Chapter 1: An Introduction to Human Body
Anatomy (tony – to cut | ana – apart) is the study of the structure and shape of the body and its
parts and their relationships to one another.
• Gross or macroscopic anatomy – studying the larger parts of the body which are easily
observable structures.
o Regional – studying all structures in one part of the body such as abdomen or leg. If
you’re studying the abdominal part of the body, you’re studying the abdominal
region of the body.
o Systemic – gross anatomy of the body studied by the system. We study our body
systems when it is systemic gross anatomy.
o Surface – study of internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin.
• Microscopic anatomy – it is the study of body structures that are too small to be seen with
the naked eye. These can only be seen through a microscope.
o Cytology – the study of cell
o Histology – the study of tissues
• Developmental anatomy – it is the kind of anatomy wherein we study the growth and
development. The changes that happen in our body as we grow. It also includes fetal
growth and of course as we grow older.
o These are the traces structural changes throughout the life.
▪ Fetal growth
▪ Body changes
o Embryology – study of the developmental changes of the body before birth.
• Pathological anatomy – structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease.
• Imaging anatomy – body structures that can be visualized with techniques such as x-rays,
MRI, and CT scans.
Physiology (physio – nature | logy – the study of) is the study of how the body and its parts work
or function. It answers the question how the structures (anatomy) worked out.
• Considers the operation of specific organ system.
o Renal – kidney function
o Cardiovascular – function of the heart and blood vessels
• Focuses on the functions of the body often at the cellular level
• Neurophysiology - functional properties of nerve cells.
• Endocrinology (endo- = within; -crin = secretion) - hormones (chemical regulators in the
blood) and how they control body functions.
• Cardiovascular physiology (cardi- = heart; vascular = blood vessels) - functions of the
heart and blood vessels.
• Immunology (immun- = not susceptible) - the body’s defenses against disease-causing
agents.
• Respiratory physiology (respira- = to breathe) - functions of the air passageways and
lungs.
• Renal physiology (ren- = kidney) - functions of the kidneys.
• Exercise physiology - changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity.
• Pathophysiology - functional changes associated with disease and aging.
• Pathology is the medical science dealing with all aspects of disease, with an emphasis on
the cause and development of abnormal conditions, as well as the structural and
functional changes resulting from disease.
1
,Principle of complementary: relationship between anatomy and physiology
Anatomy and physiology are always inseparable. The parts of your body form a well-organized
unit, and each of those parts has a job to do to make the body operate as a whole. Structure
determines what functions can take place.
• Function always reflects structure
• What a structure can do depends on it specific form
• Anatomy depicts physiology
Examples:
• Heart is a muscular organ. It is muscular because it is used for contraction.
• Lungs has a thin layer. It has thin layer because it arouses for the exchange of air – the
oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Levels of structural organization
1. Atomic level
• Building blocks of matter
• Smallest unit of element
2. Molecular level
• Group of atoms
3. Chemical level
• Involves the atomic and molecular levels
4. Cellular level
• Basic unit of life
• Smallest unit of life
5. Tissue level
• Consists of similar types of cells
2
, Epithelial tissue covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs and cavities, and forms
o
glands.
o Connective tissue connects, supports, and protects body organs while
distributing blood vessels to other tissues.
o Muscular tissue contracts to make body parts move and generates heat.
o Nervous tissue carries information from one part of the body to another through
nerve impulses.
6. Organ level
• Combination of two or more types of tissues that have the same functions
7. Organ system level
• Group of organs that have varying functions
8. Organismal level
• Several organ systems that function together in order to form one organism
Body systems
1. Integumentary system (skin)
• It waterproofs the body and protects deeper tissues from injury
• Produces vitamin d (7AM to 9 am)
• Forms the external body covering
• Excretes salts in perspiration and helps regulate body temperature.
• Location of the cutaneous receptors (pain, pressure, etc.), sweat and oil glands
• Senses changes in the body
• Stores fat and provides insulation
2. Reproductive system
• Production of offspring
• Secretes hormones
• Testes produce sperm and male sex hormone; ducts and glands aid in delivery of
viable sperm to the female reproductive tract.
• Ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones; remaining structures serve as sites
for fertilization and development of the fetus. Mammary glands of female breasts
produce milk to nourish the newborn.
3. Urinary system
• Releases nitrogenous waste of the body
• Maintain acid-base balance of the body
• Regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood
4. Respiratory system
• Gas exchange
• Keeps blood constantly supplied with oxygen and removes co2
• The nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs
5. Digestive system
• Breakdown of foods into absorbable nutrients that enter the blood for distribution to
body cells; indigestible foodstuffs are eliminated as feces.
• Small intestine: contains villi which aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients
needed by the body
• The organs of the digestive system include the oral cavity (mouth), esophagus,
stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum
• Accessory organs (liver, salivary glands, pancreas, and others)
6. Lymphatic system
• Complements the cardiovascular system
• Lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and other lymphoid organs such as sleep and tonsils
3
, • Picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to blood
• Houses of WBC for immunity
• Involves basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils
• Disposes of debris
7. Endocrine system
• Gland secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction and
nutrient use of the body cells.
Adrenocortitrophic and growth
Pituitary
hormone
Pineal Melatonin
Thyroid Growth hormone and metabolism
Thymus Production of t-cells
Adrenal Adrenaline (cortisol and aldosterone)
Testes Testosterone
Ovary Estrogen and progesterone
Pancreas Degrades macromolecules
8. Circulatory system or cardiovascular system
• Blood transport which carries oxygen, co2, nutrients, wastes, etc.; the heart pumps
blood
• Oxygen: utilized in respiratory (aerobic: 36 ATP, anaerobic: 2 ATP)
9. Nervous system
• Consists of brain, spinal cord, nerves and sensory receptors.
• Activates muscles and glands
• Main control system of the body
• Fast acting control system of the body
• Responses to the environment (fight/flight response)
▪ The sensory receptors detect changes in temperature, pressure, or light, and
send messages (via electrical signals called nerve impulses) to the central
nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
▪ The central nervous system then assesses this information and responds by
activating the appropriate body effectors (muscles or glands, which are
organs that produce secretions).
10. Muscular system
• Contraction and movement
• Formed by the skeletal muscles
• Allows manipulation of environment
• Produces heat
• Maintains posture and facial expression
11. Skeletal system
• Tendons: bone to muscle
• Joints: bone to bone
• Cartilage: rubber-like pudding, elastic connective tissue
• Protects and supports body organs
• Provides a framework that the skeletal muscles use to cause movement
• Blood cells are formed with bones
• Stores minerals in the form of calcium
4
Anatomy (tony – to cut | ana – apart) is the study of the structure and shape of the body and its
parts and their relationships to one another.
• Gross or macroscopic anatomy – studying the larger parts of the body which are easily
observable structures.
o Regional – studying all structures in one part of the body such as abdomen or leg. If
you’re studying the abdominal part of the body, you’re studying the abdominal
region of the body.
o Systemic – gross anatomy of the body studied by the system. We study our body
systems when it is systemic gross anatomy.
o Surface – study of internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin.
• Microscopic anatomy – it is the study of body structures that are too small to be seen with
the naked eye. These can only be seen through a microscope.
o Cytology – the study of cell
o Histology – the study of tissues
• Developmental anatomy – it is the kind of anatomy wherein we study the growth and
development. The changes that happen in our body as we grow. It also includes fetal
growth and of course as we grow older.
o These are the traces structural changes throughout the life.
▪ Fetal growth
▪ Body changes
o Embryology – study of the developmental changes of the body before birth.
• Pathological anatomy – structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease.
• Imaging anatomy – body structures that can be visualized with techniques such as x-rays,
MRI, and CT scans.
Physiology (physio – nature | logy – the study of) is the study of how the body and its parts work
or function. It answers the question how the structures (anatomy) worked out.
• Considers the operation of specific organ system.
o Renal – kidney function
o Cardiovascular – function of the heart and blood vessels
• Focuses on the functions of the body often at the cellular level
• Neurophysiology - functional properties of nerve cells.
• Endocrinology (endo- = within; -crin = secretion) - hormones (chemical regulators in the
blood) and how they control body functions.
• Cardiovascular physiology (cardi- = heart; vascular = blood vessels) - functions of the
heart and blood vessels.
• Immunology (immun- = not susceptible) - the body’s defenses against disease-causing
agents.
• Respiratory physiology (respira- = to breathe) - functions of the air passageways and
lungs.
• Renal physiology (ren- = kidney) - functions of the kidneys.
• Exercise physiology - changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity.
• Pathophysiology - functional changes associated with disease and aging.
• Pathology is the medical science dealing with all aspects of disease, with an emphasis on
the cause and development of abnormal conditions, as well as the structural and
functional changes resulting from disease.
1
,Principle of complementary: relationship between anatomy and physiology
Anatomy and physiology are always inseparable. The parts of your body form a well-organized
unit, and each of those parts has a job to do to make the body operate as a whole. Structure
determines what functions can take place.
• Function always reflects structure
• What a structure can do depends on it specific form
• Anatomy depicts physiology
Examples:
• Heart is a muscular organ. It is muscular because it is used for contraction.
• Lungs has a thin layer. It has thin layer because it arouses for the exchange of air – the
oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Levels of structural organization
1. Atomic level
• Building blocks of matter
• Smallest unit of element
2. Molecular level
• Group of atoms
3. Chemical level
• Involves the atomic and molecular levels
4. Cellular level
• Basic unit of life
• Smallest unit of life
5. Tissue level
• Consists of similar types of cells
2
, Epithelial tissue covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs and cavities, and forms
o
glands.
o Connective tissue connects, supports, and protects body organs while
distributing blood vessels to other tissues.
o Muscular tissue contracts to make body parts move and generates heat.
o Nervous tissue carries information from one part of the body to another through
nerve impulses.
6. Organ level
• Combination of two or more types of tissues that have the same functions
7. Organ system level
• Group of organs that have varying functions
8. Organismal level
• Several organ systems that function together in order to form one organism
Body systems
1. Integumentary system (skin)
• It waterproofs the body and protects deeper tissues from injury
• Produces vitamin d (7AM to 9 am)
• Forms the external body covering
• Excretes salts in perspiration and helps regulate body temperature.
• Location of the cutaneous receptors (pain, pressure, etc.), sweat and oil glands
• Senses changes in the body
• Stores fat and provides insulation
2. Reproductive system
• Production of offspring
• Secretes hormones
• Testes produce sperm and male sex hormone; ducts and glands aid in delivery of
viable sperm to the female reproductive tract.
• Ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones; remaining structures serve as sites
for fertilization and development of the fetus. Mammary glands of female breasts
produce milk to nourish the newborn.
3. Urinary system
• Releases nitrogenous waste of the body
• Maintain acid-base balance of the body
• Regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood
4. Respiratory system
• Gas exchange
• Keeps blood constantly supplied with oxygen and removes co2
• The nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs
5. Digestive system
• Breakdown of foods into absorbable nutrients that enter the blood for distribution to
body cells; indigestible foodstuffs are eliminated as feces.
• Small intestine: contains villi which aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients
needed by the body
• The organs of the digestive system include the oral cavity (mouth), esophagus,
stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum
• Accessory organs (liver, salivary glands, pancreas, and others)
6. Lymphatic system
• Complements the cardiovascular system
• Lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and other lymphoid organs such as sleep and tonsils
3
, • Picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to blood
• Houses of WBC for immunity
• Involves basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils
• Disposes of debris
7. Endocrine system
• Gland secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction and
nutrient use of the body cells.
Adrenocortitrophic and growth
Pituitary
hormone
Pineal Melatonin
Thyroid Growth hormone and metabolism
Thymus Production of t-cells
Adrenal Adrenaline (cortisol and aldosterone)
Testes Testosterone
Ovary Estrogen and progesterone
Pancreas Degrades macromolecules
8. Circulatory system or cardiovascular system
• Blood transport which carries oxygen, co2, nutrients, wastes, etc.; the heart pumps
blood
• Oxygen: utilized in respiratory (aerobic: 36 ATP, anaerobic: 2 ATP)
9. Nervous system
• Consists of brain, spinal cord, nerves and sensory receptors.
• Activates muscles and glands
• Main control system of the body
• Fast acting control system of the body
• Responses to the environment (fight/flight response)
▪ The sensory receptors detect changes in temperature, pressure, or light, and
send messages (via electrical signals called nerve impulses) to the central
nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
▪ The central nervous system then assesses this information and responds by
activating the appropriate body effectors (muscles or glands, which are
organs that produce secretions).
10. Muscular system
• Contraction and movement
• Formed by the skeletal muscles
• Allows manipulation of environment
• Produces heat
• Maintains posture and facial expression
11. Skeletal system
• Tendons: bone to muscle
• Joints: bone to bone
• Cartilage: rubber-like pudding, elastic connective tissue
• Protects and supports body organs
• Provides a framework that the skeletal muscles use to cause movement
• Blood cells are formed with bones
• Stores minerals in the form of calcium
4
