Overview of Anatomy and Physiology

1. Overview of Anatomy and Physiology • Anatomy – the study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another • Gross or macroscopic – large visible body structures (heart, lungs, kidney etc.) • Different ways to approach gross anatomy: • Regional – study of all the structure in a particular region of the body (leg, abdomen etc.) • Systemic – study a particular system at a time. • Microscopic – deals with structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye • Cytology – relates to the cells • Histology – study of the tissues • Physiology – the study of the function of the body’s

2. Anatomical Position • Body erect • feet slightly apart • palms facing forward • thumbs point away from body Figure 1.7a

3. Directional Terms Table 1.1a

4. Directional Terms Table 1.1b

5. Body Planes • Sagittal – divides the body into right and left parts • Midsagittal or medial – sagittal plane that lies on the midline • Frontal or coronal – divides the body into anterior and posterior parts • Transverse or horizontal (cross section) – divides the body into superior and inferior parts • Oblique section – cuts made diagonally

6. Body Cavities • Dorsal cavity protects the nervous system, and is divided into two subdivisions • Cranial cavity – within the skull; encases the brain • Vertebral cavity – runs within the vertebral column; encases the spinal cord • Ventral cavity houses the internal organs (viscera), and is divided into two subdivisions • Thoracic • Abdominopelvic

7. Dorsal body cavity Body Cavities Cranial cavity (contains brain) Thoracic cavity (contains heart and lungs) Ventral body cavity (thoracic and abdomino- pelvic cavities) Diaphragm Vertebral cavity (contains spinal cord) Abdominal cavity (contains digestive viscera) Key: Pelvic cavity (contains bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum) Dorsal body cavity Ventral body cavity (a) Lateral view Figure 1.9a

8. Body Cavities – thoracic cavity • Thoracic cavity is subdivided into two pleural cavities, the mediastinum, and the pericardial cavity • Pleural cavities – each houses a lung • Mediastinum – contains the pericardial cavity; surrounds the remaining thoracic organs • Pericardial cavity – encloses the heart

9. Cranial cavity Vertebral cavity Superior mediastinum Thoracic cavity (contains heart and lungs) Pleural cavity Pericardial cavity within the mediastinum Key: Dorsal body cavity Ventral body cavity Body Cavities (b) Anterior view Figure 1.9b

10. Body Cavities – abdominopelvic cavity • The abdominopelvic cavity is separated from the superior thoracic cavity by the dome-shaped diaphragm • It is composed of two subdivisions • Abdominal cavity – contains the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and other organs • Pelvic cavity – lies within the pelvis and contains the bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

11. Body Cavities Cranial cavity Vertebral cavity Diaphragm Abdominal cavity (contains digestive viscera) Abdomino- pelvic cavity Pelvic cavity (contains bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum) Key: Dorsal body cavity (b) Anterior view Ventral body cavity Figure 1.9b

12. Other Body Cavities • Oral and digestive – mouth and cavities of the digestive organs • Nasal –located within and posterior to the nose • Orbital – house the eyes • Middle ear – contains bones (ossicles) that transmit sound vibrations • Synovial – joint cavities

13. Organs of the Abdominopelvic Regions Figure 1.11b

14. Abdominopelvic Quadrants • Right upper • Left upper • Right lower • Left lower Figure 1.12