Essential Human Anatomy and Physiology Overview

Aug 13, 2024

Notes on Human Anatomy and Physiology for ATITs

Introduction

  • Importance of human anatomy and physiology for healthcare college entrance exams (ATITs).
  • Coverage of body systems relevant to the tests.

Body Systems Overview

  • Systems to Know:
    • Respiratory
    • Cardiovascular
    • Digestive
    • Nervous
    • Muscular
    • Reproductive
    • Integumentary
    • Endocrine
    • Urinary
    • Immune
    • Skeletal
  • 44 questions total in section; 18 specifically on human anatomy and physiology.

Anatomical Terminology

Common Terms:

  • Cephalic: Head
  • Cranial: Skull
  • Facial: Face
  • Frontal: Forehead
  • Occipital: Base of the skull
  • Temporal: Temple area
  • Orbital/Ocular: Eyes
  • Optic: Ears
  • Buccal: Cheek
  • Nasal: Nose
  • Oral: Mouth
  • Mental: Chin
  • Cervical: Neck
  • Sternal: Breastbone
  • Thoracic: Chest
  • Mammary: Breasts
  • Acromial: Shoulder
  • Scapular: Shoulder blade
  • Vertebral: Spinal column
  • Lumbar: Lower back
  • Dorsal: Back
  • Axillary: Armpit
  • Brachial: Arm
  • Anti-brachial: Forearm
  • Carpal: Wrist
  • Palmer: Palm
  • Pollex: Thumb
  • Dorsum: Back of the hand
  • Manual: Hand
  • Digital/Phalangeal: Fingers
  • Abdominal: Abdomen
  • Umbilical: Navel
  • Coccygeal: Tailbone
  • Gluteal: Buttocks
  • Pelvic: Pelvis
  • Pubic: Pubis area
  • Perineal: Area between anus and external genitalia
  • Inguinal: Groin
  • Femoral: Thigh
  • Patella: Front of the knee
  • Popliteal: Back of the knee
  • Curial: Shin
  • Cyril: Calf
  • Pedal: Foot
  • Tarsal: Ankle

Anatomical Positions and Directions:

  • Anterior: Front
  • Posterior: Back
  • Superior: Toward the head
  • Inferior: Toward the feet
  • Medial: Toward the midline
  • Lateral: Away from the midline
  • Proximal: Closer to the trunk
  • Distal: Further from the trunk

Common Planes:

  • Sagittal Plane: Divides body into right and left halves.
  • Frontal (Coronal) Plane: Divides body into anterior and posterior halves.
  • Transverse Plane: Divides body into superior and inferior halves.

Respiratory System

Structure:

  • Components: Nose, mouth, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs.
  • Function: Oxygen intake, carbon dioxide release.
  • Gas Exchange: Occurs in alveoli.

Function:

  • Inhalation: Diaphragm contracts, increasing thoracic cavity volume.
  • Exhalation: Diaphragm relaxes, decreasing thoracic cavity volume.
  • Maintains blood pH by regulating carbon dioxide levels.

Factors Affecting Respiratory System:

  • Diseases: pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma.
  • Smoking, pollution, allergies can impact function.

Cardiovascular System

Structure:

  • Components: Heart, blood vessels, blood.
  • Heart: Four chambers (Right atrium, Left atrium, Right ventricle, Left ventricle).
  • Blood Vessels: Arteries (oxygen-rich), veins (deoxygenated), capillaries (exchange site).

Function:

  • Pumps blood throughout the body.
  • Systole: Contraction phase; Diastole: Relaxation phase.
  • Maintains blood pressure and temperature.
  • Transports hormones and aids in tissue repair.

Digestive System

Structure:

  • GI tract: Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum.
  • Accessory organs: Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas.

Function:

  • Digestion: Mechanical and chemical breakdown of food.
  • Absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine.

Key Enzymes & Hormones:

  • Gastrin: Stimulates stomach acid production.
  • CCK (Cholecystokinin): Stimulates enzyme release from pancreas.
  • Secretin: Stimulates bicarbonate production from liver.
  • Insulin/Glucagon: Regulates blood sugar levels.

Nervous System

Structure:

  • Central Nervous System: Brain and spinal cord.
  • Peripheral Nervous System: Branching nerves from spinal cord.
  • Neurons: Basic unit, composed of cell body, dendrites, axon.

Function:

  • Transmits signals between body and brain.
  • Types of Neurons: Sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent).
  • Involuntary vs Voluntary: Autonomic (involuntary) and somatic (voluntary).

Muscular System

Types of Muscle Tissue:

  1. Skeletal Muscle: Voluntary, striated, attached to bones.
  2. Cardiac Muscle: Involuntary, striated, found in heart.
  3. Smooth Muscle: Involuntary, non-striated, found in organs.

Function:

  • Movement of the body through contraction.
  • Over 700 named muscles in the body.

Reproductive System

Male Structures:

  • Components: Testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, penis.

Female Structures:

  • Components: Ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, vulva.

Hormonal Regulation:

  • Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone: Stimulates follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
  • Estrogen/Progesterone: Regulates menstrual cycle.

Integumentary System

Structure:

  • Composed of skin, hair, nails, sweat glands.
  • Layers of Skin: Epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous.

Function:

  • Protection, temperature regulation, sensation.

Endocrine System

Structure:

  • Composed of glands that secrete hormones (e.g., pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas).

Function:

  • Regulates growth, metabolism, reproduction, mood.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Positive (amplifies change) and Negative (reverses change).

Urinary System

Structure:

  • Components: Kidneys, renal cortex, renal medulla, ureters, bladder, urethra.

Function:

  • Filters blood, produces urine, maintains homeostasis. Nephrons are the functional units.

Immune System

Structure:

  • Composed of innate (first line of defense) and adaptive (second line of defense) systems.

Function:

  • Protects against infections, recognizes and destroys foreign invaders.

Types of Immunity:

  • Active Immunity: Body produces its own antibodies.
  • Passive Immunity: Antibodies passed from one individual to another.

Skeletal System

Structure:

  • Composed of bones held together by ligaments.
  • Types: Long, short, flat, irregular bones.

Function:

  • Provides support, movement, protects organs, produces blood cells.