Introduction to the body
(Chapter 1)
1. Anatomy and Physiology:
Anatomy is about understanding the structure of the body and
its parts.
Physiology is about how those parts work and function.
2. Forming Scientific Theories:
- Make a hypothesis to explain what you’ve observed.
- Test your hypothesis with experiments.
- Develop a theory if the hypothesis has gained confidence.
3. Levels of Organization in the Body:
- Chemical Level: Atoms and molecules.
- Cellular Level: Cells and their components.
- Tissue Level: Groups of similar cells.
- Organ Level: Different tissues working together.
- Organ System Level: Groups of organs that work together.
- Organismal Level: The whole body.
4. 11 Organ Systems:
- Integumentary: Skin, hair, nails. Protects and regulates
temperature.
- Skeletal: Bones, cartilage. Supports and moves the body.
- Muscular: Muscles. Moves the body and maintains posture.
- Nervous: Brain, nerves. Controls and coordinates body
functions.
- Endocrine: Glands (like thyroid). Regulates hormones.
- Cardiovascular: Heart, blood vessels. Circulates blood and
nutrients.
- Lymphatic: Lymph nodes. Protects against disease and
maintains fluid balance.
- Respiratory: Lungs. Manages gas exchange.
- Digestive: Stomach, intestines. Breaks down food and absorbs
nutrients.
- Urinary: Kidneys, bladder. Removes waste and balances fluids.
- Reproductive: Reproductive organs. Enables reproduction.
5. Body Positions:
- Anatomical Position: Standing up, facing forward, arms at
sides, palms up.
- Supine: Lying on the back.
- Prone: Lying face down.
6. Anatomical Terminology:
- Body Directions: Superior (up), Inferior (down), Anterior
(front), Posterior (back), Medial (toward center), Lateral (away
from center), Proximal (near attachment), Distal (away from
attachment).
- Body Regions: Head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis.
- Body Planes: Sagittal (left/right), Frontal (front/back),
Transverse (top/bottom).
7. Body Cavities:
- Dorsal Cavity: Includes cranial (brain) and spinal (spinal cord).
- Ventral Cavity: Includes thoracic (lungs, heart) and
abdominopelvic (digestive organs, reproductive organs).
8. Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions:
- Quadrants: RUQ (liver, gallbladder), LUQ (stomach, spleen),
RLQ (appendix, intestines), LLQ (intestines, reproductive organs).
- Regions: Right Hypochondriac (liver), Epigastric (stomach),
Left Hypochondriac (spleen), Right Lumbar (intestines), Umbilical
(small intestine), Left Lumbar (intestines), Right Iliac (appendix),
Hypogastric (bladder), Left Iliac (intestines).
9. Axial vs. Appendicular Subdivisions:
- Axial: Includes head, neck, and trunk (like skull and spine).
- Appendicular: Includes limbs and their attachments (arms,
legs, shoulders, hips).
10. Homeostasis:
- Homeostasis is keeping the body’s internal environment
stable. It’s crucial for survival and function.
11. Feedback Mechanisms:
- Negative Feedback: Helps return things to normal (e.g., body
temperature).
- Positive Feedback: Amplifies changes (e.g., childbirth
contractions).