ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY (N3)
1st Semester AY 2022-2023
STUDY GUIDE
ORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN BODY
Introduction
Hello students! Welcome to Anatomy and Physiology. In this course you will appreciate why nurses need
to study anatomy and physiology. As nurses, we need to understand how to take good care of themselves
and their clients/patients. The body must remain in a balanced condition to operate. When one’s body has
a problem in balance, health professionals must figure out how to recover the body’s stability to help the
client/patient.
The first topic is about knowing how the body is organized and the processes that make us alive which are
basic foundational knowledge in anatomy and physiology. In this study guide, we will learn about the
organization of the human body and the various life processes that ensure growth, development,
metabolism, and homeostasis. In the second part of this study guide, we will learn the various anatomical
terms and directions which will be important when we want to accurately describe anatomical landmarks
and physiological processes.
Hope you enjoy this topic and the rest of Anatomy and Physiology.
Learning outcomes
After going through this topic, you should be able to:
1. Define anatomy and physiology and name several subspecialties in these sciences;
2. Describe the levels of structural organization that make up the human body;
3. Define the important life processes, the concept of homeostasis, and explain its relationship with
the interstitial fluid;
4. Explain how homeostatic imbalances are related to disorders
5. Describe the anatomical position
6. Relate the common names to the corresponding anatomical descriptive terms for various regions
of the human body
7. Define the anatomical plans, sections, and directional terms used to describe the human body
8. Outline the major body cavities, the organs they contain, and their associated linings.
Resources that you can read
Please read the main references below to better understand the topic.
1. Betts JG, Desaix Peter, Johnson E et al (2017). Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Human Body.
Anatomy and Physiology. OpenStax Rice University. Pp 7-40.
Note: You may access this open education resource in this link:
https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology. You have an option to view the book
online or download the PDF file.
2. Tortora GJ & Derrickson B. (2014). Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Human Body. Principles of
Anatomy and Physiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 14 edition. Pp 1-26.
, Note: We are still requesting the College of Nursing Library for the purchase of the e-book of this
edition.
3. Organization of the Human Body pre-recorded lecture video by Asst. Prof. Peter James B. Abad
uploaded in Canvas
Topic outline
The specific topics that will be covered in this study guide are as follows:
1. Definition of anatomy and physiology
2. Levels of structural organization
3. Basic life processes
4. Homeostasis and feedback mechanisms
5. Basic anatomical and directional terms
6. Planes and sections
7. Body cavities, regions, and quadrants
1. Definition of Anatomy and Physiology
Simply speaking, anatomy is the science of body structures and the relationships among them. Body
structures can be big (e.g., a major organ like the liver) or very small (e.g., tissues and cells) which
require a microscope for these to be seen.
Physiology, on the other hand, is the science of body functions—how body parts work. For example,
in physiology, we would be interested to know how the heart pumps blood and what could be the
regulatory mechanisms that maintain the amount of blood ejected every minute (called the cardiac
output).
In Nursing 3, we study anatomy and physiology together because the structure of organs provide
insight into their functions and vice versa. For example, knowing that the alveoli in the lungs are
made up of single layered cells (you will later learn that these are called simple squamous epithelium)
will give you an idea of their function in gas exchange and how this structure enables diffusion of g
gasses to happen.
Activity 1. Anatomy and Physiology Subspecialties
Answer the following question in the discussion forum in VLE.
1. Anatomy as well as physiology have several subspecialties. Can you identify these
subspecialties and explain what they specifically study?
2. Can you give your own example on how a structure of a body part is related to its function?
2. Levels of Structural Organization
In studying anatomy and physiology, understanding the six levels of organization will allow us to
examine anatomical structures and physiological processes in greater detail. For example, when we
study the physiology of digestion, we would need to know what exactly is happening at the cellular,
even molecular level, to understand how gastric juices and pancreatic enzymes are produced,
1st Semester AY 2022-2023
STUDY GUIDE
ORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN BODY
Introduction
Hello students! Welcome to Anatomy and Physiology. In this course you will appreciate why nurses need
to study anatomy and physiology. As nurses, we need to understand how to take good care of themselves
and their clients/patients. The body must remain in a balanced condition to operate. When one’s body has
a problem in balance, health professionals must figure out how to recover the body’s stability to help the
client/patient.
The first topic is about knowing how the body is organized and the processes that make us alive which are
basic foundational knowledge in anatomy and physiology. In this study guide, we will learn about the
organization of the human body and the various life processes that ensure growth, development,
metabolism, and homeostasis. In the second part of this study guide, we will learn the various anatomical
terms and directions which will be important when we want to accurately describe anatomical landmarks
and physiological processes.
Hope you enjoy this topic and the rest of Anatomy and Physiology.
Learning outcomes
After going through this topic, you should be able to:
1. Define anatomy and physiology and name several subspecialties in these sciences;
2. Describe the levels of structural organization that make up the human body;
3. Define the important life processes, the concept of homeostasis, and explain its relationship with
the interstitial fluid;
4. Explain how homeostatic imbalances are related to disorders
5. Describe the anatomical position
6. Relate the common names to the corresponding anatomical descriptive terms for various regions
of the human body
7. Define the anatomical plans, sections, and directional terms used to describe the human body
8. Outline the major body cavities, the organs they contain, and their associated linings.
Resources that you can read
Please read the main references below to better understand the topic.
1. Betts JG, Desaix Peter, Johnson E et al (2017). Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Human Body.
Anatomy and Physiology. OpenStax Rice University. Pp 7-40.
Note: You may access this open education resource in this link:
https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology. You have an option to view the book
online or download the PDF file.
2. Tortora GJ & Derrickson B. (2014). Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Human Body. Principles of
Anatomy and Physiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 14 edition. Pp 1-26.
, Note: We are still requesting the College of Nursing Library for the purchase of the e-book of this
edition.
3. Organization of the Human Body pre-recorded lecture video by Asst. Prof. Peter James B. Abad
uploaded in Canvas
Topic outline
The specific topics that will be covered in this study guide are as follows:
1. Definition of anatomy and physiology
2. Levels of structural organization
3. Basic life processes
4. Homeostasis and feedback mechanisms
5. Basic anatomical and directional terms
6. Planes and sections
7. Body cavities, regions, and quadrants
1. Definition of Anatomy and Physiology
Simply speaking, anatomy is the science of body structures and the relationships among them. Body
structures can be big (e.g., a major organ like the liver) or very small (e.g., tissues and cells) which
require a microscope for these to be seen.
Physiology, on the other hand, is the science of body functions—how body parts work. For example,
in physiology, we would be interested to know how the heart pumps blood and what could be the
regulatory mechanisms that maintain the amount of blood ejected every minute (called the cardiac
output).
In Nursing 3, we study anatomy and physiology together because the structure of organs provide
insight into their functions and vice versa. For example, knowing that the alveoli in the lungs are
made up of single layered cells (you will later learn that these are called simple squamous epithelium)
will give you an idea of their function in gas exchange and how this structure enables diffusion of g
gasses to happen.
Activity 1. Anatomy and Physiology Subspecialties
Answer the following question in the discussion forum in VLE.
1. Anatomy as well as physiology have several subspecialties. Can you identify these
subspecialties and explain what they specifically study?
2. Can you give your own example on how a structure of a body part is related to its function?
2. Levels of Structural Organization
In studying anatomy and physiology, understanding the six levels of organization will allow us to
examine anatomical structures and physiological processes in greater detail. For example, when we
study the physiology of digestion, we would need to know what exactly is happening at the cellular,
even molecular level, to understand how gastric juices and pancreatic enzymes are produced,
