Lecture Notes: Anatomy and Physiology

Chapter Two: Basic Units and Tissue Types

Cells and Cell Structures

• Cell: Basic unit of all living organisms.
• Cell membrane: Boundary of the cell.
• Cytoplasm: Gel-like fluid inside the cell.
• Nucleus: Largest cell structure; contains chromosomes.
• Chromosomes: Found in the nucleus, composed of genes.
• Genes: Regions within chromosomes made up of DNA.

Tissue Types

• Tissue: Group of similar cells with a specific function.
• Muscle tissue: Cells specialized to contract, usually for movement.
• Nervous tissue: Specialized cells for specific functions.
• Connective tissue: Supports and binds other tissues.
• Epithelial tissue: Covers external surfaces of the body.

Organs and Systems

• Organ: Two or more tissues working together for specific functions.
• Viscera: Large internal organs in body cavities.
• System: Group of organs performing complex functions.
  • Integumentary system: Skin, nails, glands.
  • Respiratory system: Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, lungs.
  • Urinary system: Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.
  • Reproductive systems: Female (ovaries, uterus) and Male (testes, prostate).
  • Cardiovascular system: Heart, blood vessels.
  • Lymphatic system: Vessels, nodes, organs.
  • Digestive system: Mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines.
  • Musculoskeletal system: Muscles, bones, joints.
  • Nervous system: Brain, spinal cord, nerves.
  • Endocrine system: Hormone-secreting glands.

Body Cavities

• Cranial cavity: Contains the brain.
• Spinal cavity: Contains the spinal cord.
• Thoracic cavity: Contains heart, lungs, major vessels.
• Abdominal cavity: Contains digestive organs like the stomach.
• Pelvic cavity: Contains bladder, reproductive organs.

Medical Terminology and Prefixes/Suffixes

• Examples:
  • Aden/o: Gland
  • Cyt/o: Cell
  • Neur/o: Nerve
  • -itis: Inflammation
  • -ectomy: Surgical removal

Chapter Three: Anatomical Terms

Body Directions and Planes

• Anter/o: Front
• Caud/o: Tail
• Dist/o: Away
• Medi/o: Middle
• Planes:
  • Axial: Horizontal plane
  • Coronal: Divides body into anterior/posterior portions
  • Sagittal: Divides body into right and left sides

Body Positions

• Fowler position: Semi-sitting
• Supine position: Lying on back facing up
• Prone position: Lying on abdomen facing down

Imaging Modalities

• Computed Tomography (CT): Detailed cross-sectional images.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Imaging using magnetic fields.

Chapter Four: Integumentary System

Skin and its Components

• Skin: Largest organ.
• Epidermis: Outer layer.
• Dermis: Inner layer.
• Hypodermis: Beneath dermis; contains fat.
• Hair and Nails: Composed of keratin.
• Glands:
  • Sebaceous glands: Secrete oil (sebum).
  • Sudoriferous glands: Sweat glands.

Common Conditions

• Acne: Inflammation of sebaceous glands.
• Psoriasis: Red lesions with silvery scales.
• Eczema: Inflammatory skin condition.

Diagnostic Procedures

• Biopsy: Sample for testing.
• Dermabrasion: Removes skin scars with abrasive material.

Chapter Five: Respiratory System

Major Structures

• Nose: Entry point for air.
• Pharynx/Larynx: Air passageways.
• Trachea: Windpipe connecting to lungs.
• Lungs: Principal organs of respiration.
• Alveoli: Air sacs for gas exchange.

Common Conditions

• Asthma: Airway constriction leading to breathing difficulty.
• COPD: Chronic obstruction of lung airflow.
• Pneumonia: Lung infection by bacteria or virus.

Diagnostic/Medical Procedures

• Pulmonary Function Tests: Measure lung capacity.
• Bronchoscopy: Visual examination of the airways.

Chapter Six: Urinary System

Major Structures

• Kidneys: Filter blood, produce urine.
• Ureters: Transport urine from kidneys to bladder.
• Bladder: Stores urine.
• Urethra: Excretes urine out of the body.

Common Conditions

• Kidney Stones: Solid masses formed in kidneys.
• UTI: Infection in urinary tract.
• Chronic Kidney Disease: Long-term kidney function loss.

Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures

• Dialysis: Removes waste from blood.
• Kidney Transplant: Replacing a failed kidney.

Chapters Seven to Sixteen Overview

• Reproductive System: Male and female organs and functions.
• Cardiovascular System: Heart and blood vessels; conditions like hypertension and heart disease.
• Digestive System: Organs for food digestion and nutrient absorption.
• Nervous System: Brain, spinal cord and nerve functions.
• Endocrine System: Hormone-secreting glands like the pituitary and thyroid.

Key Vocabulary and Terminology

• -ectomy: Removal
• -itis: Inflammation
• -ology: Study of
• Hyper-: Above, excessive
• Hypo-: Below, deficient
• Neur/o: Related to nerves

Review Topics

• Practice identifying organ systems and their functions.
• Review common diseases and their symptoms.
• Familiarize with medical terminology used in diagnostics and treatment.