A&P: Intro to Anatomy

CHAPTER 1 Body systems

The Human Anatomy The human body has 11 systems:
 Anatomy – the study of the structure
and shape of the body and body 1-INTEGUMENTARY
parts & their relationships to one ORGANS
another. The term anatomy comes  Skin
from the Greek words meaning to FUNCTIONS
cut (tomy) apart (ana) .  Waterproofs, cushions, protects
- Gross anatomy deeper tissue
(macroscopic anatomy) –  Excretes salts & urea; pain, pressure
the study of large, easily  Regulates body temp; synthesize
observable structures (by vitamin D
naked eye), such as the
heart or bone. 2-SKELETAL
- Microscopic anatomy ORGANS
(cytology, histology) – the  Bones, cartilages, ligaments, joints
study of very small FUNCTIONS
structures, where a  Protects & supports body organs
magnifying lens or  Framework for muscles & movement
microscope is needed.
 Hematopoiesis; store minerals
 Physiology – the study of how the 3- MUSCULAR
body and its parts work or function ORGANS
 Skeletal muscle (attached to bone)
physio =nature, ology = the study of.
FUNCTIONS
 Contraction & mobility (locomotion)
Relationship between Anatomy and  Facial expression, posture
Physiology  Produce body heat
Anatomy and Physiology are always
related. Structure determines what functions 4- NERVOUS
can take place. For example, the lungs are ORGANS
not muscular chambers like the heart and  Brain, spinal cord, nerves, & sensory
cannot pump blood, but because the walls receptors
of lungs are very thin, they can exchange FUNCTIONS
gasses and provide oxygen to the body.  Fast-acting central control system
 Responds to external/internal stimuli
Levels of Structural Organization via nerve impulses (electrical
The human body exhibits 6 levels of messages)
structural complexity:
1- Chemical level, the simplest level of 5- ENDOCRINE
structural ladder. At this level atoms ORGANS
combine to form molecules such as water,  Pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids,
sugar, & proteins adrenals, thymus, pancreas, pineal,
2- Cellular level the smallest units of living ovaries, testes, etc.
things. FUNCTIONS
3- Tissue level, groups of similar cells that  Slow -acting control system
have a common function (4 basic types)  Glands produce hormones that
regulate growth, reproduction,
metabolism, etc.

Eva Marie Gaa, R.N.

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A&P: Intro to Anatomy

6- Circulatory  Regulates water, electrolytes, &

ORGANS acid-base balance of the blood
 Heart, blood vessels, capillaries
&blood 11- REPRODUCTIVE
FUNCTIONS ORGANS
 Carries O2 nutrients, hormones, &  Male
other substances to and from tissue - Seminal vesicles,
cells prostate, penis, vas
 White blood cells protect against deferens, testis, scrotum
bacteria, toxins, tumors  Female
- Ovaries, mammary
7- LYMPHATIC glands, uterus, vagina,
ORGANS uterine tube
 Lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, FUNCTIONS
spleen, tonsils  Primary function for both sexes is to
FUNCTIONS produce offspring
 Complements circulatory system by  Male – testes produce sperm & male
returning leaked fluid back to blood sex hormones
vessels  Female – ovaries produce eggs &
 Cleanses the blood; involved in female sex hormones; mammary
immunity glands for nourishment

8- RESPIRATORY Maintaining Life

ORGANS
 Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, I-Necessary Life Functions:   All living
trachea, bronchi, & lungs organisms carry out certain vital functional
FUNCTIONS activities necessary for life, including:
 Keeps blood supplied with O2 &
removes CO2 1. Maintenance of boundaries:
 Carries out gas exchanges through o Every living organism must maintain
air sacs in lungs its inside distinct from outside.
o All the cells are surrounded by a
9- DIGESTIVE selectively permeable membrane.
ORGANS o The body as a whole is enclosed
 Oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and protected by the integumentary
small intestine, large intestine, system, or skin, which protects our
rectum, anus (liver & pancreas) internal organs from drying out,
FUNCTIONS bacteria, heat, sunlight, and
 Breaks food down into absorbable chemicals.
units that enter the blood;
indigestible food eliminated as feces 2. Movement:
o It includes the activities promoted by
10- URINARY (EXCRETORY) the muscular system, the skeletal
ORGANS system provides the bony framework
 Kidney, ureter, urinary bladder, that the muscles pull on as they
urethra work.
FUNCTIONS o Movement also occurs when
 Eliminates nitrogenous waste from substances such as blood,
the body (urea & uric acid) foodstuffs, and urine are propelled
through internal organs.

Eva Marie Gaa, R.N.

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A&P: Intro to Anatomy

o - On the cellular level, the muscle regulated largely by hormones secreted by

cell’s ability to move by shortening is endocrine system glands.
more precisely called contractility.
6. Excretion
3. Responsiveness   or irritability o the process of removing excreta (ek-
o is the ability to sense changes skre′tah), or wastes, from the body.
(stimuli) in the environment and then o The digestive system rids the body
respond to them. of indigestible food residues in
o you involuntarily pull your hand away feces.
from the painful stimulus. o The urinary system disposes of
o When carbon dioxide in your blood nitrogen-containing metabolic
rises to dangerously high levels, wastes, such as urea, in urine.
your breathing rate speeds up. o Carbon dioxide, a by-product of
Because nerve cells are highly irritable cellular respiration, is carried in the
and communicate rapidly with each blood to the lungs, where it leaves
other via electrical impulses, the the body in exhaled air.
nervous system is most involved with
responsiveness. However, all body cells  
are irritable to some extent. 7. Reproduction
o making a whole new person which is
4. Digestion the major task of the reproductive
o the breaking down of ingested system.
foodstuffs to simple molecules that o When a sperm unites with an egg, a
can be absorbed into the blood. The fertilized egg forms, which then
nutrient-rich blood is then distributed develops into a baby within the
to all body cells by the mother’s body.
cardiovascular system. o The reproductive system is
o In a simple, one-celled organism regulated by hormones of the
such as an amoeba, the cell itself is endocrine system.
the “digestion factory,” but in the - Because males produce sperm and
multicellular human body, the females produce eggs (ova), there is
digestive system performs this a division of labor in the reproductive
function for the entire body. process, and the reproductive
organs of males and females are
5. Metabolism different .
o a broad term that includes all o The female’s reproductive structures
chemical reactions that occur within provide the site for fertilization of
body cells. It includes breaking down eggs by sperm, then protect and
substances into their simpler nurture the developing fetus until
building blocks (catabolism), birth.
synthesizing more complex cellular
structures from simpler substances 8. Growth
(anabolism), and using nutrients and o an increase in size of a body part or
oxygen to produce (via cellular the organism. It is usually
respiration) ATP, that power cellular accomplished by increasing the
activities. number of cells. However, individual
Metabolism depends on the digestive and cells also increase in size when not
respiratory systems to make nutrients and dividing. For true growth to occur,
oxygen available to be distributed constructive activities must occur at
throughout the body. Metabolism is a faster rate than destructive ones

Eva Marie Gaa, R.N.

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A&P: Intro to Anatomy

and the fluid base for body

secretions and excretions.
o Water is obtained chiefly from
II- Survival Needs ingested foods or liquids and is lost
This includes: from the body by evaporation from
the lungs and skin and in body
1. Nutrients excretions.
o taken in via the diet, contain the
chemical substances used for 4. If chemical reactions are to continue
energy and cell building. at life-sustaining rates, normal body
 Carbohydrates are the temperature must be maintained.
major energy fuel for body o As body temperature drops
cells. below 37°C (98.6°F), metabolic
 Proteins, and to lesser reactions become slower and
extent fats, are essential for slower, and finally stop.
building cell structures. o When body temperature is too
 Fats also provide a reserve high, body proteins lose their
of energy-rich fuel. characteristic shape and stop
 Selected minerals and functioning. At either extreme,
vitamins are required for the death occurs.
chemical reactions that go on o Most body heat is generated by
in cells and for oxygen the activity of the muscular
transport in the blood. The system.
mineral calcium helps to
make bones hard and is 5. Atmospheric pressure
required for blood clotting. o the force that air exerts on the
surface of the body.
2. Oxygen o Breathing and gas exchange in the
o All the nutrients in the world are lungs depend on appropriate
useless unless oxygen is also atmospheric pressure. At high
available. Because the chemical altitudes, where atmospheric
reactions that release energy from pressure is lower and the air is thin,
foods are oxidative reactions that gas exchange may be inadequate to
require oxygen, human cells can support cellular metabolism.
survive for only a few minutes    Notice: The mere presence of
without oxygen. these survival factors is not sufficient
o Approximately 20% of the air we to sustain life. They must be present
breathe is oxygen. in appropriate amounts; excesses
o It is made available to the blood and and deficits may be equally harmful.
body cells by the cooperative efforts For example, the food we eat must
of the respiratory and cardiovascular be of high quality and in proper
systems. amounts; otherwise, nutritional
disease, obesity, or starvation is
3. Water likely.
o accounts for 60–80% of body weight
and is the single most abundant
chemical substance in the body.
o It provides the watery environment
necessary for chemical reactions

Eva Marie Gaa, R.N.

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A&P: Intro to Anatomy

Eva Marie Gaa, R.N.

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