Biology 322Human Anatomy I

Orientation to the Human Body

This is a course in Human Anatomy – that is, the structure of the human body.

However, we will often relate the structure of the body to its function, that is, its physiology, since the two are intimately interdependent upon each other.

That is: changes in anatomy produce changes in physiology, and changes in physiology produce changes in anatomy

Example #1:

Your body consists of trillions of cells of at least 400 different types

About a dozen types are Lymphocytes One type of lymphocyte is the CD4 cell

Suppose a virus attacks and destroys your CD4 cells, while all other cells (including all other lymphocytes) remain healthy.

Example #2:

Your body consists of trillions of cells of at least 400 different types

Four types are found in pancreatic isletsOne type of islet cell is the beta cell, which produces insulin

Suppose your body attacks and destroys the beta cells, while all other cells (including other islet cells) remain healthy.

Example #3:

Your body consists of trillions of cells of at least 400 different types

One type of cell in nervous system is the oligodendrocyte

Oligodendrocytes: dozens of organellesOne organelle: plasma membrane

Plasma membrane: hundreds of types of moleculesOne type of molecule: myelin

Suppose your body attacks and destroys the myelin in the plasma membranes of oligodendrocytes, while all molecules and all other cells remain healthy.

Two Terms You Need to Know:

Gross Anatomy:

Histology = Cytology =

Microscopic Anatomy:

A few basic concepts of anatomy which we will use throughout this course

1) Planes or sections

2) Terms indicating relative positions

3) Regions of the body

4) Three-dimensional relationships

1) In discussing the organization of the human body and its parts, we establish our "point of view" according to three three planes or sections relative to the “anatomical position:

How a structure appears depends on the plane in which you view it:

2) In discussing parts of the human body, we also use a number of terms of relative position:

Toward head or upper part of structure Toward sacrum or lower part of structure

Toward the surface of the body or of a structure Toward the center of the body or of a structure

Closer to center or origin Away from center or origin

Toward the front Toward the back

Toward the midline of the body or of a structure To side of midline of the body or of a structure

3) Various regions of body have specific names:

Anterior

Various parts of body have specific names:

Posterior

Abdominal Crural PedalAcromial Cubital PerinealAntebracheal Facial PlantarAxillary Femoral PoplitealBrachial Gluteal PubicCalcaneal Inguinal SacralCarpal Lumbar ScapularCephalic Nuchal SternalCervical Palmar TarsalCoxal Patellar ThoracicCranial Pectoral Umbilical

You should know the following regions of the human body:

For example: The region of the upper limb between the shoulder and elbow is the_________ regionbrachial

For example: The _________ region is immediately distal to the antebracheal region

carpal

For example: The region of the body commonly known as the “lower leg” is the _______regioncrural

4) Finally: As we discuss the human body, get your brain to think three-dimensionally and focus on relationships . . .

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