Policarpio, Archie R.

BSMT2A
Angeles University Foundation
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY (LECTURE) REVIEWER
CHAPTER 1: THE HUMAN ORGANISM
ANATOMY
- the study of the structure/shape of the body and the body parts and their relationship to one another
(Snell, 2007)
-the scientific discipline that investigates the structure of the body (Seeley, 2010)
-ana means to dissect or to separate; tomy means to cut apart (Tortora, 2009)

TWO BASIC APPROACHES TO ANATOMY:

1. SYSTEMIC ANATOMY study of the body systems (ex: skeletal, muscular, nervous)
2. REGIONAL ANATOMY study of organization of the body by areas or region (ex: head,
abdomen, thorax)
TWO GENERAL WAYS TO EXAMINE INTERNAL STRUCTURES OF A LIVING PERSON:
1. SURFACE ANATOMY study of external features (ex: bony prominences which serve as
landmarks for locating deeper structures)
2. ANATOMIC IMAGING involves the use of equipments (ex: X-ray, CT Scan, MRI, Ultrasound)

PHYSIOLOGY
- the science of body functions (Tortora, 2009)
- the scientific discipline that deals with the processes/functions of living things (Seeley, 2010)
-physio means nature; ology means the study of (Tortora,
)

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY the study of a specific organism, the human

-has subdivisions: cellular physiology and systemic physiology

MAJOR GOALS OF PHYSIOLOGY:

1. To understand and predict the bodys responses to stimuli (ex: candy bar)
2. To understand how the body maintains conditions within the narrow range of values in the
presence of a continually changing environment. (ex: infection fever sweating)

LEVELS OF STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION:

1. CHEMICAL LEVEL how atoms interact and combine to form molecules (ex: collagen
molecules)
2. CELL LEVEL entails the association of molecules to form cells
3. TISSUE LEVEL group of similar cells with the same function (ex: epithelial skin/lungs;
connective tendons; muscular cardiac, skeletal, smooth; nervous brain, spinal cord)
4. ORGAN LEVEL composed of two or more type of tissues that perform specific function for
the body (ex: heart, skin, urinary bladder)
5. ORGAN SYSTEM LEVEL group of organs that cooperate to accomplish a common purpose
(The 11 major organ systems are: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, lymphatic, respiratory,
digestive, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, urinary and reproductive)
6. ORGANISM LEVEL any living thing that is considered as a whole (ex: bacterium, plants)
-the highest level of structural organization
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE:
1. ORGANIZATION specific interrelationship among the parts of an organism and how those
parts interact to perform specific functions. (ex: cells composed of highly specialized
organelles disruption loss of function and death)
2. METABOLISM ability to use energy to perform vital functions (ex: energy from food)
3. RESPONSIVENESS ability to sense changes in the environment and make adjustments to
help maintain life. (ex: if the body temperature increases, sweat glands produces sweat which
can lower body temperature back towards the normal level)
4. GROWTH increase in size or part of an organism (ex: bone growth)
5. DEVELOPMENT includes the changes that an organism undergoes through time, from
fertilization until death. It involves DIFFERENTIATION, the change in cell structure and
function from generalized to specialized.
6. REPRODUCTION the formation of new cells/organisms

HOMEOSTASIS
-is the bodys ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions even though the outside world is
continuously changing. (It literally means unchanging)
-homeo means the same; stasis means standing still
-it is the existence and maintenance of a relatively constant environment within the body despite
fluctuations in the environment, either internal or external.
VARIABLES body conditions that may change their value (ex: temperature, volume, chemical
content)
HOMEOSTATIC MECHANISMS maintain the body temperature near an ideal normal value (ex:
sweating and shivering)
SET POINT the ideal normal value on which the variables are to be maintained
NORMAL VALUES acceptable range of values on which homeostasis can still be met.
HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL MECHANISMS:

1. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISM regulates most of the body systems to maintain

homeostasis (negative means any deviation from the set point is resisted or made smaller)
THREE COMPONENTS TO MAINTAIN HOMEOSTASIS:
a. RECEPTOR monitors the value of a variable (ex: large blood vessels near the heart BP)
b. CONTROL CENTER establishes the set point around which the variable is maintained and
analyzes the information it receives from the receptor to determine the appropriate response or
course of action. (ex: the brain is a control center)
c. EFFECTOR provides the means to control or change the value of the variable. (ex: heart)
2. POSITIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISM the deviation from the set point becomes greater
- it is not homeostatic and it is rare among healthy individuals. (positive implies that when a
value deviates from normal, the systems response is to make it greater)
- example: massive blood loss decrease heart rate decrease blood pressure and volume
- example: child birth or normal vaginal delivery uterine contraction expulsion of fetus
THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
I.

BODY POSITIONS
-

II.

The normal anatomical position refers to a person standing erect with the face directed
forward, the upper limbs hanging to the sides and the palms of the hands facing forward.
Supine when a person is lying face upward
Prone when a person is lying face downward
DIRECTIONAL TERMS

RIGHT
LEFT
INFERIOR
SUPERIOR
ANTERIOR
POSTERIOR (Posterus following)
DORSAL (Dorsum back)
VENTRAL (Venter belly)
PROXIMAL (Proximus nearest)
DISTAL (di + sto = to be distant)
LATERAL (Latus side)
MEDIAL (Medialis middle)
SUPERFICIAL (Superficialis surface)
DEEP (deop deep)
III.
BODY PARTS AND REGIONS
CEPHALIC
FRONTAL
ORBITAL

Toward the bodys right side

Toward the bodys left side
Below
Above
Toward the front
Toward the back
Toward the back (posterior)
Toward the front (anterior)
Closer to a point of attachment
Farther from a point of attachment
Away from the bodys midline
Toward the bodys midline
Toward or on the surface
Away from the surface
Head
Forehead
Eye

NASAL
ORAL
CERVICAL
THORACIC
PECTORAL
STERNAL
MAMMARY
ABDOMINAL
UMBILICAL
PELVIC
INGUINAL
PUBIC
OTIC
BUCCAL
MENTAL
CLAVICULAR
AXILLARY
BRACHIAL
ANTECUBITAL
ANTEBRACHIAL
CARPAL
MANUAL
PALMAR
DIGITAL
COXAL
FEMORAL
PATELLAR
CRURAL
PEDAL
TALUS
DORSUM
DIGITAL
DORSAL
OCCIPITAL
NUCHAL
SCAPULAR
VERTEBRAL
LUMBAR
SACRAL
GLUTEAL
PERINEAL
CRANIAL
ACROMIAL
OLECRANON

Nose
Mouth
Neck
Thorax
Chest
Breastbone
Breast
Abdomen
Navel
Pelvis
Groin
Genital
Ear
Cheek
Chin
Collarbone
Armpit
Arm
Front of Elbow
Forearm
Wrist
Hand
Palm
Fingers
Hip
Thigh
Kneecap
Leg
Foot
Ankle
Top of Foot
Toes
Back
Base of Skull
Back of Neck
Shoulder Blade
Spinal Column
Loin
Between Hips
Buttock
Perineum
Skull
Point of Shoulder
Point of Elbow

DORSUM
POPLITEAL
SURAL
PLANTAR

Back of Hand
Hollow behind Knee
Calf
Sole

CALCANEAL

Heel

Nine Regions of the Abdomen:

1. UMBILICAL REGION the area around the umbilicus
sections of the small & large intestines, inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta
2. EPIGASTRIC REGION it is superior to the umbilical region
most of the pancreas, portions of the stomach, liver, inferior vena cava, abdominal aorta and
duodenum
3. HYPOGASTRIC REGION it is inferior to the umbilical region; it is the pubic area
portions of the sigmoid colon, urinary bladder & ureters, and portions of the small intestines
4. RIGHT AND LEFT ILIAC REGIONS either side of the hypogastric region; inguinal regions
portions of the small and large intestine
5. RIGHT AND LEFT LUMBAR REGIONS either side of the umbilical region; the loin regions
portions of small & large intestines and portions of the kidneys
6. RIGHT AND LEFT HYPOCHONDRIAC REGIONS either side of the epigastric region
includes the diaphragm, portions of the kidneys, right side of the liver, spleen and part of the
pancreas
NOTE: The right and left regions are counted separately

IV.

PLANES
a. SAGITTAL PLANE runs vertically through the body; separates it into left and right
-sagittal literally means the flight of an arrow
b. MEDIAN PLANE a sagittal plane that divides the body into equal parts
c. TRANSVERSE OR HORIZONTAL PLANE runs parallel to the surface of the ground
- separates the body into superior and inferior parts
d. FRONTAL OR CORONAL PLANE runs vertically from right to left; divides the body
into anterior and posterior parts

LONGITUDINAL SECTION a cut through the long axis of an organ

TRANSVERSE OR CROSS SECTION a cut at a right angle to the long axis of an organ

TERMS RELATED TO MOVEMENT:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.

FLEXION takes place in a coronal or frontal plane

EXTENSION straightening a joint; occurs in a posterior direction
LATERAL FLEXION movement of trunk in a coronal plane
ABDUCTION the limb is moving away from the midline
ADDUCTION movement toward the body in the coronal plane
ROTATION movement of a body part around its long axis
MEDIAL ROTATION results in the anterior surface of the body part facing medially
LATERAL ROTATION results in the anterior surface of the body part facing laterally
PRONATION OF THE FOREARM medial rotation of the forearm in such a manner that the
palm of the hand faces posteriorly
SUPINATION OF THE FOREARM lateral rotation of the forearm, from the pronated position,
so that the palm of the hand faces anteriorly
CIRCUMDUCTION combination in sequence of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction
-only ball-and-socket joints are capable of this movement
PROTRACTION move forward
RETRACTION move backward
INVERSION movement of the foot so that the soles face medially
EVERSION opposite movement of the foot so that the soles face in a lateral direction

V.

BODY CAVITIES
Three Large Cavities of the Trunk:
a. THORACIC CAVITY surrounded by the rib cage; separated from the abdominal cavity
by the muscular diaphragm.
MEDIASTINUM a median structure that divides this cavity into right and left parts; it
contains the heart, thymus, trachea, esophagus, etc. Lungs are found on its sides.
b. ABDOMINAL CAVITY bounded primarily by the abdominal muscles and contains the
stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys.
c. PELVIC CAVITY a small space enclosed by the bones of the pelvis and contains the
urinary bladder, part of the large intestine and the internal reproductive organs.
d. ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY the abdominal cavity + the pelvic cavity

VI.
-

SEROUS MEMBRANES
line the trunk cavities and cover the organs of these cavities.
TWO TYPES OF SEROUS MEMBRANES:
a. PARIETAL SEROUS MEMBRANE the outer part
b. VISCERAL SEROUS MEMBRANE the inner part

As an organ rubs against another organ or against the body wall, the serous fluid and smooth
serous membranes reduce FRICTION.

THORACIC CAVITY contains three serous membrane-lined cavities: a pericardial cavity and two
pleural cavities.
PERICARDIAL CAVITY surrounds the heart; contains pericardial fluid; located between the visceral
pericardium and the parietal pericardium
VISCERAL PERICARDIUM covers the heart, which is contained within a connective tissue sac
lined with the parietal pericardium.
PLEURAL CAVITY surrounds each lung, which is covered by the VISCERAL PLEURA; located
between the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura; contains pleural fluid
PARIETAL PLEURA lines the inner surface of the thoracic wall, the lateral surfaces of the
mediastinum, and the superior surface of the diaphragm.
PERITONEAL CAVITY a serous membrane-lined cavity contained in the abdominopelvic cavity;
located between the visceral and parietal peritoneum; contains peritoneal fluid
VISCERAL PERITONEUM covers many organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
PARIETAL PERITONEUM lines the wall of the abdominopelvic cavity and the inferior surface of the
diaphragm.
PERICARDITIS inflammation of the pericardium
PLEURISY inflammation of the pleura
PERITONITIS inflammation of the peritoneum
MESENTERIES anchor the organs to the body wall and provide a pathway for nerves and blood
vessels to reach the organs; consists of two layers of peritoneum fused together
-connect the visceral peritoneum of some abdominopelvic organs to the parietal peritoneum on the
body wall or to the parietal peritoneum of other abdominopelvic organs
PARIETAL PERITONEUM covers organs (without mesenteries and are closer to the body wall)
RETROPERITONEAL the organs stated above. (ex: kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas)