Organization of the Human Body
Anatomy
· Study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts
Physiology
· Study of how the body and its parts work or function
Anatomy: Levels of Study
· Gross/Macroscopic Anatomy · Large structures · Easily observable · Regional anatomy · all the structure (muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, etc.) in the particular region of the body, such as the abdomen or leg, are examined. · Systemic anatomy · body structure is studied system by system · Surface anatomy · the study of internal structures as they relate to the overlying skin surface · ex: identifying bulging muscles beneath a bodybuilder's skin
· Microscopic Anatomy · Very small structures · Can only be viewed with a microscope · Cytology · considers the cells of the body · Histology · the study of tissues
· Developmental Anatomy · traces structural changes that occur in the body throughout the life span · Embryology · concerns developmental changes that occur before birth
· Essential tools for studying anatomy: · mastery of anatomical terminology · observation · manipulation · palpation (feeling organs with your hands) · auscultation (listening to organ sounds with a stethoscope)
Levels of Structural Organization
· Chemical level · Simplest level of the structural hierarchy · Atoms (tiny building blocks of matter) combine to form molecules, such as water and proteins. Molecules, in turn, associate in specific ways to form organelles (basic components of the microscopic cells.
· Cellular level · Cells have some common function, but individual cells vary widely in size shape because of their unique function
· Tissue level · Tissues are groups of similar cells