates some wastes
- Helps make vitamin D
- Detects sensations such as touch,
pain, warmth and cold
Skeletal system Bones and joints of the body and
their associated cartilages
- Supports and protects the body
- Provides surface area for muscle
attachments
- Aids body movement
- Houses cells that produce blood
cells
- Stores minerals and lipids
Muscular system Skeletal muscle tissue – muscle
usually attached to bones
- Participates in body movements,
such as walking
- Maintains posture
- Produces heat
Nervous system Brains, spinal cord, nerves and
special sense organs, such as eyes
and ears
- Generates action potentials to
regulate body’s activities
- Detects changes in body’s internal
Downloaded by Test Banks ()
, lOMoARcPSD|27929433
and external environments,
interprets changes, and responds
by causing muscular contraction
or glandular secretions
Endocrine system Hormone-producing glands and
hormone-producing cells in several
other organs
- Regulates body activities by
releasing hormones
Cardiovascular system Blood, heart and blood vessels - Heart pumps blood through blood
vessels
- Blood carries oxygen and nutrients
to cells and carbon dioxide and
wastes away from cells and helps
regulate acid-base balance,
temperature and water content of
body fluids
- Blood components help defend
against disease and repair
damaged blood vessels
Lymphatic system and
immunity
Lymphatic fluid and vessels; spleen,
thymus, lymph nodes and tonsils; B
cells and T cells
- Returns proteins and fluid to
blood
- Carries lipids from gastrointestinal
