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JMJ Marist Brothers

College of Arts and Sciences
Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department
Notre Dame of Marbel University
City of Koronadal

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

This module presents an introduction of anatomy and physiology as a field of medical

biology. The parts of the human body form a well-organized unit, and each of those parts has a job

to do to make the body operate as a whole. Structure determines what functions can take place.

For example, the lungs are not muscular chambers like the heart and cannot pump blood through

the body, but because the walls of their air sacs are very thin, they can exchange gases and provide

oxygen to the body.

This module is good for one week. A short activity is provided at the start the module. An

assessment is also provided at the end of the module so that you can evaluate your learnings from

the sessions and the module itself.

Learning Outcomes

o Explain the importance of studying anatomy and physiology

o Describe the subdivisions of microscopic and gross anatomy

o Expound how anatomy and physiology are related

o Name and describe the six levels of structural organization that make up the human body, and

explain how they are related

o Discuss the importance of using microscopy in understanding human anatomy and physiology

Activity

Watch the video of this commercial of a fast-food chain in the Philippines. It shows how

the food industry adjusts to the new normal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvwVcOLFGYw.

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This video is also embedded in your Learning Management System account. During the

synchronous session, some of the students will be asked how Anatomy and Physiology may be

applied in the situations shown in the commercial.

Studying Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy is the study of structure and form. The word anatomy is derived from the Greek

word anatome, which means to cut apart or dissect. Anatomists are scientists who study the

structure and form of organisms. Specifically, they examine the relationships among parts of the

body as well as the structure of individual organs.

Physiology is the study of function of the body parts. Physiologists are scientists who

examine how organs and body systems function under normal circumstances, as well as how their

functioning may be altered via medication or disease.

Practical Example

When studying blood capillaries, an anatomist may describe the composition of the thin

wall. In contrast, a physiologist will explain how the thin wall promotes gas and nutrient exchange

between the blood within the capillary and the tissue cells outside of the capillary.

Microscopic Anatomy and Gross Anatomy

Microscopic anatomy examines structures that cannot be seen by the unaided eye. For

most of these studies, scientists prepare individual cells or thin slices of some part of the body and

examine these specimens under the microscope. Microscopic anatomy has several subdivisions

with two main divisions: cytology and histology.

Gross anatomy, also called macroscopic anatomy, investigates the structure and

relationships of body parts that are visible to the unaided eye, such as the intestines, stomach, brain,

heart, and kidneys. In these macroscopic investigations, specimens or their parts are often dissected

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(cut open) for examination. Gross anatomy may be approached in several ways: systemic anatomy;

regional anatomy; surface anatomy; comparative anatomy; and embryology.

In Medicine

Physicians normally use a combination of anatomical, physiological, chemical, and

psychological information when they evaluate patients. When a patient presents symptoms to a

physician, the physician will look at the structures affected (gross anatomy), perhaps collect a fluid

or tissue sample (microscopic anatomy) for analysis, and ask questions to determine what

alterations from normal functioning the patient is experiencing. The attending physician may

examine your body, noting any anatomical abnormalities, evaluating physiological processes by

asking questions, observing movements, listening to body sounds, taking temperature, and perhaps

requesting chemical analyses of fluids such as blood or urine. In evaluating all these observations

to reach a diagnosis, physicians rely on a logical framework based on the scientific method.

Anatomy and Physiology Integrated

The sciences of anatomy and physiology are intertwined; one must have some

understanding of anatomic form to study physiologic function of a structure. Likewise, one cannot

adequately describe and understand the anatomic form of an organ without learning that organ’s

function. This interdependence of the study of anatomy and physiology reflects the inherent and

important interrelationship of how the structure and form of a component of the body determines

how it functions. This concept is central to mastering the study of anatomy and physiology.

Integrating the disciplines of anatomy and physiology, rather than trying to separate

discussion of form and function, is the easiest way to learn about both fields. Anatomists and

physiologists may be describing the organs slightly differently, but both disciplines must use

information from the other field for a full understanding of the organ system.

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Figure 1. Organization levels of the body (Moini, 2016)

The Body’s Level of Organization

All organisms exhibit a complex structure and order. The human body has several

increasingly complex levels of organization. These levels, from simplest to most complex, are the

chemical level, cellular level, tissue level, organ level, organ system level, and organismal level.

Chemical Level

The chemical level is the simplest level, and it involves atoms and molecules. Atoms are

the smallest units of matter that exhibit the characteristics of an element, such as carbon and

hydrogen. When two or more atoms combine they form a molecule. More complex molecules are

called macromolecules and include some proteins and the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

molecules. Macromolecules form specialized microscopic subunits in cells called organelles,

which are microscopic structures found within cells.

Cellular Level

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The cellular level consists of cells, which are the smallest living structures and serve as the

basic units of structure and function in organisms. Cells and their components are formed from the

atoms and molecules from the chemical level.

Organ Level

The tissue level consists of tissues, which are groups of similar cells that perform common

functions. There are four major types of tissues: epithelial tissue; muscular tissue; connective tissue

and neuronal tissue.

Organ System Level

The organ level is composed of organs, which contain two or more tissue types that work

together to perform specific, complex functions.

Organism Level

The organ system level contains related organs that work together to coordinate activities
and achieve a common function.

Organism Level

The highest level of structural organization in the body is the organismal level. All body

systems function interdependently in an organism, which is the living being.

Microscopy in Anatomy and Physiology

Microscopy is the use of a microscope to view small-scale structures, and it is an invaluable

asset in anatomic investigations. The most commonly used instruments are the light microscope,

the transmission electron microscope, and the scanning electron microscope.

The study of cells is called cytology. The small size of cells is the greatest obstacle to

determining their nature. Cells were discovered after microscopes were invented because high-

magnification microscopes are required to see the smallest human body cells. The dimensional

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unit often used to measure cell size is the micrometer (μm). One micrometer is equal to 1/10,000

of a centimeter (about 1/125,000 of an inch).

Microscopy samples have no inherent contrast (difference between specimen and

background) so structures cannot be seen clearly. To provide contrast, colored-dye stains are used

with light microscopes, and heavy-metal stains are used with both transmission electron and

scanning electron microscopes.

Figure 2. Parts of a light compound microscope

Summary

• Anatomy is the study of structure and form. Physiology is the study of function of the body

parts.

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• Microscopic anatomy examines structures that cannot be seen by the unaided eye like cells.

Gross anatomy, also called macroscopic anatomy, investigates the structure and relationships

of body parts that are visible to the unaided eye, such as body organs.

• The human body has several increasingly complex levels of organization namely the chemical

level, cellular level, tissue level, organ level, organ system level, and organismal level.

• Microscopy is the use of a microscope to view small-scale structures, and it is an invaluable

asset in anatomic investigations.

Assessment

Answer the following questions in the assessment provided in your learning management

system account, on or before the deadline indicated.

To students enrolled in distance learning, copy the questions and write your answers in

whole sheet/s of intermediate papers (more than 1 whole sheet of intermediate paper may be used).

Indicate your name and the title of the module in every paper if multiple sheets will be utilized.

Submit the paper/s to Julius Kevin Cura at the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Room, Notre

Dame of Marbel University, Koronadal City, South Cotabato on or before the deadline indicated.

The answers in every question will be scored based on content/biological basis (5), coherence (5)

and completeness (5).

Short Explanation Essays

1. Compare and contrast how anatomists and physiologists describe the heart and the small

intestine. (5 points)

2. Why would you have a hard time learning and understanding physiology if you did not also

understand anatomy? (5 points)

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3. What are the different approaches of gross anatomy? Describe each of these approaches. (5

points)

4. What subdiscipline of anatomy may explore how the lower limb differs between humans and

chimpanzees? Explain why that is. (5 points)

5. Why must specimens viewed with a compound microscope be thin? Why are they sometimes

stained with dyes? (5 points)

References

McKinley, M., O’Loughlin, D. & Bidle, T. (2016). Anatomy & Physiology: An Integrative
Approach (2nd Ed.). McGraw-Hill Ed. USA.

Moini, 2016. Anatomy & Physiology for Health Professionals, 2nd Ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
USA

Vodopich & Moore, 2017. Biology Laboratory Manual (11th Ed.). USA: McGraw-Hill Education

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