Concept 3 Notes - Anatomy Basics For Students

Overview
• Anatomy: the study of bodily structures

– Gross Anatomy = macroscopic, big picture
– Microanatomy = microscopic; histology (tissues) and
cytology (cells)
• Physiology: the study of bodily functions
• Structurally, organisms are made up of organ
systems, which are made up of organs, which are
made up of tissues, which are made up of cells.
– Functionally, a dynamic equilibrium is maintained from
the system level, all the way down to the cellular level
– Nothing works in isolation – even the organ systems
all work together!
Skeletal system
• Main function: support, protection for internal
organs, and aid in movement
• Key structures: bones, tendons, ligaments, and
cartilage
Muscular system
• Main function: movement and stabilization
• Key structures: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac
muscles
Nervous system
• Main function: collect, process and respond to
sensory information; control voluntary and
involuntary (reflex) actions
• Key structures: brain,
spinal chord, and all
connected nerves and
sensory organs
– Key cells are called
neurons
Endocrine system
• Main function: production and secretion of
hormones for regulation of the body (growth,
metabolism, and sexual development)
• Key structures:
Hypothalamus and glands
(like pituitary, adrenal, thyroid)
Cardiovascular system
• Main function: gas exchange and
nutrient transport to and from cells
throughout the body
• Key structures: Heart, blood
vessels (like arteries, capillaries,
and veins) and blood
Respiratory system
• Main function: gas exchange; taking in oxygen
and getting rid of carbon dioxide
• Key structures:
Lungs, nose, mouth,
trachea and
diaphragm
Digestive system
• Main function: Break down of food and absorption
of nutrients for the body
• Key structures:
Mouth, stomach,
and intestines
Urinary system
• Main function: maintains water balance, gets rid of
waste, regulates blood volume and pressure, and
filters blood
• Key structures:
Kidneys and bladder
Integumentary system
• Main function: acts as a barrier to protect the
body from the outside world, as well as regulates
temperature and controls water loss
• Key structures: Skin,
hair, nails, and
associated glands
Immune and Lymphatic systems
• Main function: defend, deflect and destroy
infectious agents that make their way into the body
• Key structures: Lymph nodes, blood vessels,
thymus, bone marrow, and spleen
Reproductive system
• Main function: allows animals to reproduce (aka,
make babies) by producing egg and sperm,
hormones, and nurturing developing offspring.
• Key (male) structures: • Key (female) structures:
testes and penis vagina, uterus, and
ovaries
Anatomical Terminology
• Anatomical position: where a
person is standing up with feet
slightly apart and arms at their sides
– This standard position is used as a
reference point when using directional
terms
• Note: Right and left are from his perspective
Regional Terms
• Axial: head, neck, and trunk
– Think about what is off the main axis of the body
• Appendicular: appendages (limbs)
attached to the axis
Directional Terms
• Superior (cranial):
toward the upper part;
above
– Ex. The chin is superior to
the abdomen.
• Inferior (caudal): away

from the upper part,
toward the lower part;
below
– Ex. The knees are inferior
to the navel.
Directional Terms
• Anterior (ventral):
toward or at the front of
the body; in front of
– Ex. The chin is anterior to
the spine.
• Posterior (dorsal):
toward or at the back of
the body; behind
– Ex. The spine is posterior
to the heart.
Directional Terms
• Medial: toward or at the
midline of the body; on
the inner side of
– Ex. The heart is medial to
the arm.
• Lateral: away from the

midline of the body; on
the outer side of
– Ex. The arms are lateral
to the chest.
• Intermediate: in
between
Directional Terms
• Proximal: closer to
the point where a limb
attaches to the body
trunk
– Ex. The elbow is
proximal to the wrist.
• Distal: farther from

the point where the
limb attaches to the
body trunk
– Ex. The toes are distal
to the knee.
Directional Terms
• Superficial (external):
toward or at the body
surface
– Ex. The skin is superficial
to the bones.
• Deep (internal): away

from the body surface
– Ex. The heart is deep to
the ribcage.
Body Planes (Sections)
To study the human body, it is often sectioned off along
flat surfaces called planes. Below are the most
frequently used.
Body Planes (Sections)
• Sagittal: a vertical plane that divides
the body into left and right sections
– If it goes directly through the midline, it
is a midsagittal (median) plane
– If it cuts off the midline, it is a
parasagittal plane
• Frontal (coronal): a vertical plane

that divides the body into anterior
(front) and posterior (behind)
sections
• Transverse (cross section): a

horizontal plane that divides the
body into superior (above) and
inferior (below) sections
Body Cavities
Anatomists typically divide the body into two membrane-lined
internal cavities that protect the organs within them, each
having 2 major subdivisions.
• Dorsal body cavity
– Part of the axial portion of
the body, encased in bony
structures for protection
– Houses the fragile nervous
systems organs
– Includes:
• Cranial cavity: holds the
brain (encased by the skull)
• Vertebral (Spinal) cavity:
holds the spinal cord within
the bony vertebrae
Body Cavities
Anatomists typically divide the body into two membrane-lined
internal cavities that protect the organs within them, each
having 2 major subdivisions.
• Ventral body cavity
– Part of the axial portion of the body,
less protected but allows more
mobility
– Houses the visceral organs
– Includes:
• Thoracic cavity: holds the heart and
lungs (protected by ribs and chest
muscles)
– Pleural cavities: hold the lungs
– Pericardial cavity (within the mediastinum):
holds the heart, esophagus, and trachea
• Abdominopelvic cavity: holds the
abdomen and pelvis
Body Cavities
A bit more about the abdominopelvic cavity
• Abdominopelvic cavity:
holds the abdomen and
pelvis
– Abdominal cavity: holds
the stomach, intestines,
spleen, liver (as well as other
organs)
– Pelvic cavity: holds the Often
bladder, some reproductive divided into
4
organs, and rectum quadrants
(protected by the pelvis)
Other Body Cavities
• These other body cavities are much smaller and
many have external openings.
– Oral cavity: contains the mouth, including the teeth and
tongue
– Digestive cavity: connects the oral cavity all the way to
the rectum
– Nasal cavity: within and behind the nose
– Orbital cavities: hold the eyes
– Middle ear cavities: contain tiny bones medial to the
eardrums
– Synovial cavities: joint cavities
Body Membranes
• Body membranes line body cavities and cover the
organs within them.
– Cutaneous membrane: your skin, which covers your body’s
surface
• The only dry membrane!
– Mucous membranes (Mucosae): line all body cavities that
open to the outside of the body
• Ex. Nasal cavity, mouth, etc.
– Serous membrane (Serosa): lines ventral body cavities that
are closed, as well as covering many organs
• Parietal membrane: lines the body cavity
• Visceral membrane: covers the internal organs
• These serous membranes are separated by serous fluid
– Meninges: the membrane that covers the brain and spinal
cord in the dorsal body cavity
Types of Tissues
• Groups of cells that are similar in structure and work
together for a common function are called tissues.
• A distinct structure made up of at least 2 different
types of tissues is called an organ.
• 4 types of tissues make Tissues of the Stomach
up all organs:
– Epithelial tissue
– Connective tissue
– Muscle tissue
– Nervous tissue
Epithelial Tissue
Also known as Epithelium (or Epithelia, plural)
• Covers body surfaces and
lines body cavities to form
boundaries, protect, absorb,
and filter
– Ex. The epidermis of the skin
creates a boundary between the
inside and outside of the body
• Make up glands: one or more

cells that create and secrete
different products (like
hormones)
– Exocrine: externally secreting
– Endocrine: internally secreting
Epithelial Tissue
Also known as Epithelium (or Epithelia, plural)
• Classification based on number of cell layers

– Simple (1 layer) vs. Stratified (>1 layer)
• Classification based on cell shape
– Squamous vs. Cuboidal vs. Columnar
Connective Tissue
• Supports, protects, insulates, transports, and binds other tissues
together
• 4 types:
– Connective tissue – Bone
proper • Supports
• Includes fats and and protects
the fibrous tissues organs from
of ligaments external
environment
• Insulates and
protects body
organs
• Acts as a fuel
reserve to store
energy
– Cartilage – Blood
• Supports, cushions, • Transports
and protects organs substances
from external throughout
environment the body
Connective Tissue
• Types of Connective Tissue Proper
– Can be loose or dense
Connective Tissue
• Types of Cartilage
– Hyaline, Elastic and Fibrocartilage
– All resist compressions by holding large amounts of water
Connective Tissue
• Bone (osseous) Tissue
– Resists compression and tension
– Extremely hard, making it good for support
– Can be compact or spongy
Spongy
bone tissue
Compact
bone tissue
Connective Tissue
• Blood
– A fluid tissue made of blood cells surrounded by blood
plasma
– Carries O2, CO2, nutrients, wastes and other substances
(like hormones) throughout the body
Muscle Tissue
• Made of tightly packed together cells that allow for
contractions to cause movement
• 3 types:
– Skeletal: muscles attached to
bones that control voluntary
movement
– Smooth: muscles that

involuntarily propel substances
or objects along internal
passageways
– Cardiac: muscles of the heart

that involuntarily contract to
propel blood into circulation
throughout the body
Nervous Tissue
• The main component of nervous system organs that
control regulation and communication
– Makes up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves
• Mainly composed of neurons = highly specialized
nerve cells that generate and conduct nerve
impulses

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Overview

• Anatomy: the study of bodily structures

• Inferior (caudal): away

• Lateral: away from the

• Distal: farther from

• Deep (internal): away

• Frontal (coronal): a vertical plane

• Transverse (cross section): a

• Make up glands: one or more

• Classification based on number of cell layers

– Smooth: muscles that

– Cardiac: muscles of the heart

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