An Introduction to the Human Body

Dr. Elita Partosoedarso

Links to segment recordings: Part A, Part B, Part C

 Introduction lecture overview
Set up of recorded lectures
Basics
Introduction

Metabolism
Introduction

Functions and
requirements of Homeostasis
human life
Feedback control

Levels of anatomy
Structural organization

Levels of Directional terms

organization
Anatomical position

Body cavities & membranes

2
 ● Suggested strategies for recorded lectures
○ Download and look through slides beforehand
Making the most of your
○ You can listen to it at 1.5 speed or faster (I won’t be
offended)
○ Make notes during lectures: Make sure that your note-taking
recorded lectures

skills are up to speed

Print it out beforehand and handwrite notes onto it OR
Type/write the notes on the slides on your device
○ Review your lecture notes again for 10 minutes within 24
hours of listening

● Potential pitfalls of recorded lectures

● Do not multitask
● Do not write down every word that you hear (or think you
hear)
● Do not rewind every time you miss a word: doing this will
make a 30 minute recording take much longer to listen to

3
 Introduction
1. Anatomy: science of the structure of an organism and the
relationship of its parts
2. Physiology: science of the function of an organism and the
relationship of its parts

Interaction of Structure and Function

• Complementarity of structure and function is an important and
unifying concept in the study of anatomy and physiology
• Understanding the interaction of structure and function assists in
the integration of otherwise isolated factual information
• Form is closely related to function: Anatomical structures often
seem “designed” to perform specific functions because of their
unique size, shape, form, or body location

4
 1. Organization: order found within the body to optimize
function
Functions of human life
2. Metabolism: ability to create and breakdown substances
3. Responsiveness: ability of an organism to adjust to
changes in its internal and external environments.
4. Movement: ability of cells, organs and joints to change
position.
5. Development: changes that the body undergoes
throughout its life cycle, includes differentiation, growth and
repair
6. Growth: increase in body size through an increase in cell
number, cell size and the amount of non-cellular material
around cells
7. Reproduction: formation of a new organism from parent
organisms 5
 Metabolism

1.1 Anabolic reaction 3 Metabolism

• smaller, simpler molecules are combined into larger,
more complex substances.
• consumes (requires) energy
2.2 Catabolic reaction
2 1
• releases (produces) energy
• larger more complex substances are broken down into
smaller simpler molecules
3.3 Metabolism
• sum of all anabolic and catabolic reactions that take
place in the body.
• Both anabolism and catabolism occur simultaneously
and continuously to keep you alive
 Requirements for Human Life
1. Oxygen: key component of chemical reactions, eg ATP production.
Brain cells can die within 10 minutes if deprived of constant high
supply of ATP

2. Nutrients
• Water most important: survival of days without it, transports
substances, medium for chemical reactions, 70% of adult mass,
helps regulate internal temperature, protects body
• Energy-yielding and body-building nutrients : generate energy and
maintain body. Carbohydrates, proteins lipids
• Micronutrients: vitamins and minerals eg calcium, iron, vitamins C,
B, A, D, E, K

3. Narrow Range of Temperature ~37°C (98.6°F): maintains normal

protein structure and function, compensated by sweating and
shivering

4. Narrow Range of Atmospheric Pressure: drop in pressure can cause

dissolved nitrogen to come out of solution. Ease of breathing is partly
dependent on atmospheric pressure
 Homeostasis

Normal blood glucose range

Definition: ability to maintain or restore an environment at a 100

certain level. State of steady internal conditions maintained by

(mg/ml)
living things. 90 1 2
1.1 Set point: value around which normal range fluctuates.
2.2 Normal range: restricted set of values for optimum function 80
3.
3 Feedback is a process of information about a variable
Time
constantly flowing back from the sensor to the integrator
Basic components of a homeostasis control mechanism
Stimulus
any factor which causes a change from normal

Sensor

Feedback
specific sensors/receptors detect and react to any changes from normal
3

Integrating (control) center

compares value to its normal range to determine the need to initiate a specific
action
Effector 8
causes a change in order to return value to normal range
 Types of Feedback Control Mechanisms
1.1 Positive feedback control systems
• Overall effect: Stimulatory as it amplifies or reinforces the change that
is occurring
• Action: Tend to produce destabilizing effects and disrupt homeostasis 1
• Purpose: Bring specific body functions to swift completion
• How common is it?
• Examples: clotting process, uterine contractions during childbirth, milk
ejection during breastfeeding
2.2 Negative feedback control systems
• Overall effect: Inhibitory as it stabilizes physiological variables
• Action: produce an effect opposite to the change that activated the
system
• Purpose: to maintain homeostasis
• How common is it?
• Examples: sweating to cool down when body is hot, regulation of 2
glucose

9
Different levels of anatomy 1.1 Microanatomy or microscopic anatomy
○ study of the structures of the body at a smaller scale
○ observable only with the use of a microscope or other 1
magnification devices
○ includes cytology (study of cells) and histology (study of
tissues)

2.2 Gross anatomy or macroscopic anatomy

○ study of the larger structures of the body
○ visible without the aid of magnification 2

3. Regional anatomy
○ study of the interrelationships of all of the structures in a
specific body region

4.4 Systemic anatomy

○ study of the structures that make up a discrete body 4
system

10
 Chemical level—basis for life
Levels of Structural Organization of chemical structures separates Organization of atoms, molecules, and
living material from nonliving material macromolecules results in living matter
Organization of the Human
Body Organelle level
Chemical structures organized to form
Organelle function allow the cell to live
organelles that perform individual functions

Cellular level: Smallest and most numerous units that possess and exhibit characteristics of life
Each cell has a nucleus surrounded by
Cells differentiate to perform unique functions
cytoplasm within a limiting membrane

Tissue level: organization of similar cells specialized to perform a certain function

Tissue cells are surrounded by nonliving matrix

Organ level: organization of several different kinds of tissues to perform a special function
Represent discrete and functionally complex Each organ has a unique size, shape,
operational units appearance, and placement in the body

System level: most complex organizational units of the body which involves varying numbers
and kinds of organs arranged to perform complex functions
Support and Communication, Transportation Respiration, Reproduction
movement control, integration & defense nutrition, excretion development

Organism level: living human organism is greater than11

the sum of its parts
All of the components interact to allow the human to survive and flourish
 Organ systems of the human body

Organs that work together are grouped into organ systems.

12
 Anatomical Position

Reference position
1. Body __________
2. Arms ___________, palms ___________
3. Head and feet pointing ___________

Some terms
1. Bilateral symmetry: _______________
• Example:
1. Ipsilateral structures: ______________
• Example:
1. Contralateral structures: ___________
• Example:

13
 Directional Terms
1
1.1 Superior (cranial) vs inferior (caudal): Above vs below 1 6 6

2.2 Medial vs lateral: Towards the middle vs towards the sides

4
3.3 Anterior (ventral) vs posterior (dorsal): Front and back
4.4 Proximal vs distal: Closer vs farther
5. Afferent vs efferent: Going towards the center vs going 3 3
2
2
away from the center
6.6 Right vs left: not YOUR right and left but the person’s right 4
1 4
and left

4
1 14
 Directional Terms
2 1
3 major planes: lie at right angles to each other

1.1 Frontal (coronal) plane

• Runs lengthwise (side to side) 3
• Divides the body (or part) into anterior and posterior
portions
2.2 Sagittal plane
• Runs through the middle from the front to the back
• Divides the body (or part) into right and left portions
3 Transverse (horizontal) plane
3.
• Runs “crosswise” plane
• Divides the body (or part) into upper and lower parts

15
 Dorsal and Ventral Body Cavities
1.1 The posterior (dorsal) cavity is divided into two smaller
cavities. A
A
A.
A Cranial cavity contains _____________

B.B Spinal (vertebral) cavity contains _____________ C

B

2.2 The anterior (ventral) cavity is divided in two smaller

ones. 2
3
C.
C Thoracic cavity contains _____________
B
D.
D Abdominopelvic cavity contains _____________ D
D

4.
3 The diaphragm forms the floor of the __________ cavity

and separates it from the __________ cavity. Only the

______________________ cavity is NOT protected by
bones.

16
 Membranes of the Anterior (Ventral) Body Cavity

• Serous membrane (serosa): thin membranes that cover walls and organs in anterior cavities. They form
fluid-filled sacs which cushion and reduce friction on internal organs when they move
• Each serous membrane contains:
• a ________________ layer to cover the organ(s)
• a ________________ layer to line the walls of the cavity
• a very thin, fluid-filled serous space separating the layers.

This serous membrane has specific names for specific organs, namely
• The ________________surrounds the lungs.
• The ________________ surrounds the heart.
17
• The ________________ surrounds organs in the abdominopelvic cavity