Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes

Introduction to the Body

• Observe simple bodily actions: wiggling hands, sipping water, holding breath.
• These simple actions involve complex systems working together.
• Highlights of body complexity:
  • Intestines are as long as a three-story building.
  • Lifetime saliva production can fill multiple swimming pools.
  • Dead skin cell loss amounts to over 50 kilograms in a lifetime.

Anatomy and Physiology

• Anatomy: Study of structure and relationships between body parts.
• Physiology: Science of how body parts function and keep the body alive.
• The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of body function beyond just structure.

Historical Perspective

• Study of anatomy has a long history, often taboo and conducted in secret.
• Important historical figures:
  • Galen learned through vivisection of pigs.
  • Da Vinci sketched anatomical drawings from dissections.
• Public dissections became popular in 17th-18th centuries.

Modern Anatomy Studies

• Today, students use cadavers legally to study human anatomy.
• Cadavers are donated by volunteers for scientific study.

Key Concepts

• Complementarity of Structure and Function: Structure determines function, from cells to whole organisms.
• Hierarchy of Organization:
  • Atoms → Cells → Tissues → Organs → Organ Systems → Organisms.
  • Example: Digestive system functions to process food through organs like the stomach and intestines.

Homeostasis

• Definition: Maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes.
• Critical for survival, balance of materials and energy.
• Failure of homeostasis leads to death (e.g., organ failure, hypothermia).

Anatomical Language and Directions

• Importance of precise language to describe body parts and their locations.
• Anatomical Position: Standardized body position for reference.
• Planes of the Body:
  • Sagittal Plane: Divides body into left and right.
  • Coronal Plane: Divides body into front and back.
  • Transverse Plane: Divides body into top and bottom.
• Directional Terms:
  • Anterior/Ventral: Front
  • Posterior/Dorsal: Back
  • Superior/Cranial: Above
  • Inferior/Caudal: Below
  • Medial: Toward midline
  • Lateral: Away from midline
  • Proximal: Closer to the trunk
  • Distal: Farther from the trunk
• Example of anatomical language in use: Describing location of a swallowed object using directional terms.

Summary

• Anatomy: Studies structure.
• Physiology: How structures function.
• Central principles include the complementarity of structure and function, hierarchy of organization, and homeostasis.
• Understanding anatomy involves learning a precise language to describe body parts and their functions.

Credits

• Written by Kathleen Yale.
• Edited by Blake de Pastino.
• Consultant: Dr. Brandon Jackson.
• Directed by Nicholas Jenkins.
• Sound design by Michael Aranda.
• Graphics by Thought Café.