INTRODUCTION TO BASIC HUMAN ANATOMY
DEFINITIONS
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body. Often, you may be more interested in
functions of the body. Functions include digestion, respiration, circulation, and
reproduction. Physiology is the study of the functions of the body.
The body is a chemical and physical machine. As such, it is subject to certain laws. These
are sometimes called natural laws. Each part of the body is engineered to do a particular
job. These jobs are functions. For each job or body function, there is a particular
structure engineered to do it.
In the laboratory, anatomy is studied by dissection (SECT = cut, DIS = apart).
BODY TYPES
No two human beings are built exactly alike, but we can group individuals into three
major categories. These groups represent basic body shapes.
MORPH = body, body form
ECTO = all energy is outgoing
ENDO = all energy is stored inside
MESO = between, in the middle
ECTOMORPH = slim individual
ENDOMORPH = broad individual
MESOMORPH = body type between the two others, "muscular" type
Ectomorphs, slim persons, are more susceptible to lung infections. Endomorphs are
more susceptible to heart disease.
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, NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY
Each profession and each science has its own language. Lawyers have legal terminology.
Physicians and other medical professions and occupations have medical terminology,
and educators have objectives, domains, and curricula.
To work in a legal field, you should know the meaning of quid pro quo. To work in a
medical field, you should know the meanings of terms such as proximal, distal, sagittal,
femur, humerus, thorax, and cerebellum.
KINDS OF ANATOMICAL STUDIES
Microscopic anatomy is the study of structures that cannot be seen with the unaided
eye. You need a microscope.
Gross anatomy by systems is the study of organ systems, such as the respiratory system
or the digestive system.
Gross anatomy by regions considers anatomy in terms of regions such as the trunk,
upper member, or lower member.
Neuroanatomy studies the nervous system.
Functional anatomy is the study of relationships between functions and structures.
ORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN BODY
The human body is organized into cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and the total
organism.
Cells are the smallest living unit of body construction.
A tissue is a grouping of like cells working together. Examples are muscle tissue
and nervous tissue.
An organ is a structure composed of several different tissues performing a
particular function. Examples include the lungs and the heart.
Organ systems are groups of organs which together perform an overall function.
Examples are the respiratory system and the digestive system.
The total organism is the individual human being. You are a total organism.
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DEFINITIONS
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body. Often, you may be more interested in
functions of the body. Functions include digestion, respiration, circulation, and
reproduction. Physiology is the study of the functions of the body.
The body is a chemical and physical machine. As such, it is subject to certain laws. These
are sometimes called natural laws. Each part of the body is engineered to do a particular
job. These jobs are functions. For each job or body function, there is a particular
structure engineered to do it.
In the laboratory, anatomy is studied by dissection (SECT = cut, DIS = apart).
BODY TYPES
No two human beings are built exactly alike, but we can group individuals into three
major categories. These groups represent basic body shapes.
MORPH = body, body form
ECTO = all energy is outgoing
ENDO = all energy is stored inside
MESO = between, in the middle
ECTOMORPH = slim individual
ENDOMORPH = broad individual
MESOMORPH = body type between the two others, "muscular" type
Ectomorphs, slim persons, are more susceptible to lung infections. Endomorphs are
more susceptible to heart disease.
Page 1
, NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY
Each profession and each science has its own language. Lawyers have legal terminology.
Physicians and other medical professions and occupations have medical terminology,
and educators have objectives, domains, and curricula.
To work in a legal field, you should know the meaning of quid pro quo. To work in a
medical field, you should know the meanings of terms such as proximal, distal, sagittal,
femur, humerus, thorax, and cerebellum.
KINDS OF ANATOMICAL STUDIES
Microscopic anatomy is the study of structures that cannot be seen with the unaided
eye. You need a microscope.
Gross anatomy by systems is the study of organ systems, such as the respiratory system
or the digestive system.
Gross anatomy by regions considers anatomy in terms of regions such as the trunk,
upper member, or lower member.
Neuroanatomy studies the nervous system.
Functional anatomy is the study of relationships between functions and structures.
ORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN BODY
The human body is organized into cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and the total
organism.
Cells are the smallest living unit of body construction.
A tissue is a grouping of like cells working together. Examples are muscle tissue
and nervous tissue.
An organ is a structure composed of several different tissues performing a
particular function. Examples include the lungs and the heart.
Organ systems are groups of organs which together perform an overall function.
Examples are the respiratory system and the digestive system.
The total organism is the individual human being. You are a total organism.
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