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 bodys
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 Anatomical Position
Body erect
feet slightly apart
palms facing forward
thumbs point away from body

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 1.7a
 Directional Terms

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 Directional Terms

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Table 1.1b
 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

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 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

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 Body Cavities
Cranial cavity
(contains brain)

Dorsal Thoracic
body cavity
cavity (contains
heart
and lungs)

Ventral
Diaphragm body cavity
Vertebral cavity (thoracic
(contains spinal Abdominal cavity
and
cord) (contains digestive
abdomino-
viscera)
pelvic
cavities)
Key:
Dorsal body cavity Pelvic cavity
(contains bladder,
Ventral body cavity reproductive organs,
and rectum)

(a) Lateral view

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 1.9a
 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

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Body Cavities
Cranial
cavity

Vertebral
cavity

Superior
Thoracic mediastinum
cavity
Pleural
(contains
cavity
heart
and lungs) Pericardial
cavity within
the mediastinum

Key:
Dorsal body cavity
Ventral body cavity
(b) Anterior view
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 1.9b
 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

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

 Body Cavities
Cranial
cavity

Vertebral
cavity

Diaphragm

Abdominal cavity
(contains digestive
viscera) Abdomino-
pelvic
cavity
Pelvic cavity
(contains bladder,
reproductive organs,
Key:
and rectum)
Dorsal body cavity
Ventral body cavity (b) Anterior view
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 1.9b
 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

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 Organs of the Abdominopelvic Regions

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 Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Right upper
Left upper
Right lower
Left lower

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 1.12