2. A First Look at Anatomy
Anatomy is the study of structure.
The word anatomy is derived from Greek and means “to
cut up” or “to cut open.”
Anatomists examine the relationships among parts of the
body along with the structure of individual organs.
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3. Introduction to Anatomy
Physiology
The scientific discipline that studies the function of body
structures.
Structure and function cannot be completely separated.
Form is related to function.
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5. Levels of Organization in the
Human Body
The simplest level of organization within the body is the
chemical level, which is composed of atoms and
molecules.
Atoms are the smallest units of matter.
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6. Levels of Organization in the
Human Body
Molecules
Two or more atoms combine to form a molecule, such as a
protein, a water molecule, or a vitamin.
Macromolecules
Larger and more complex molecules such as DNA and
proteins.
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7. Levels of Organization in the
Human Body
At the cellular level, specialized structural and
functional units called organelles permit all living cells
to share some common functions.
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8. Levels of Organization in the
Human Body
Large molecules join in specific ways to form cells, the
basic units of structure and function in organisms.
The cell is the smallest structural unit that exhibits the
characteristics of living things (organisms), and it is the
smallest living portion of the human body.
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9. Levels of Organization in the
Human Body
Tissues
Groups of similar cells with a common function form
tissue.
Tissues are precise organizations of similar cells that
perform specialized functions.
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10. Levels of Organization in the
Human Body
Organs
Different tissue types that work together to perform
specific, complex functions form an organ.
Organ Systems
The organ system level consists of related organs that work
together to coordinate activities and achieve a common
function.
There are 11 organ systems in the human body.
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11. Levels of Organization in the
Human Body
Organism
All body systems function interdependently in a single
living human being, the organism.
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12. Epithelial tissue covers exposed surfaces and lines body cavities.
Example: The inner lining of the digestive system
The Four Types of Tissues in the
Human Body Are:
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13. The Four Types of Tissues
Connective tissue protects, supports, and
interconnects body parts and organs.
Can be solid (such as bone), liquid (such as blood), or
intermediate (such as cartilage).
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14. The Four Types of Tissues
Muscle tissue produces movement.
Skeletal muscle
Smooth muscle
Cardiac muscle
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15. The Four Types of Tissues
Nervous tissue conducts impulses for internal
communication.
Brain, spinal cord, and nerves
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16. Integumentary
Provides protection
Regulates body
temperature
Site of cutaneous
receptors
Synthesizes vitamin D
Prevents water loss
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17. Skeletal
Provides support
and protection
Site of
hematopoeisis
(blood cell
production)
Stores calcium and
phosphorus
Allows for body
movement
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18. Muscular
Produces body
movement
Generates heat
when muscles
contract
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19. Nervous
A regulatory system
that controls body
movement
Responds to sensory
stimuli
Helps control all other
systems of the body
Also responsible for
consciousness,
intelligence, memory
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20. Endocrine
Consists of glands
and cell clusters
that secrete
hormones, some of
which regulate
body and cellular
growth
chemical levels in
the body
reproductive
functions
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21. Cardiovascular
Consists of a pump
(the heart) that
moves blood through
blood vessels in
order to distribute
hormones, nutrients,
gases, and pick up
waste products
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22. Lymphatic
Transports and
filters lymph
(interstitial fluid)
Initiates an immune
response when
necessary
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23. Respiratory
Responsible for
exchange of gases
(oxygen and carbon
dioxide) between
blood and the air in
the lungs
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25. Urinary
Filters the blood
and removes waste
products from the
blood
Concentrates waste
products in the form
of urine, and expels
urine from the body
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26. Male Reproductive
System
Produces male
sex cells
(sperm) and
male hormones
(e.g.,
testosterone)
Transfers sperm
to the female
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27. Female Reproductive
System
Produces female sex cells
(oocytes) and female hormones
(e.g., estrogen and
progesterone)
Receives sperm from male
Site of fertilization of oocyte
Site of growth and
development of embryo and
fetus
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28. Anatomical
Terminology
Anatomic position is a
specific body position in
which an individual stands
upright with the feet
parallel and flat on the
floor.
The head is level, and the
eyes look forward toward
the observer.
The arms are at either side
of the body with the palms
facing forward and the
thumbs pointing away from
the body.
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29. Anatomical Terminology
A plane is an imaginary surface that slices the body into
specific sections.
The three major anatomic planes of reference are the
coronal, transverse, and sagittal planes.
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30. Sections
and Planes
A coronal plane, also
called a frontal
plane, is a vertical
plane that divides the
body into anterior
(front) and posterior
(back) parts.
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31. Sections
and Planes
A transverse plane, also
called a cross-sectional
plane or horizontal
plane, cuts
perpendicularly along
the long axis of the
body or organ
separating it into both
superior (upper) and
inferior (lower) parts.
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32. Sections
and Planes
A sagittal plane or
median plane,
extends through
the body or organ
vertically and
divides the
structure into right
and left halves.
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33. Sections and Planes
A sagittal plane in the body midline
is a midsagittal plane.
A plane that is parallel to the
midsagittal plane, but either to the
left or the right of it, is termed a
parasagittal (or sagittal) plane.
A minor plane, called the oblique
plane, passes through the specimen
at an angle.
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34. Directional Terms of the Body
Directional terms are precise and brief, and for most of
them there is a correlative term that means just the
opposite.
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35. Relative and Directional Terms of
the Body
Relative to front (belly
side) or back (back
side) of the body :
Anterior = In front of;
toward the front surface
Posterior = In back of;
toward the back surface
Dorsal =At the back side
of the human body
Ventral = At the belly
side of the human body
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36. Relative and Directional Terms of
the Body
Relative to the head
or tail of the body:
Superior = Toward the
head or above
Inferior = Toward feet
not head
Caudal = At the rear or
tail end
Cranial = At the head
end
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37. Relative and Directional Terms of
the Body
Relative to the midline
or center of the body:
Medial = Toward the
midline of the body
Lateral = Away from the
midline of the body
Deep = On the inside,
underneath another
structure
Superficial = On the
outside
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38. Relative and Directional Terms of
the Body
Relative to point of
attachment of the
appendage:
Proximal = Closest
to point of
attachment to trunk
Distal = Furthest
from point of
attachment to trunk
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39. Body Regions
The human body is partitioned into two main regions,
called the axial and appendicular regions.
the axial region includes the head, neck, and trunk which
comprise the main vertical axis of our body
our limbs, or appendages, attach to the body’s axis and
make up the appendicular region
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43. Body Cavities
and Membranes
The posterior aspect
of the body has two
enclosed cavities
A cranial cavity is
formed by the cranium
and houses the brain.
A vertebral canal is
formed by the
individual bones of the
vertebral column and
contains the spinal
cord.
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44. Body Cavities
Both the thoracic and abdominopelvic
cavities are lined with thin serous
membranes, which are composed of
two layers:
A parietal layer lines the internal surface
of the body wall.
A visceral layer covers the external
surface of organs (viscera) within the
cavity.
Between the parietal and visceral layers of
the serous membrane is a thin serous
cavity, containing a lubricating film of
serous fluid.
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45. Body Cavities and Membranes
Constant movement of the organs causes friction.
The serous fluid reduces friction and helps the organs
move smoothly against both one another and the body
wall.
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47. Body Cavities and Membranes
The median space
in the thoracic
cavity is called the
mediastinum.
It contains the
heart, thymus,
esophagus,
trachea, and
major blood
vessels that
connect to the
heart.
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48. Body Cavities and Membranes
Within the mediastinum, the heart is enclosed by
a two-layered serous membrane called the
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50. The Thoracic Cavity
The right and left sides of the thoracic cavity contain
the lungs; they are lined by a two-layered serous
membrane called the pleura.
The outer layer is the parietal pleura;
it lines the internal surface of the
thoracic wall
The inner layer is the visceral pleura;
it covers the external surface of the
lung
The narrow, moist, potential space
between them is called the pleural
cavity
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