Chapter 01: Organization of the Body
Instructor’s Manual
A natural way to begin the study of human anatomy and physiology is to help
students recognize that such a course is necessarily a subdivision of biology, or the
“study of life.” For this reason, it is essential to first help students identify the
characteristics of life: responsiveness, conductivity, growth, respiration, digestion,
absorption, secretion, excretion, circulation, and reproduction.
Second, because anatomy is concerned with the study of the relationship of an
organism’s parts, an overall view of the organization of the body as a whole creates a
solid base on which to begin, because systems cannot exist in isolation from the rest
of the body.
Finally, it is important to recognize the frequently used terms for anatomical
positions: axial and appendicular subdivisions, major cavities and their organs,
abdominal regions and quadrants, and of course, the principal directional terms and
body planes. Mastery of these terms is crucial before study of the human body begins
in earnest.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Science and Society
II. Anatomy and Physiology
A. Anatomy
B. Physiology
III. Language of Science and Medicine
IV. Characteristics of Life
V. Levels of Organization
A. Chemical Level—Basis for Life
B. Organelle Level
C. Cellular Level
D. Tissue Level
E. Organ Level
F. System Level
G. Organism Level
VI. Anatomical Position
VII. Body Cavities
VIII. Body Regions
A. Abdominopelvic Regions
B. Abdominal Quadrants
IX. Terms Used in Describing Body
Structure
, A. Directional Terms
B. Terms Related to Organs
X. Body Planes and Sections
XI. Interaction of Structure and Function
XII. Homeostasis
XIII. Homeostatic Control Mechanisms
A. Basic Components of Control Mechanisms
B. Negative Feedback Control
Systems
C. Positive Feedback Control
Systems
D. Feed-Forward in Control Systems
1. Levels of Control
E. Summary of Homeostasis
XIV. Cycle of Life: Life Span Considerations
XV. The Big Picture: Organization of the Body
XVI. Mechanisms of Disease
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After students have completed this chapter, they should be able to:
1. Describe the process of science.
2. Define the terms anatomy and physiology.
3. Identify the classic characteristics of life.
4. List and discuss in order of increasing complexity the levels of organization of
the body.
5. List and briefly discuss the major organ systems of the body and identify the
functions of each.
6. Describe the anatomical position.
7. Name the cavities of the body and identify the major organs in each.
8. Discuss and contrast the axial and appendicular subdivisions of the body by
identifying the specific anatomical regions in each area.
9. List the nine abdominal regions and the four abdominal quadrants.
10. List and define the principal directional terms and body planes used in
describing the body and the relationships of its parts.
11. Explain the interaction between structure and function.
12. Discuss the concept of body type (somatotype).
13. Define homeostasis.
,14. Explain the importance of homeostatic control mechanisms and the operation of
negative and positive feedback loops.
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Lesson Plan
PowerPoint Slides
Textbook
Lab Manual
Human torso model
Blank diagrams of the human torso
LESSON CHECKLIST
Lecture
Student performance evaluation of entry-level skills required for comprehension
and application of the understanding of anatomical terminology and homeostatic
control mechanisms
KEY TERMS
abdominopelvic cavity
acute
anatomical position
anatomy
anterior
apical
atrophy
autopoiesis
bacterium
basal
bilateral symmetry
body plane
cadaver
, cell
cell theory
central
chronic
communicable
coronal plane
cortical
deep
distal
dorsal cavities
ectomorph
endomorph
endemic
epidemic
epidemiology
eponym
etiology
extrinsic control
feedback control loop
fungus
gross anatomy
homeostasis
hypothesis
idiopathic
incubation
inferior