INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMAN BODY – EXAMINATION
FOUNDATIONAL STUDY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: LEVELS OF
ORGANIZATION, HOMEOSTASIS, TERMINOLOGY, AND BODY SYSTEMS
(2025/2026 EDITION)
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT DESIGNED TO EVALUATE UNDERSTANDING OF
BASIC STRUCTURE–FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS AND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
OF THE HUMAN BODY
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION [2025/2026]
Tissue Level
The simplest living creatures are single cells, but in complex organisms such as human beings,
the hierarchy continues on to the tissue level. Tissues consist of similar types of cells.
Four basic tissue types
-epithelium (covers body surface and protects organs)
-muscle (provides movement)
-connective (supports and protects organs)
-nervous (provides rapid internal communication by transmitting electrical impulses)
Organ Level
Extremely complex functions become possible at this level. Organs are made up of different
types of tissues. Ex: stomach produce digestive juices to churn and mix food.
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, Organ System Level
Organs work together to accomplish a common purpose. Ex: heart and blood vessels circulate
blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to all body cells.
Organismal Level
Highest level of organization, represents the sum total of all structural levels working together
to keep us alive.
necessary life functions
Maintain boundaries, movement, responsiveness, digestion, metabolism, dispose of wastes,
reproduction, growth
maintain boundaries
internal environment remains distinct from the external environment
Movement
contractility (ability to move by shortening)
move body parts or substances though body
Responsiveness or excitability
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The ability to sense changes (stimuli) in the environment and then respond to them.
, Which system is most involved with responsiveness?
Because nerve cells are highly excitable and communicate rapidly with each other, the nervous
system is most involved with responsiveness. All body cells are excitable to some extent.
Digestion
Breaking down of ingested food stuffs to simple molecules that can be absorbed into the blood.
Metabolism
Broad term includes all chemical reactions that occur within body cells.
excretion
Removal of wastes from metabolism and digestion
Ex: urea, carbon dioxide, feces
reproduction
Cellular division for growth or repair
Production of offspring
3
growth
Page
FOUNDATIONAL STUDY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: LEVELS OF
ORGANIZATION, HOMEOSTASIS, TERMINOLOGY, AND BODY SYSTEMS
(2025/2026 EDITION)
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT DESIGNED TO EVALUATE UNDERSTANDING OF
BASIC STRUCTURE–FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS AND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
OF THE HUMAN BODY
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION [2025/2026]
Tissue Level
The simplest living creatures are single cells, but in complex organisms such as human beings,
the hierarchy continues on to the tissue level. Tissues consist of similar types of cells.
Four basic tissue types
-epithelium (covers body surface and protects organs)
-muscle (provides movement)
-connective (supports and protects organs)
-nervous (provides rapid internal communication by transmitting electrical impulses)
Organ Level
Extremely complex functions become possible at this level. Organs are made up of different
types of tissues. Ex: stomach produce digestive juices to churn and mix food.
1
Page
, Organ System Level
Organs work together to accomplish a common purpose. Ex: heart and blood vessels circulate
blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to all body cells.
Organismal Level
Highest level of organization, represents the sum total of all structural levels working together
to keep us alive.
necessary life functions
Maintain boundaries, movement, responsiveness, digestion, metabolism, dispose of wastes,
reproduction, growth
maintain boundaries
internal environment remains distinct from the external environment
Movement
contractility (ability to move by shortening)
move body parts or substances though body
Responsiveness or excitability
2
Page
The ability to sense changes (stimuli) in the environment and then respond to them.
, Which system is most involved with responsiveness?
Because nerve cells are highly excitable and communicate rapidly with each other, the nervous
system is most involved with responsiveness. All body cells are excitable to some extent.
Digestion
Breaking down of ingested food stuffs to simple molecules that can be absorbed into the blood.
Metabolism
Broad term includes all chemical reactions that occur within body cells.
excretion
Removal of wastes from metabolism and digestion
Ex: urea, carbon dioxide, feces
reproduction
Cellular division for growth or repair
Production of offspring
3
growth
Page
