Anatomy and Physiology For Dummies

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Why does science have so many funny words? Why can’t scientists just say what they mean, in plain English? Good question, with short and long answers. Creating better communication The integumentary system comprises a network of features that forms the covering of an organism. In humans, the main structure of the system is the skin, or integument. Hair, nails, and a variety of glands also are part of the integumentary system. PartI introduces the basics of human anatomy and physiology: the fundamental concepts of organismal biology and cell biology, some elementary terminology, and some hints about the scope and utility of anatomical and physiological knowledge. Unlike with other sciences, you don’t always have to go to a lab to perform experiments. You may have one, or even a pair, of anatomical structures close by to investigate. You discover some of the body functions that have been happening right under your nose — and in some cases right inside your nose — all your life. Chapter 1 Anatomy and Physiology: The Big Picture In This Chapter If you’ve taken geometry, you know that a plane is a flat surface and that a straight line can run between two points on that flat surface. Geometric planes can be positioned at any angle. In anatomy, usually three planes separate the body into sections. Figure 1-2 shows you what each plane looks like. The reason for separating the body with imaginary lines — or by making actual cuts referred to as sections — is so that you know which half or portion of the body or organ is being discussed. The anatomical planes are as follows: Thoracic cavity: The chest; contains the trachea, bronchi, lungs, esophagus, heart and great blood vessels, thymus gland, lymph nodes, and nerve,. as well as the following smaller cavities:

This chapter is about your life as an organism. As Chapter 1 explains, organism is the fifth of five levels of organization in living things. Although the word organism has many possible definitions, for the purposes of this chapter, an organism is a living unit that metabolizes and maintains its own existence . The whole enchilada. The real you. As we study organ systems, organs, tissues, and cells, we’re always looking from the organism level. Chapter 2 What Your Body Does All Day In This ChapterThe laws of thermodynamics are the foundation of how the physics and chemistry of the universe are understood. They’re at the we hold these truths to be self-evident level for chemists and physicists of all specialties, including all biologists. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed — it can only change form. (Turn to Chapter 16 for a brief look at the first law and other basic laws of chemistry and physics.) Energy changes form continuously — within stars, within engines of all kinds, and, in some very special ways, within organisms. Every person has his or her own sense of style, and woe betide anyone who tries to shoehorn the masses into a single style. The same, of course, is true of students. To get the most out of your study time, you need to figure out what your learning style is and alter your study habits to accommodate it.

This table represents some common Latin and Greek roots used in anatomy and physiology: English Form Erin Odya is an anatomy and physiology teacher at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, one of Indiana's top schools. Maggie Norris is a freelance science writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. The digestive system consists of a series of connected organs that work together to break down, or digest, food into small molecules that are absorbed into the circulatory system, which then carries them to the body’s tissues. The major structures of the digestive system are the mouth, tongue, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and anus. The liver, gallbladder, and pancreas also are part of the system. Ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, and vulva in females; testes, seminal vesicles, prostate, urethra, and penis in males The liquefied food gradually passes into the small intestine. In the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, enzymes from the pancreas are added. These enzymes complete the chemical breakdown of the food. The digestion of fat is aided by bile, which is made in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. The small intestine of an adult is about 21 feet (6.4 meters) long. Most of its length is devoted to absorbing the nutrients released during these digestive activities.

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Variety Sapiens: Some species get a varietal name, usually indicating a difference that’s obvious but not necessarily important from an evolutionary point of view. The human species has one other variety, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, which has been extinct for tens of thousands of years. All humans living since then are of one species variety, Homo sapiens sapiens. In the evolutionary classification of humans, there’s no biologically valid category below species variety. A Little Chat about Jargon To understand the human body it is necessary to know the structure of its parts, what they do, and how they work together. Anatomy is the scientific study of the structure of living things. The study of how the structures function is known as physiology. Following are ten key things you can start doing today to ensure success not only in anatomy and physiology but in any number of other classes. Write down important stuff in your own words

remember.eps Anatomy is form; physiology is function. You can’t talk about one without talking about the other. The anatomy and physiology of everything else Acid: A substance that becomes ionized when placed in solution, producing positively charged hydrogen ions, H +. An acid is considered a proton donor. (Remember, atoms always have the same number of electrons as protons. Ions are produced when an atom gains or loses electrons.) Stronger acids separate into larger numbers of H + ions in solution. The respiratory system helps in gas exchange by taking in oxygen from the air and expelling carbon dioxide from the body. Air enters the nose and mouth and travels through the larynx, or voice box, and trachea, or windpipe. At the lungs, the trachea branches to form two bronchi (singular, bronchus); each bronchus enters one of the lungs. In the lungs the bronchi branch further, forming smaller airways called bronchioles, which further divide many times to form a very large number of small air spaces called alveoli. The digestion of food is both a mechanical and a chemical process. Food enters through the mouth, where chewing and saliva start to break it up and make it easier to swallow. Next, the food travels down through the esophagus to the stomach. Contractions of the stomach’s muscular wall continue to break down the food mechanically, and chemical digestion continues when acid and enzymes are secreted into the stomach cavity.

Base: A substance that becomes ionized when placed in solution, producing negatively charged hydroxide ions, OH –. Bases are referred to as being more alkaline than acids and are known as proton acceptors. Stronger bases separate into larger numbers of OH – ions in solution. Biologists take for granted that human anatomy and physiology evolved from the anatomy and physiology of ancient forms. These scientists base their work on the assumption that every structure and process, no matter how tiny in scope, must somehow contribute to the survival of the individual. So each process — and the structures within which the chemistry and physics of the process actually happen — must help keep the individual alive and meeting the relentless challenges of a continually changing environment. Evolution favors processes that work.

You may not think about the planes of your body much, but you have them nonetheless, and if you’re talking anatomy, knowing the names of the planes comes in handy. (Too bad sagittal and transverse don’t lend themselves to song as easily as rain and Spain do.) The main planes and their subplanes are in the following list:If you remove all the internal organs, the body is empty except for the bones and tissues that form the space where the organs were. Just as a dental cavity is a hole in a tooth, the body’s cavities are holes where organs are held (see Figure 1-3). The two main cavities are the dorsal cavity and the ventral cavity. Stop reading for a minute. Stand up straight. Look forward. Let your arms hang down at your sides with your palms facing forward. You are now in anatomical position (see Figure 1-1). Whenever you see an anatomical drawing, the body is in this position. Using this position as the standard removes confusion.