Chapter 1- An Intro to the Human Body

Anatomy= is the science of body structures and the relationships among them - First studied by dissection (careful cutting of body parts to study their relationships. Physiology= is the science of body functions or how the body works Anatomy and physiology are interrelated through form and function Branches of Anatomy and Physiology Branch of anatomy Study of Embryology First 8 weeks of development after fertilization of a human egg Developmental biology The complete development of an individual from fertilization to death Cell biology Cellular structure and functions Histology Microscopic structure of tissues Gross anatomy Structures that can be examined without a microscope Systemic anatomy Structure of specific regions of the body such as the nervous or respiratory system Regional anatomy Specific markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation (gentle touch) Imaging anatomy Body structures that an be visualized with techniques such as x-rays, MRI and CT scans Pathological anatomy Structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease Neurophysiology Functional properties of nerve cells Endocrinology Hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how thy control body functions Cardiovascular physiology Functions of the heart and blood vessels. Immunology The body’s defenses against disease-causing agents Respiratory physiology Functions of the air passageways and lungs Renal physiology Functions of the kidneys Exercise physiology Changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity Pathophysiology Functional changes associated with disease and aging Six levels of Organization 1) Chemical level- atoms and molecules - C, H, O, N, P, Ca, and S are essential for maintaining life - DNA genetic material and glucose are necessary for life 2) Cellular level- molecules combine to form cells - Basic structural and functional units of an organism that are composed of chemicals 3) Tissue level- tissues are groups of cells and the materials surrounding them that work together to preform a particular function - Four types a. Epithelial tissue- covers body surface, form glands, lines organs b. Connective tissue- connects, supports and protects organs and delivers blood to tissues c. Muscular tissue- contracts to generate heat and move body parts d. Nervous tissue- carries information 4) Organ level- tissues join together, organs are structure that are composed of two or more different types of tissue, have recognizable shapes and specific functions 5) System level- a system consists of related organs with a common function 6) Organismal level- any living individual, all parts of the human body functioning together Basic life processes 1) Metabolism- sum of all chemical processes in the body - Catabolism- breakdown of complex chemical substances into simpler components - Anabolism- building of complex chemical substances 2) Responsiveness- body’s ability to detect and respond to changes 3) Movement- motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells and structures inside of cells 4) Growth- an increase in body size that results from an increase in the size of existing cells, an increase in the number of cells, or both 5) Differentiation- the development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state, ones that undergo this are referred to as stem cells 6) Reproduction – refers to the formation of new cells for tissue growth, repair or replacement or the production of a new individual In the absence in one for the processes death of cells tissues or organisms occurs. Homeostasis Homeostasis= the condition of equilibrium (balance) in the body’s internal environment due to the constant interaction of the body’s many regulatory processes. - Dynamic condition - Maintains life - Keeps internal environment within normal limits - Critical to maintaining volume and composition of bodily fluids (dilute watery solutions containing dissolved chemicals that are found inside cells as well as surrounding them) - Intracellular fluid (ICF)=fluid in cells - Extracellular fluid (ECF)=fluid outside body cells - Interstitial fluid- the ecf that fills narrow spaces between cells of tissues - ECF in blood is plasma, in lymphatic vessels it’s lymph, brain and spine=cerebrospinal fluid, in joints synovial fluid, in eyes aqueous humour and vitreous body