This document discusses the levels of organization in the human body and introduces anatomy and physiology. It explains that anatomy is the study of structure and physiology is the study of function. The human body has 5 levels of organization from smallest to largest: cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and organism. Cells are the basic unit of life and work together to form tissues like muscle tissue. Tissues come together to form organs such as the liver. Organs work in organ systems, for example the digestive system. When organ systems work together they form the largest level, the organism, such as a cat. The document also discusses that human cells are eukaryotic and animal cells that become specialized cells with specific shapes and functions.

1. Introduction to Anatomy and
Physiology
Levels of Organization

2. Anatomy –
◦ The study of the structure
of an organism and its
parts
 Ex. Studying the bones in a duck
wing
Physiology –
◦ The study of the structures
function.
 What the structure does and how
it does it
 Ex. How a chicken wing moves to

3. The human body has 5 levels of
organization.
 Cells Smallest
◦ Tissues
Organs
Organ systems
Organism Largest

4.  Cells
◦ The basic unit of life
 Tissue
◦ A group of cells working
together to perform a specific
function
 Ex. Muscle Tissue
 Organ
◦ A group of tissues working
together to perform a specific
function
 Ex. Liver

5.  Organ System
◦ Several organs working
together to perform a
specific function
 Ex. Digestive System
 Organism
◦ A living thing!
◦ When several organ
systems work together
 Ex. A cat

6. If you weren’t sick of these already...
Cells!
 What kind of cells make up the
human body?
Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic
 What kind of Eukaryotic Cells?
Plant or Animal
But do all our
cells look like this? NO!

7. Specialized Cells
 All organisms start out as a single cell
◦ Unicellular organisms stay as a single cell
that performs all of it’s life functions
 As the cell divides, the new cells
differentiate and become specialized
cells.
◦ This means they develop a specific shape
and specific function

8. For example
 Some cells become red blood cells
which lose their nucleus to have
more space to carry oxygen to
different parts of your body.

9.  Some cells become neurons which
are nerve cells. They grow long
extensions to send messages around
your body

10.  Some cells become liver cells which
produce special enzymes to break
down toxins