1. The Human Body: An Overview
Chapter 1

2. An Overview…
Anatomy – the study of the structure and shape of the body and body parts and their relationship with one another
Physiology – the study of how the body and its parts work or function

3. Levels of Structural Organization
Atom – the smallest unit of matter
Molecule – two or more atoms
Macromolecules – two or more molecules
Cell – the smallest unit of life
Tissue – group of cells that work together and have a common function
Organ – group of tissues that work together…
Organ system – group of organs…
Organism – group of organ systems…

4. Organ System Overview Integumentary – skin
Skeletal – provide framework for the body
Muscular – provides movement
Nervous – brain, spinal cord, and nerves
Endocrine – produces hormones

5. Organ System Overview (cont.)
Cardiovascular – heart and blood vessels
Lymphatic – immune system
Respiratory – lungs
Digestive – esophagus, stomach, and intestines
Urinary – elimination of liquid waste
Reproductive - sperm, eggs, etc.

6. Maintaining Life Movement
Responsiveness – the ability to sense changes (stimuli) in the environment and then react to them
Digestion

7. Maintaining Life (cont.)
Metabolism
breaking down macromolecules into simple building blocks
making larger structures from smaller ones
using nutrients and oxygen to produce ATP molecules
Excretion – removing waste from the body
Reproduction
Growth

8. Survival Needs Nutrients
Oxygen – approximately 20% of the air is consist of this gas
Water – 60% to 80% of body weight
Body temperature – needs to be around 98°F
Atmospheric pressure – aids in gas exchange and blood flow

9. Homeostasis
Homeostasis – the body ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions even though the outside world is changing
Example
Body temperature (very similar to a thermostat)

10. Homeostasis (cont.)
Negative feedback mechanisms – return stimuli back to set point
Homeostatic Balance of Body Temperature
105°F
Body temp. increases
Negative feedback
External heat increases
98°F
Set point
90°F

11. Anatomical Position
Anatomical position – standing with palms held unnaturally forward with thumbs pointing away from the body

12. Directional Terms Superior – Toward the head; above
Inferior – Away from the head; below
Anterior – Toward the front
Posterior – Toward the backside
Medial – Toward the midline of the body
Lateral – Away from the midline; the outer side of the body

13. Directional Terms (cont.)
Intermediate – Between a medial and a lateral structure
Ex. The armpit is intermediate between the breastbone and shoulder.
Proximal – Close to
Distal – Far from
Superficial – Toward the body surface
Deep – Away from the body surface; more internal

14. Directional Terms (cont.)
Superior
Inferior
Anterior
Posterior
Medial
Lateral
Superficial
Deep
Proximal
Distal
Intermediate

15. Anterior Body Landmarks
Abdominal – stomach
Axillary – armpit
Brachial – arm
Carpal – wrist
Digital – fingers, toes
Femoral – thigh
Nasal – nose
Oral – mouth
Orbital – eye area
Patellar – anterior knee
Pubic – genital region
Sternal – breastbone
Tarsal – ankle
Thoracic – chest
Umbilical - navel

16. Posterior Body Landmarks
Cephalic – head
Deltoid – curve of shoulder
Gluteal – buttock
Lumbar – lower spine region
Occipital – posterior part of head
Popliteal – posterior knee area
Scapular – shoulder blade
Vertebral – spine area

17. Body Planes and Sections
Plane – an imaginary line separating the body into sections
Sagittal (median or midsagittal) – A cut made dividing the body into left and right equal parts
Frontal – A cut made dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts
Transverse – A cut made dividing the body into superior and inferior parts

18. Sagittal
Frontal
Transverse

19. Body Cavities Cavity – an empty space in the body Dorsal body cavity
Cranial
Spinal
Ventral body cavity
Throracic– chest
Abdominal – stomach
Pelvic – hip
Abdominopelvic – combination of abdominal and pelvic cavities

21. Nine Regions of the Body
Upper three
Right (R.) and left (L.) hypochondriac
hypo = below chondro = cartilage
Epigastric
Epi = above gastric = stomach
Middle three
R. and L. lumbar – lower spine
Umbilical – navel
Lower three
R. and L. iliac – superior part of the hip
Hypogastric