This document provides an overview of anatomical terms, organization of the human body, and its major organ systems. It defines anatomy and physiology, and outlines the subdivisions of each. It describes the anatomical planes - median, sagittal, coronal, and horizontal. It then introduces the 11 major organ systems - integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, urinary, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive. Finally, it discusses the body's three main cavities - cranial, thoracic, and abdominal/pelvic and their boundaries.

1. Unit I
Introduction to Anatomical Terms &
Organization of the Human Body

2. Anatomical Terms

3. Anatomy
Anatomy is the study of structure of the body. ‘Aristotle’ (384-322 BC) was
the first person to use the term ‘anatome’, a Greek word meaning ‘cutting
up or taking apart’.
Anatomy is the one of the most oldest basic medical sciences. It was first
studied formally in Egypt. Human anatomy was taught in Greece by
Hippocrates (460-377 BC) who is regarded as the ‘Father of Medicine’.

5. Subdivisions
▶ Clinical anatomy
▶ Gross anatomy
▶ Systemic anatomy
▶ Regional anatomy
▶ Functional anatomy
▶ Developmental anatomy
▶ Histology and cytology
▶ Surface anatomy
▶ Clinical anatomy
▶ Comparative anatomy

6. Physiology
Physiology is the branch of science that deals with various
functions of living organism and the processes which regulate
them.

8. Subdivisions
physiology
▶Cardiovascular
physiology
▶Neuromuscular ▶Physiology of
physiology excretory system
▶Respiratory ▶Digestion and
metabolism
▶Immunology
▶endocrinology

9. Anatomical Planes

11. Anatomical Plains
▶Median
▶Sagittal
▶Coronal
▶Horizontal

12. Median Plane
This is the imaginary vertical plane passing
longitudinally through the body from front to back,
dividing it into right and left halves.

13. Sagittal Plane
These are parallel to the median plane. They are named after the
sagittal suture of the skull. The sagittal plane that passes
through the median plane can be called the midsagittal plane.
The sagittal plane which does not pass from center but passes
parallel to midsagittal plane is called parasagittal plane.

14. Coronal Plane
These are imaginary vertical planes passing through the body at
right angles to the median plane, dividing it into anterior and
posterior portions. These planes are named after the coronal
suture of the skull, which lies in the coronal plane.

15. Horizontal Plane
These are Imaginary planes passing through the body at right
angles to both the median and coronal planes. A horizontal
plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts. A
horizontal plane is also referred to as the transverse plane.

16. Systems of the Human Body

18. Introduction
The human body has several organ systems that work
independently and carry out specific functions. These systems
influence each other and work together to maintain health,
provide protection from disease, and allow for reproduction of
the human species. The various structures constituting these
body systems and their functions are vital for the human life.

19. Organ Systems
▶Integumentary system
▶Skeletal system
▶Muscular system
▶Nervous system
▶Endocrine system
▶Urinary system
▶Cardiovascular system
▶Lymphatic system
▶Respiratory system
▶Digestive system
▶Reproductive system

21. Integumentary System
Constituents
▶Skin
▶Hair
▶Nails
Functions
▶Protection of body
▶Regulation of body
temperature
▶Elimination of wastes

23. Skeletal System
Constituents
▶Bones
▶Joints
▶Cartilages
Functions
▶Provides support and
protection to body
▶Helps in body movements

25. Muscular System
Constituents
▶Skeletal muscles
▶Smooth muscles
▶Cardiac muscles
Functions
▶Helps in body movements
▶Maintenance of posture
▶Production of heat

27. Nervous System
Constituents
▶Brain
▶Spinal cord
▶Nerves
▶Five sense organs
Functions
▶Regulation of body
activities and body’s
internal and external
environment by nerve
impulses

29. Endocrine System
Constituents
▶ Hypothalamus
▶ Pituitary gland
▶ Thyroid gland
▶ Pineal gland
▶ Parathyroid gland
▶ Pancreas
▶ Ovaries/Testes
▶ Adrenal glands
Functions
▶ Regulation of body activities by
releasing hormones

31. Urinary System
Constituents
▶Kidneys
▶Ureters
▶Urinary bladder
▶Urethra
Functions
blood
▶Production, storage and
elimination of urine
▶Regulation of volume and
chemical composition of
▶Maintenance of acid-base
balance of the body

33. Cardiovascular System
Constituents
▶Heart
▶Blood vessels
▶Blood
Functions
▶Heart pumps the blood
through the blood vessels
▶Blood carries oxygen and
nutrients to the cells and
takes away the wastes and
carbon dioxide from the
cells

35. Lymphatic System
Constituents
▶ Spleen
▶ Thymus
▶ Tonsils
▶ Lymph nodes
▶ Lymphatic vessels
Functions
blood
▶ Return proteins and fluids to the
▶ Removes bacteria, toxins and
other foreign bodies from tissue
▶ Lymph serves as important route
for intestinal fat absorption
▶ Sites of maturation and
proliferation of B and T cells

37. Respiratory System
Constituents
▶Pharynx
▶Larynx
▶Bronchial tubes
▶Trachea
▶Lungs
Functions
▶Transfer of oxygen from
inhaled air to blood and
carbon dioxide from blood
to exhaled air
▶Regulation of acid-base
balance of body fluids

39. Digestive System
Constituents
▶ Mouth
▶ Pharynx
▶ Esophagus
▶ Stomach
▶ Small and large intestines
▶ Salivary glands
▶ Liver
▶ Gallbladder
▶ Pancreas
Functions
▶ Digestion of food
▶ Absorption of nutrients
▶ Eliminated of wastes

41. Female Reproductive System
Constituents
▶Ovaries
▶Uterine tube
▶Uterus
▶Vagina
▶Mammary glands
Functions
▶Production of gametes
▶Release of hormones that
regulate reproduction and
help in development of
secondary sexual
characteristics
▶Mammary glands are for
lactation

43. Male Reproductive System
Constituents
▶Testes
▶Ductus deferens
▶Seminal vesicles
▶Prostate gland
▶Penis
Functions
▶Production of gametes
▶Release of hormones that
regulate reproduction and
help in development of
secondary sexual
characteristics
▶Penis is the main copulatory
organ

45. Cavities of the Human Body

46. Introduction
Body cavities are spaces within the body that help,
protect, separate and support internal organs.
Bones, muscles, ligaments, and other structures
separate the various body cavities from one
another.

47. Cavities
▶Cranial
▶Thoracic
▶Abdominal
▶Pelvic

49. Cranial Cavity
The 8 fused cranial bones form a hollow space of the
head called cranial cavity. They are as follows
▶Anteriorly – Frontal ▶Superiorly – Parietal
bone bone
▶Posteriorly – Occipital ▶Laterally – Temporal
bone bones
▶Inferiorly – Sphenoid &
Ethmoid bone

51. Abdominal Cavity
thoracic cavity
▶Inferiorly – It is continuous
with pelvic cavity
▶Anteriorly – Anterior
abdominal wall
It is the largest cavity in the body. It is divided into nine
regions. It’s boundaries are
▶Superiorly – The diaphragms, ▶Posteriorly – Lumbar vertebra
which separates it from and posterior abdominal wall
▶Bilaterally – Muscles of
abdominal wall and lower ribs

53. Pelvic Cavity
costal cartilages
▶Posteriorly – Bodies of the 12
thoracic vertebrae and
posterior parts of ribs
▶Bilaterally – 12 pairs of ribs
and the intercostal muscles
The thoracic cavity is one of the major cavities of the
body. It’s boundaries are
▶Anteriorly – Sternum and ▶Superiorly – By the structures
anterior parts of ribs and their forming the root of neck
▶Inferiorly – By a muscular
sheet known as ‘Diaphragm’

55. Thoracic Cavity
continuous with
abdominal cavity
▶Inferiorly – Pelvic floor
▶Anteriorly – Pubic
Bones
The pelvic cavity extends from the lower end of the
abdominal cavity
▶Superiorly – It is ▶Posteriorly – Sacrum
and coccyx
▶Bilaterally – Hip bones

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