Introduction to Human Physiology with STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL
Pathophysiology ORGANIZATION OF THE HUMAN BODY
Anatomy - Six Levels of Organization:
1. Chemical – involves interaction
- Is the scientific discipline that investigates
between atoms, molecules and
the body’s structure.
substances alike.
- Examines the relationship between the
2. Cellular – cells are the basic
structure of a body part and its function
structural and functional units of
- Divisions:
plants and animals.
Gross Anatomy
3. Organelles – “little organs”
It is the study of structures that
4. Tissue – tissue is composed of a
can be examined without the
group of similar cells and the
aid of a microscope
materials surrounding them. (4 basic
Regional
types of tissues: Epithelial,
Systemic
Connective, Muscular, & Nervous)
*Anatomical Imaging
5. Organ – an organ is composed of two
Microscopic Anatomy
or more tissue types that perform one
Cytology – examines the
or more common functions.
structural features of cells
6. Organ System – organ system is a
Histology – examines tissues,
group of organs that together perform
which are composed of cells
a common function or set of functions
and the materials surrounding
and are therefore viewed as a unit.
them.
7. Organism – is any living thing
Developmental Anatomy
considered as a whole, whether
Studies the structural changes
composed of one cell, such as a
that occur between
bacterium, or of trillions of cells, such
conception and adulthood
as a human.
Embryology – considers
changes from conception to
the end of the eighth week of
development.
Physiology
- Is the scientific investigation of the processes
or functions of living things.
- Levels of Physiology:
Cell Physiology
Systemic Physiology
Neurophysiology
Cardiovascular Physiology
Pathology
- Is the medical science dealing with all aspects
of disease, with an emphasis on the cause and
development of abnormal conditions, as well Homeostasis
as the structural and functional changes
resulting from disease
- *Pathophysiology
- Is the existence and maintenance of a
relatively constant environment within the
body.
Set point – ideal normal value or
range
Variable – volume, temperature, or
chemical content
MECHANISMS THAT REGULATE/MAINTAIN
HOMEOSTASIS IN THE BODY
- Negative-Feedback mechanism – means
that any deviation from the set point is made
smaller or is resisted. Three components of
Negative feedback mechanism:
Receptor
Monitors the variables
Control Center
Receives information about
the variable, establishes the
set point, and controls the
effector
Effector
Produces response that
change the value of the DIRECTIONAL TERMS
variable
- Positive-Feedback mechanism – occur Right
when a response to the original stimulus Left
results in the deviation from the set point Superior – Up
becoming even greater. When the deviation Inferior – Down
from the set point becomes smaller, PFBM Anterior – Front
stops then, NFBM kicks in. Posterior – Back
- Two basic principles to remember are that Cephalic – Towards the head, synonymous to
(1) many disease states result from the failure superior
of negative-feedback mechanisms to Caudal – Towards the tail, synonymous to
maintain homeostasis and (2) some positive- inferior
feedback mechanisms can be detrimental
instead of helpful. *Cephalic and Caudal cannot be used to describe
directional movements of the limbs, only limited in
Body Positions the trunk area.
- Anatomical position – refers to a person Ventral – Towards the belly, synonymous to
standing erect with the face directed forward, anterior
the upper limbs hanging to the sides, and the Dorsal – towards the back, synonymous to
palms of the hands facing forward. posterior
Proximal – Nearest
Distal – Distant
Lateral – Away from the midline
Medial – Towards the midline
Superficial – structure close to the surface of Planes
the body
- Describe the body as having imaginary flat
Deep – towards the interior of the body
surfaces
BODY PARTS AND REGIONS - A plane divides, or sections, the body,
making it possible to “look inside” and
Regions: observe the body’s structures
1. Central Region - Three Types of Planes
Head Sagittal
Neck Transverse
Trunk Frontal
2. Upper Limb – divided into arm, forearm, - Sagittal – runs vertically through the body,
wrist, hand separating it into right and left portions
3. Lower Limb – divided into thigh, leg, ankle, Median plane is a sagittal plane that
foot passes through the midline of the
body, dividing it into equal right and
Central Region – Trunk left halves.
- Thorax – Chest area - Transverse (Horizontal) – runs parallel to
- Abdomen – area between thorax and pelvis the ground, dividing the body into superior
Often subdivided superficially into and inferior portions
quadrants and regions. - Frontal (Coronal) – runs vertically from
Quadrant is described as two right to left and divides the body into anterior
intersecting imaginary lines, one and posterior parts.
horizontal and one vertical.
Quadrants formed are known as UR,
UL, LR, LL.
Where regions are described with
four imaginary lines, two horizontal
and two vertical lines, like a “tic-tac-
toe.”
Regions formed are known as;
epigastric, R and L hypochondriac,
umbilical, R and L Lumbar,
hypogastric, and R and L iliac.
- Pelvis – inferior end of the trunk associated
with the hips
Body Cavities
- The Trunk contains three main cavities that
do not open to the outside of the body,
namely;
Thoracic Cavity
The rib cage surrounds the - Mesenteries – mesenteries anchor the organs
thoracic cavity, and the to the body wall and provide a pathway for
muscular diaphragm nerves and blood vessels to reach the organs.
separates it from the
abdominal cavity.
Mediastinum – separates the
thoracic cavity into right and
left parts
Abdominal Cavity
Primarily enclosed with the
abdominal muscles, and this
cavity contains the stomach,
the intestines, the liver, the
spleen, the pancreas, and the
kidneys
Pelvic Cavity
The Pelvic bones encases the
Pelvic cavity, where the
urinary bladder, part of the
large intestine, and the
internal reproductive organs
are housed.
Serous Membranes
- These are structures that line the trunk
cavities and cover the organs within these
cavities.
- 2 Types:
Parietal Serous Membrane – outer
Layer of the membrane
Visceral Serous Membrane – vovers
the organ
- Thoracic Cavity – three serous membrane–
lined cavities: a pericardial cavity and two
pleural cavities
- Pericardial Cavity – surrounds the heart
Visceral Pericardium
Pericardial Fluid
Parietal Pericardium
- Pleural Cavity – Surrounds the lungs
Visceral Pleura
Pleural fluid
Parietal Pleura
- Peritoneal Cavity – surrounds the
abdominopelvic cavity
good luck!
Visceral Peritoneum
Peritoneal Fluid - chu
Parietal Peritoneum
