Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy is the structure of body parts Physiology is how the body functions to sustain life. How
and their interrelationships with each individual parts work to keep you alive. Physiology Integrates
other. (The whole system) other sciences like physics and chemistry.

Structural organisation of living things

Chemical Cellular tissue Organ Organ system Organism
Homeostasis
Stimulus receptor Modulator Effector Response Feedback
Feedback loops
Positive feedback loops increase the impact on the body. Negative feedback loops increase the impact.
Positive feedback loops both go the same way
Negative feedback loops go different ways. E.g. when BP is high the brain slows the heart and blood clots.
Anatomical position
To accurately describe body parts, Anatomical position is used to provide a standardized description.
Directional terms
Ventral/ anterior front Dorsle/posterior back
Medial/ Intermediate Towards the midline lateral Away from the Midline
Superficial/external Towards the surface Deep/internal Into the surface
Proximal (limbs) Towards main body Distal (limbs) Away from main body
Cranial/superior up Caudal/inferior down
Regional terms
Axial= Main body/trunk and head
Appendicular = Arms and limbs
Body plains
The median plain runs from top to bottom and divides the body into the left and right halves.
The sagittal plane runs from top to bottom and divides the body left to right off centre.
The frontal plane runs from top to bottom but divides the body into anterior and posterior halves.
The horizontal plane runs across the body and separates the superior and inferior (top and bottom).
Body cavity’s
Dorsal cavity – contains the nervous system organs and is comprised of the cranial cavity and the spinal cavity.
The cranial cavity protects the brain. The spinal cavity protects the spinal cord.
Abdominal cavity – Is composed of 2 sub cavity’s, the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity.
The thoracic cavity protects the rib cage, heart, lungs and other thoracic organs. The abdominopelvic cavity is
further divided into the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity protects the 4 Quadrants.
The pelvic cavity protects the bladder and some of the reproductive organs.
Quadrants of the Abdominal Cavity
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) – contains liver, right kidney, gallbladder, colon & pancreas.
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)– contains stomach, left kidney, gallbladder, colon & pancreases.
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)– contains appendix, colon, small Intestine, Ureter, major & vein artery to the right leg.
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)– contains colon, small Intestine, Ureter, major vein &artery to the right leg.
Membranes
The ventral body cavity walls are coved in a double layered membrane. It surrounds every organ to both protect
them and increase the speed of oxygen transport via diffusion. The one-layer sticks to the organ, the other layer
sticks to the inside of the chest cavity. There is a lubricating fluid between them, allowing your organs to move
without friction.
 Anatomy & Physiology
Grose/ What we can see with our Micro Smaller microscopic
macro eyes anatomy, like cells
Reginal Focuses on specific areas Surface Anatomy directly under the
skins surface. E.g muscle, blood
vessels
Systematic Study’s body systems, not just Developmental How anatomy changes and
one organ. E.g. cardiovascular develops over time during a
system lifespan

System Parts What it does

Integumentary Hair, skin & nails Protects deeper tissues. Synthesizes vitamin d,
system houses sweat and oil glands, contains respecters
for sensations
Skeletal system Bones and joints Protects your inner organs, framework for
muscle movement, forms blood cells, & stores
minerals.
Muscular system Muscles and ligaments Allows for movement, locomotion and facial
expression. Maintains posture and produces
heat.
Nervous system Brain, Spinal cord, & Nerves Control system. Activates the glands and muscles
to help you stay alive. Controls reflexes.
Endocrine Glands, Thymus, Ovaries, Pancreas, Secretes hormones that regulate processes such
system & Testis as growth, reproduction, & metabolism.
Cardiovascular Heart, Arteries, Veins, & Other Transports, blood, O2, CO2, nutrients, waste,
system blood vessels etc. Pumps blood
Lymphatic Bone marrow, Spleen Lymph nodes, Collects leaked fluid, cleans out debris, stores
system/ immune Thymus, Lymphatic vessels white blood cells. Sends out white blood cells to
system fight of foreign substances
Respiratory Lungs, Bronchus, Larynx, Pharynx, Insures constant supply of Oxygen, eliminates
system Trachea, Nasal cavity Carbon dioxide. Gas exchange takes place
through the walls of the air sacks.
Digestive system Oral cavity, Esophagus, Liver, Breaks down food into small units that can be
Stomach, Small intestine, absorbed into the blood for distribution to cells.
colon/large intestine, Rectum, Anus Unusable parts are eliminated as faeces
Urinary system Kidneys, ureter, urinary blader, Eliminates nitrogenous waste. Regulates water
urethra levels. balances electrolytes & acid base of blood
Male Prostate gland, Ductus deferens, Produces and delivers sperm. Produces male sex
reproductive Penis, Testis, Scrotum hormones and develops secondary sexual
system characteristics during puberty.
Female Mammary glands, Ovaries, Produces eggs and female hormones, provides
reproductive Uterine /Fallopian tubes, Uterus, the space for fertilisation and development of
system Cervix, Vagina. fetus. Mammary glands in breasts produce milk
to nourish newborns.