Presentation on anatomy

1. INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY
AND PHYSIOLOGY

2. TERMS
 Anatomy is the study of the structure or morphology of
the body and how the body parts are organized.
 Physiology is the study of the functions of body parts,
what they do, and how they do it. It describes the
activities of maintenance of life and health of the
individual.
 These two areas of the organization of the body are so
closely associated that it is difficult to separate them.
 Pathology is the study of the abnormalities and diseases
of the body.
 Pathophysiology considers how these abnormalities
affect body functions, often causing illness.

3.  Within the body are different levels of structural
organisation and complexity.
 The most fundamental of these is chemical.
Atoms combine to form molecules, of which
there is a vast range in the body.
 Cells are the smallest independent units of
living matter and there are trillions of them within
the body.
 They are too small to be seen with the naked eye,
but when magnified using a microscope different
types can be distinguished by their size, shape and
the dyes they absorb when stained in the
laboratory.

4.  Each cell type has become specialised, enabling it
to carry out a particular function that contributes to
body needs.
 In complex organisms such as the human body,
cells with similar structures and functions are found
together, forming tissues.
 Organs are made up of a number of different types of
tissue and have evolved to carry out a specific function.
 Systems consist of a number of organs and tissues that
together contribute to one or more survival needs of the
body.

5. The levels of
structural
complexity.

6. TERMS OF DIRECTION
When describing parts of the body, it is necessary
to make reference to their positions in regards to
the body as a whole.
 Superior means uppermost or above. Example:
the head is superior to the neck, the thoracic cavity
is superior to the abdominal cavity.
 Inferior means lowermost or below. Example:
the foot is inferior to the ankle, the ankle is inferior
to the knee.

7.  Anterior means toward the front. Example: the
mammary glands are on the anterior chest wall.
The term ventral can also be used for anterior.
Ventral means the belly side.
 Posterior means toward the back. Example:
the vertebral column is posterior to the digestive
tract, the esophagus is posterior to the trachea.The
term dorsal can also be used for posterior. Dorsal
means the back side.

8.  Cephalad or cranial means toward the head.
 Medial means nearest the midline of the body.
Example: the nose is in a medial position on the
face.
 Lateral means toward the side or away from the
midline of the body. Example: the ears are
in a lateral position on the face.

9.  Proximal means nearest the point of attachment
or origin. Example: the elbow is
proximal to the wrist, the knee is proximal to the
ankle.
 Distal means away from the point of attachment
or origin.
Example: the wrist is distal to the elbow. The ankle
is distal to the knee.

10. Directional terms relating to
anatomic position.

11. PLANES
 Occasionally it is useful
to describe the body as
having imaginary flat
geometric surfaces
passing through it called
planes.
 These terms are most
useful when describing
dissections to look inside
an organ or the body as a
whole.
The human body in correct
anatomic position illustrating the
planes of the body.

12.  Midsagittal plane vertically
divides the body through the
midline into two equal left
and right portions or halves.
 A sagittal plane is any plane
parallel to the midsagittal or
median plane vertically
dividing the body into
unequal right and left
portions.

13.  A horizontal or
transverse plane is any
plane dividing the body into
superior and inferior
portions.

14.  A frontal or coronal
plane is one that divides
the anterior (or ventral)
and posterior (or dorsal)
portions of the body at
right angles to the sagittal
plane.

15. BODY CAVITIES
 Internal organs are located within dorsal and ventral
cavities.
 The dorsal cavity contains the brain in the cranial
cavity and the spinal cord in the spinal cavity
(canal).
 The uppermost ventral space, the thoracic cavity,
is separated from the abdominal cavity by the
diaphragm.
 There is no anatomical separation between the
abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity, which
together make up the abdominopelvic cavity.

16.  The large membrane
that lines the
abdominopelvic cavity
and covers the organs
within it is the
peritoneum

17. Body Regions
The nine regions of the abdomen.

18. Quadrants of the abdomen,
showing the organs within
each quadrant.

19. HOMEOSTASIS
 The composition of the internal environment is
tightly controlled, and this fairly constant state is
called homeostasis.
 Literally, this term means ‘unchanging’, but in
practice it describes a dynamic, ever-changing
situation where a multitude of physiological
mechanisms and measurements are kept within
narrow limits.
 When this balance is threatened or lost, there is a
serious risk to the well-being of the individual.