1.1: An overview of anatomy and physiology (2023)

Learning objectives

• Compare and contrast anatomy and physiology, including their specialties and methods of study.
• Discuss the basic relationship between anatomy and physiology.

MananatomyIt is a science that studies the structure of the body. Some of these structures are very small and can only be seen and analyzed under a microscope. Other larger structures are easy to see, operate, measure and weigh. The word "anatomy" comes from the Greek root meaning "to cut". Human anatomy was first studied by looking at the outside of the body and the soldiers' wounds and other injuries. Later, doctors were allowed to dissect the bodies of the dead to expand their knowledge. When the body is dissected, its structures are separated in order to observe the physical features and their interrelationships. The section is still used in medical schools, anatomy courses, and pathology laboratories. However, various imaging techniques have been developed to observe structures in living humans. These techniques allow doctors to visualize structures in a living organism, such as a cancerous tumor or a broken bone.

Like most scientific disciplines, anatomy has areas of specialization.gruba anatomyIt is an examination of the largest body structures visible without magnification (Figure \(\PageIndex{1.a}\)). Macro means "big", which is why general anatomy is also called general anatomy. On the contrary, micro means "small" andanatomia mikroskopowais the study of structures that can only be seen with a microscope or other magnifying devices (Figure \(\PageIndex{1.b}\)). Microscopic anatomy includes cytology, the study of cells, and histology, the study of tissues. With the development of microscopic technology, anatomists have been able to look at ever-smaller structures in the body, from slices of large structures such as the heart to three-dimensional structures of large molecules in the body.

Anatomists take two general approaches to studying body structures: regional and systemic.regional anatomyIt is the study of the interrelationships of all the structures of a specific area of ​​the body, such as the abdomen. The study of regional anatomy helps us appreciate the interconnectedness of body structures, such as how muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and other structures work together to serve a specific area of ​​the body. Unlike,systemic anatomyIt is the study of the structures that make up a distinct body system, that is, a group of structures that work together to perform a single bodily function. For example, a systemic anatomical study of the muscular system would consider all the skeletal muscles of the body.

While anatomy is about structure, physiology is about function. Manphysiologyis the scientific study of the chemistry and physics of the body's structures and the ways they work together to support vital functions. Much of the study of physiology focuses on the body's tendency toward homeostasis.HomeostazaIt is a state of stable internal conditions that living beings maintain. The science of physiology certainly involves observation, both with the naked eye and under a microscope, as well as manipulation and measurement. However, current advances in physiology often depend on carefully designed laboratory experiments that reveal the functions of the many structures and chemicals that make up the human body.

Like anatomists, physiologists often specialize in a particular branch of physiology. For example, neurophysiology is the study of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, and how they work together to perform functions as complex and diverse as seeing, moving, and thinking. Physiologists can work from the organ level (studying what different parts of the brain do, for example) to the molecular level (studying how an electrochemical signal travels along nerves, for example).

Form is closely related to function in all living things. For example, the narrow lid flap can be zipped down to remove dust particles and almost instantly slid back up to be able to see again. At the microscopic level, the arrangement and function of the nerves and muscles that serve the eyelid allow for its rapid action and recoil. At a lower level of analysis, the function of these nerves and muscles also depends on the interaction of specific molecules and ions. Even the three-dimensional structure of some molecules is essential for their function.

Your study of anatomy and physiology will make more sense if you constantly relate the shape of the structures you study to their function. In fact, studying anatomy without understanding body physiology can be a bit frustrating. For example, imagine trying to appreciate the unique arrangement of the bones in the human hand when you have no idea about the function of the hand. Fortunately, understanding how the human hand manipulates tools (from pens to cell phones) helps you appreciate the unique positioning of the thumb as opposed to four fingers, which gives the hand the structure to squeeze and grip objects. write the text. the news.