introduction to the anatomy and physiology

1. INTRODUCTION
TO
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
YOUNAS BHATTI
NURSING INSTRUCTOR
BAHIRA TOWN SCHOOL OF NURSING, LAHORE

2. OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session the learners will be able to,
1. Define the terms anatomy and physiology
2. Review the sub-types of anatomy and physiology
3. Explain the levels of structural organization of human body
4. Elaborate the systems of human body
5. Know the basic life process and homeostasis of human body
6. Enumerate the basic anatomical positions of the body

3. TERMINOLOGY
Anatomy: Is the science of body structures and the relationships among them.
Anatomy deals with structures of the body.
Physiology: It is the science of body functions—how the body parts work.
For example,
The bones of the skull join tightly to form a rigid case that protects the brain.
The bones of the fingers are more loosely joined to allow a variety of
movements.
The walls of the air sacs in the lungs are very thin, permitting rapid movement
of inhaled oxygen into the blood.
The lining of the urinary bladder is much thicker to prevent the escape of urine
into the pelvic cavity, yet its construction allows for considerable stretching as
the urinary bladder fills with urine.

4. SUBTYPES OF ANATOMY
Embryology: The first eight weeks of development following fertilization of an egg
(in human)
Developmentalbiology: The complete development of an individual from fertilization of an egg
to death.
Cell biology: The study of the Cellular structure
Histology: Microscopic structure of tissues
Surface anatomy Surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through
visualization and palpation (gentle touch).
Gross anatomy Structures that can be examined without using a microscope
Systemic anatomy Structure of specific systems of the body such as the nervous or
respiratory systems
Regional anatomy Specific regions of the body such as the head or
chest.
Radiographic anatomy Body structures that can be visualized with x-rays
Pathological anatomy Structural changes (from gross to (microscopic)
associated with disease.

5. SUBTYPES OF PHYSIOLOGY
Neurophysiology: Functional properties of nerve cells
Endocrinology: Hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how they control
within; body functions.
Cardiovascularphysiology: Functions of the heart and blood vessels.
Immunology:
Respiratory physiology Functions of the air passageways and lungs.
Renal physiology
Exercisephysiology Changes in cell and organ functions as a result of muscular activity
Pathophysiology Functional changes associated with disease and
aging.

6. LEVELS OF STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION
• There are six levels of
organization (from smallest
to largest)
1. The chemical level
2. The cellular level
3. The tissue level
4. The organ level
5. The organ system level
6. The organism level

7. SYSTEMS OF THE HUMAN BODY
There are 11 systems of the human body
1. Integumentary system (hairs, nails, sweat glands, oil glands)
2. Skeletal system
3. Muscular system
4. Endocrine system
5. Cardiovascular system
6. Lymphatic system
7. Respiratory system
8. Digestive system
9. Nervous system
10. Urinary system
11. Reproductive system

8. CONT.…
Integumentarysystem (hairs, nails,
sweat glands, oil glands)
Components:
Skin and structures
associated
with it, such as hair,
nails, sweat glands, and
oil glands.Functions:
Protects the body;
helps
regulate body
temperature;
eliminates
some wastes; helps
make vitamin D; and
detects sensations
such as touch, pain,
warmth, and cold.
SKELETAL SYSTEM
Components:
Bones and joints of the body and their
associated cartilages
Functions:
Supports and protects
the body; provides a
surface
area for muscle
attachments; aids
body movements;
houses cells that
produce blood cells;
stores minerals and
lipids (fats).

9. CONT.…
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
Components:
Muscles
composed of
skeletal muscle
tissue, so-
named
because it is
usually attached
to bones.Functions:
Produces body
movements,
such as walking;
stabilizes body
position (posture);
generates heat.
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Components:
Brain, spinal cord,
nerves, and special
sense organs, such
as the eyes and
ears.Functions:
Generates action
potentials (nerve
impulses) to
regulate body
activities;
detects changes in
the
body’s internal and
external
environments,
interprets the
changes,
and responds by

10. CONT.…
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Components:
Hormone-producing
glands (pineal gland,
hypothalamus,
pituitary gland,
thymus, thyroid
gland, parathyroid
glands,
adrenal glands,
pancreas, ovaries,
and testes) and
hormone-producing
cells in several other
organs.
Functions:
Regulates body activities
by
releasing hormones, which
are chemical Messengers
transported in blood from
an endocrine gland or
tissue to a target organ.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Components:
Blood, heart,
and blood
vessels.Functions:
Heart pumps blood
through blood
vessels; blood carries
oxygen and nutrients
to cells
and carbon dioxide
and wastes away
from cells and helps
regulate acid–base
balance,
temperature, and
water content of
body fluids; blood
components help
defend against
disease and repair
damaged blood

11. CONT.…
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Components:
Organs of gastrointestinal
tract, a long tube that
includes the mouth,
pharynx (throat),
esophagus, stomach, small
and large intestines, and
anus; also includes
accessory organs that assist
in digestive processes, such
as the salivary glands, liver,
gallbladder, and pancreas.
Functions
:
Achieves physical and chemical
breakdown of food; absorbs
nutrients;
eliminates solid wastes
URINARY SYSTEM
Components
Kidneys, ureters,
urinary bladder,
and urethra.Functions:
Produces, stores, and
eliminates urine;
eliminates wastes and
regulates volume
and chemical
composition
of blood; helps
maintain
the acid–base balance
of body fluids;
maintains
body’s mineral balance;
helps regulate
production

12. CONT.…
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM AND IMMUNITY
Lymphatic fluid (lymph)
and vessels; also
includes spleen,
thymus, lymph nodes,
and
tonsils.
Components:
Returns proteins
and fluid to
blood;
carries lipids
from
gastrointestinal
tract to blood;
includes
structures
where
lymphocytes
that protect
against
Functions:
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Lungs and air
passageways such as the
pharynx (throat), larynx
(voice box), trachea
(windpipe), and bronchial
tubes leading into and out
of the lungs.
Components:
Functions:
Transfers oxygen from
inhaled air
to blood and carbon
dioxide from blood to
exhaled air; helps
regulate
acid–base balance of
body fluids; air flowing
out
of lungs through vocal
cords produces sounds.

13. CONT.…
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS
Components:
Gonads (testes in males and
ovaries in females) and
associated organs (uterine
tubes, uterus, and vagina in
females and epididymis,
ductus deferens, and penis in
males).
Functions:
Gonads produce gametes
(sperm or oocytes) that
unite to form a new
organism; gonads also
release hormones that
regulate reproduction and
other body processes;
associated organs
transport and store
gametes.

14. BASIC LIFE PROCESSES
There are 6 most important life processes of human body are :
1. Metabolism: It is the sum of all chemical processes that occurs in the body.
a) Catabolism: breakdown of complex chemical substance into simpler
components e.g. digestion of protein into amino acids.
b) Anabolism: building up of complex chemical substance from smaller, simpler components e.g. use of amino
acids to build new proteins of the body.
2. Responsiveness: It is the body’s ability to detect and respond to changes.
3. Movement: It includes motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells etc.
4. Growth: It is an increase in body size and weight
5. Differentiation: It is the development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state.
6. Reproduction: formation of new cells or to the production of a new individual

15. REFERENCES
• Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2009). Principles of anatomy
and physiology (12th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.