Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Key Points:

• Magnificence of the Human Body
  • Everyday actions & movements are complex systems working together.
  • Fun facts: intestines length, saliva production, skin cell loss.
• Disciplines
  • Anatomy: Study of structure and relationships between body parts.
  • Physiology: Study of how body parts function together.
• Connection to Other Sciences
  • Related to chemistry, physics, and involves learning a lot of new terminologies.

Understanding the Body

• Goals of the Course
  • Understanding why and how the body works, how diseases impact it, and recovery.
  • Examining big-picture processes (death, sex, eating, sleeping, thinking) through anatomy and physiology.

Historical Context

• Early Study
  • Initially taboo, done in secret (vivisections on pigs by Galen, dissections by Da Vinci).
  • Public dissections in the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • Grave-robbing led to Anatomy Act of 1832 in Britain providing corpses for study.
• Modern Times
  • Students use educational cadavers provided by voluntary body donations.

Fundamental Concepts

• Complementarity of Structure and Function
  • Form reflects function at all levels from cellular to organismal.
• Hierarchy of Organization
  • Atoms -> Cells -> Tissues -> Organs -> Organ Systems -> Organism.
  • Example: Digestive system - from ingestion to excretion.
• Homeostasis
  • Maintaining stable internal conditions (materials and energy balance) is vital for survival.
  • Disruption of homeostasis leads to death (organ failure, bleeding, loss of balance).
• Directional Terms in Anatomy
  • Standardized terms to describe body parts' locations:
    • Planes of the Body: Sagittal, parasagittal, coronal, transverse.
    • Divisions: Axial (head, neck, trunk) vs. appendicular (limbs).
    • Directions: Anterior/posterior, superior/inferior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal.

Practical Application

• Using directional terms to accurately describe locations within the body (e.g., locating a swallowed toothpick in the esophagus).

Conclusion

• Anatomy = Structure | Physiology = Function.
• Core principles: Structure-function complementarity, hierarchy of organization, homeostasis.
• Directional terms are crucial for precise communication in medicine.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to the production team and supporters for making the content available.