1. The Human Body: An Orientation Ch1
Learning Goals:
• An overview of A & P
1. Define anatomy & physiology.
2. Explain how anatomy & physiology are related.
• Levels of structure & organization
3. Name the levels of structural organization that make up the human
body and explain how they are related.
4. Name the organ systems of the body and briefly state the major
functions of each system.
5. Classify by organ system all organs discussed.
6. Identify the organs shown on a diagram or a dissectible torso.
• Maintaining life
7. Define homeostasis and explain its importance.
8. Define negative feedback and describe its role in maintaining
homeostasis and normal body function.
• The language of anatomy
9. Describe the anatomical position verbally or demonstrate it.
10. Use proper anatomical terminology to describe body directions,
surfaces, and body planes.
11. Locate the major body cavities and list the chief organs in each cavity.

2. An Overview of Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy – study of structure; identification of body parts
Physiology – the study of function; how the body parts work
Structure is related to function. Things work the way they
work because of their structure.

3. Levels of Structural Organization

4. Organ System Overview

5. Integumentary System
Skin
• Waterproofs, cushions & protects
deeper tissues
• Excretes salts & urea
• Helps regulate temp
• Contains sense receptors (temp,
pressure, pain)

6. Skeletal System
• Consists of bone, cartilage, ligaments &
joints
• Support
• Provides framework for skeletal
muscles for movement
• Protection
• Produces blood cells

7. Muscular System
• Contract to cause
movement

8. Nervous System
• Fast acting control system
• Consists of brain, spinal
cord, nerves & sensory receptors
(eyes, ears…)
• Responds to external & internal
stimuli

9. Endocrine System
• Slower acting control system
• Consists of endocrine glands
that produce hormones
(chemical messengers) that
regulate other structures

10. Cardiovascular System
• Transports chemicals through body
• Consists of heart, blood vessels &
blood

11. Lymphatic System
• Return fluid back to blood
vessels that has leaked out
• Involved in immunity
• Lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes,
spleen, tonsils

12. Respiratory System
• Supply oxygen & remove
carbon dioxide (gas
exchange)
• Consists of nasal
passages, pharynx, larynx, tr
achea, bronchi & lungs

13. Digestive System
• Breaks down food & deliver
the small food molecules to
the blood for dispersal to the
body.
• Consists of oral cavity,
esophagus, stomach, small &
large intestines.

14. Urinary System
• Aka Excretory System
• Removes nitrogen - containing
wastes (urea & uric acid)
• Consists of
kidneys, ureters, bladder &
urethra
• Maintains water, salt & pH
balance of blood

15. Reproductive System
• Produce offspring
• Consists of scrotum, penis &
duct system in males
• Uterine tubes, uterus,
vagina in females

17. Maintaining Life
Necessary Life Functions
• Maintain boundaries
• Move
• Respond to environmental changes (responsiveness or irritability)
• Take in & digest nutrients
• Carry out metabolism (chemical rx)
• Dispose of wastes
• Reproduce
• Grow
All the organ systems work together to enable these to occur.
How can you remember these? Picture yourself walking to
McDonalds, eating a Big Mac…

18. Survival Needs
• Nutrients – used for energy &
cell building
• Oxygen – enables us to release
energy from our food
• Water – provides fluid base for
body
• Body temperature – must be
maintained @ 37 degrees C (98
F)
• Atmospheric pressure (force
exerted on surface of body by
the weight of air) – breathing
depends on appropriate pressure
All of these must be present in
appropriate amounts for survival.

19. Homeostasis
• The bodies ability to
maintain relatively stable
internal
conditions, regardless of
outside conditions.
• Homeo = unchanging
• Stasis = standing still
• Internal conditions aren’t
still, but they vary within
very narrow limits

21. The thermostat in
your house
maintains a set
temperature.

22. Now… apply this the human body & how it maintains a
steady level (amount) of glucose in the blood.
• Negative feedback –
a stimulus causes a
response in the
opposite direction of
the stimulus.

23. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oBquWer8R8
• Above link to Mr. Ford’s Body Position video
• The correct anatomical position is standing up (erect) with
the feet parallel and the arms hanging at the sides with
the palms facing forward and the thumbs pointing away
from the body. Body Landmarks
• To precisely point out the chief complaint of a patient, the
nurse or physician uses anatomical terms representing a
certain body part. For example, a patient walks in the
emergency room with a hacking wound on the posterior
portion of the left lower leg. To clearly state the area of
injury the nurse uses the term “sural” which means the
posterior surface of the lower leg rather than writing
“back area of the lower leg”. Knowing these terms not only
give the nurse a more accurate formulation of chief
complaints but it also saves time of a good deal of
description.

24. Anatomical Position

25. Orientation & Directional Terms
Used to clearly explain the relation of one body structure
to another
• Superior – above
• Inferior – below
• Anterior – in front of
• Posterior – behind
• Medial – middle
• Lateral – away from the middle; at outer the sides
• Intermediate – between a more medial and a more a
lateral surface
• Proximal – close to the body part
• Distal – away from a body part
• Superficial – external; at the surface
• Deep – internal; away from the surface

26. Orientation & Directional Terms

28. Regional
Terms

29. Anterior Body Landmarks
• Abdominal – anterior body trunk inferior to
ribs
• Acromial – point of shoulder
• Antecubital – anterior surface of elbow
• Axillary – armpit
• Brachial – arm
• Buccal – cheek area
• Carpal – wrist
• Cervical – neck region
• Coxal – hip
• Crural – leg
• Digital – fingers, toes
• Femoral – thigh
• Fibular – lateral part of the leg
• Inguinal – area where thigh meets body part
• Nasal – nose area
• Oral – mouth
• Orbital – eye area
• Patellar – anterior knee
• Pelvic – area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
• Pubic – genital region
• Sternal – breastbone area
• Tarsal – ankle region
• Thoracic – chest
• Umbilical – navel

30. Posterior Body Landmark
• Calcaneal – heel of foot
• Cephalic – head
• Deltoid – curve of shoulder formed
by large deltoid muscle
• Femoral – thigh
• Gluteal – buttock
• Lumbar – area of back between ribs
and hips
• Occipital – posterior surface of head
• Olecranal – posterior surface of
elbow
• Popliteal – sacral
• Scapular – shoulder blade region
• Sural – posterior surface of the
lower leg
• Vertebral – area of spine
• Plantar – sole of the foot

31. Body Planes & Sections
Median Frontal or Coronal Transverse

32. Body Cavities
Lateral View

33. Body Cavities
Anterior View

34. Abdominopelvic Cavity Regions

35. Adominopelvic Cavity Quadrants
View without skeleton

36. Interactive Region Body Parts Site
• http://www.wisc-
online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=AP14904
• http://nhscience.lonestar.edu/biol/dropdrag/regions1
.htm
Flash Cards of Body Regions
http://quizlet.com/11406/anatomy-
regional-terms-flash-cards/

38. Body Organization Quiz / Games
• http://msjensen.cehd.umn.edu/webanatomy/
timed/01.htm