Terminology:
•Cytology: studies internal structures of cells
-cells are the simplest structural and functional unit of life
•adult humans have 60-100 trillion cells
•Histology: studies properties and structure of tissue
****4 Major Families of Tissues
-epithelial
-connective*
-muscle
-nervous
•Gross anatomy: studies organ systems and their relationships with the body as a
whole
•Embryology: studies developmental processes during the first 2 months of
development
•Homeostasis: The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment
11 Organ Systems
•Integumentary System: Protection from environmental hazards, temperature control
•Skeletal System: Supports, protects tissues, stores minerals, forms blood cells
•Muscular System: Allows for locomotion, provides support, provides heat
•Nervous System: Directs immediate responses to stimuli, usually by coordinating the
activities of other organ systems
•Endocrine System: Directs long term changes in organ systems
•Cardiovascular System: Transports cells and dissolved materials, including nutrients,
wastes, and gases
•Lymphoid System: Defends against infection and disease, returns tissue fluid to
bloodstream
•Respiratory System: Delivers air to sites where gas exchange can occur between the
air and circulating blood
•Digestive System: Processes food and absorbs nutrients
•Urinary System: Eliminates waste, excess water, and salts
•Reproductive System Male: Produces sex cells and hormones
•Reproductive System Female: Produces sex cells and hormones, supports
embryonic development from fertilization to birth
Vital Properties and Processes all organisms share : 1.Responsiveness:
•Irritability: The response to changes in an immediate environment
•Adaptability: Organism’s longer-lasting changes in response to their environment
2.Growth and Differentiation:
•Differentiation: Specialization of individual cells to perform specific functions
3.Reproduction
4.Movement
5.Metabolism and Excretion
•Metabolism: All chemical operations underway in the body
•Catabolism: Breakdown of complex molecules into simple ones
•Anabolism: Synthesis of complex molecules from simple ones
•Respiration: absorption, transport, and use of oxygen by cells
•Excretion: Removal of excess or harmful waste products
Language of Anatomy
•Abdominopelvic quadrants: divides abdominopelvic surface into 4 quadrants,
horizontal and vertical lines intersecting at umbilicus(navel) RUQ, RLQ, LUQ, LLQ
•Abdominopelvic Regions: Used to describe locations and orientations of internal
organs more precisely. There are 9 regions
•Anatomical Position: standing upright, arms at sides, palms facing forward, feet flat
on floor, face straight ahead
•Supine:lying face up
•Prone: Lying face down
Anatomical Planes and Sections
•Frontal/coronal: Divides the body into posterior and anterior sections
•Sagittal: Divides the body into right and left portions
-Midsagittal: Divides the body into precisely equal right and left portions
•Transverse: Divides the body into superior and inferior sections
•Serial Reconstruction: Making a series of sections along small intervals for a more
accurate and complete picture
Anatomical Terms of Directions (Always decided from the anatomical position)
Superior: Towards the top of the head, neck or trunk, not to be used when referencing
limbs
Inferior: Towards the bottom of the head, neck, or trunk, not to be used when
referencing limbs *Top of the foot is the dorsal aspect, only part of the body you can’t see the anterior side
of in anatomical position
Proxima
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