©​ ​B​IOLOGY ​2050​ ​L​ECTURE ​N​OTES ​–​ ​A​NATOMY &

​ ​ ​P​HYSIOLOGY ​I​ ​(A.​ ​I​MHOLTZ​)​ ​–​ I​ ​NTRO TO ​H​UMAN ​A&P​ ​–​ P

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Humans ​are ​animals ​(we are multicellular, motile, and our cells lack cell walls), ​vertebrates​ (we have a backbone
which provides support and protection), ​mammals​ (we have hair, we have 3 middle ear bones (incus, malleus, and
stapes) in each ear, and we nurse our young), ​primates​ (we have forward-facing eyes, paired clavicles, and
opposable thumbs), and ​hominids​ (we are bipedal, our foramen magnum is at the base of the skull, and we have a
large brain size to body size ratio).

Anatomy​ is the study of animal structure. From Greek ​ana- ​(“up”) and ​temnein ​(“to cut”). This makes sense
since knowledge of an animal’s internal structure can be gained from dissection.
Physiology​ is the study of animal function. From Greek ​physio-​ (“form”) and ​logos​ (“thought”).
Human anatomy and physiology is the study of the form and function of the human animal.

A&P is a subset of ​biology​ which is the study of ​living organisms​ (Greek ​bios​ – “life”). Types of anatomy include:
a. Gross anatomy​ – the study of structures visible to the naked eye.
b. Histology ​– the study of ​tissues​ (Gr. ​histos​ – “tissue”) with the aid of a microscope
c. Cytology ​– the study of cellular structure and function (Gr. ​kytos​ – “container”).
d. Pathology​ – the study and diagnosis of disease (Gr. ​pathos ​– “suffering”).

Human beings are ​organisms​. An organism is composed of groups of structures that work together to perform a
common task. Such a group is known as an ​organ system​. There are 11 basic organ systems:
Integumentary System​ –external covering of the body; provides physical protection; helps regulate body
temperature; the ​skin​.
Skeletal System ​–body’s internal framework; provides support and protection; stores minerals; acts as levers
pulled upon by muscles; the ​bones​.
Muscular System​ –body’s means of movement and manipulation; generates heat; the ​muscles.
Nervous System​ –body’s control center and regulatory system; responsible for consciousness and intelligence; the
brain​, ​spinal​ ​cord​, and ​nerves​.
Endocrine System ​–glands that secrete ​hormones​ (chemical messages) into the blood​; pituitary gland​, ​thyroid
gland​, ​adrenal glands​, ​testes​, ​ovaries​, etc.
Cardiovascular System​ –body’s major transport system; ​heart​, ​blood​ ​vessels​, and ​blood​.
Lymphatic/Immune System​ – returns fluid to the bloodstream; detects and repels ​pathogens​; ​lymphatic​ ​vessels​,
spleen​, ​lymph​ ​nodes​, ​tonsils​, ​thymus​, and more.
Respiratory System ​– delivers ​O2​​ to the blood and removes C ​ O​2​; ​nasal cavity​, ​pharynx​, l​ arynx​, t​ rachea​, ​bronchi​,
and ​lungs​.
Digestive System ​– transports, breaks down, and absorbs food; eliminates indigestible remains; ​oral cavity​,
pharynx​, ​esophagus​, ​stomach​, ​intestines​, ​salivary glands​, ​pancreas​, ​liver​, and ​gallbladder​.
Urinary System ​– eliminates ​nitrogenous wastes​ from the blood; regulates blood volume, pressure, pH, and
electrolytes; ​kidneys​, ​ureters​, ​urinary bladder​ and ​urethra​.
Male Reproductive System​ – produces ​sperm​ and ​testosterone​; delivers sperm to the female reproductive tract;
testes​, ​penis​, ​vas deferenses​, ​prostate​ ​gland​, ​seminal​ ​vesicles​.
Female Reproductive System​ – produces ​oocytes​, ​estrogens​, and ​progesterone​; receives, retains, and expels the
embryo/fetus/infant; ​ovaries​, ​fallopian​ ​tubes​, ​uterus​, and ​vagina​.

Organ systems are composed of ​organs ​– discrete structures that perform specific defined functions and consist of
multiple ​tissues​. Tissues are collections of similar ​cells​ that have a common function. There are 4 basic tissues:
Epithelial tissue​ – covers body surfaces and lines body cavities.
Muscle tissue​ – provides movement.
Connective tissue​ – supports and protects body organs.
Nervous tissue​ – controls body functions and allows for communication.
©​ ​B​IOLOGY ​2050​ ​L​ECTURE ​N​OTES ​–​ ​A​NATOMY &
​ ​ ​P​HYSIOLOGY ​I​ ​(A.​ ​I​MHOLTZ​)​ ​–​ I​ ​NTRO TO ​H​UMAN ​A&P​ ​–​ P
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The human body contains roughly 40 trillion cells, of which there are about 200 different types. The cell is the basic
structural and functional unit of life. All living organisms are composed of cells. An organism depends on the
individual and collective activity of its cells.

Cells are composed of ​organelles ​(“little organs”). An organelle is a specialized subunit within a cell that carries
out a specific function and is usually enclosed within a membrane. Some major organelles include:
Nucleus​ – houses the cellular ​DNA​; controls cellular activity.
Mitochondrion​ – converts the chemical energy in food into a form usable by the cell (​ATP​).
Endoplasmic reticulum​ – involved in the production of proteins and lipids.

Cells and organelles are composed of a variety of ​chemical molecules ​and ​macromolecules​. Some major
macromolecules important to living systems include:
Carbohydrates ​– ​sugars​ and ​starches​. Mostly used for cellular fuel. Some structural uses.
Proteins ​– strings of ​amino​ ​acids​. Multifunctional: structural support, ​enzymes​, transport, etc.
Lipids ​– ​fats​, ​phospholipids​, ​steroids​. Energy storage, structural support, signaling between organs.
Nucleic acids​ – ​DNA​ and ​RNA​. DNA: Constitutes the genetic material of the cell; provides the instructions for
protein synthesis. RNA: transports protein synthesis instructions from the nucleus to the protein building
machinery outside the nucleus.
Adenosine Triphosphate ​– compound that is the energy currency of the cell. Produced w/i the mitochondria from
molecules of food.
Molecules and macromolecules are composed of ​atoms​ – the smallest units of matter.

All cells have needs in terms of energy, gases, and wastes. The maintenance of a stable, optimal internal
environment for body cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems is known as ​homeostasis​ (Gr. ​homoios ​similar +
stasis ​standing still). Maintaining homeostasis means regulating a wide variety of ​homeostatic variables​ such as:
temperature, pH, pressure, volume, concentration, etc.
In order to maintain such variables the body must be able to do the following:
1. Measure the current state of the variable. The measurement is done by a cell (or cells) known as a
receptor​. Changes in the variable would be known as ​stimuli​.
2. The receptor transmits the information about the change (the ​error signal​) to a ​control center​. This
flow of information is called the ​afferent pathway​ (Latin ​af t​ o + ​ferre​ carry).
3. The control center (often a group of cells in the brain or spinal cord) compares the state of the
variable to a ​set point​. The control center then transmits information to an ​effector​. This flow of
information is called the ​efferent pathway​ (Latin e​f ​away + ​ferre​ carry).
4. The effector then ​responds​ in a way that returns the variable to within its normal range.
Typically homeostasis is achieved via ​negative feedback mechanisms​, in which the ​output of the response
diminishes the change in the variable​. For example, in response to a rise in body temperature, ​sweat glands
increase their production of sweat. Evaporation of the sweat then causes a decrease in body temperature.
Control of ​almost​ all homeostatic variables is done via negative feedback mechanisms.

A different scenario is the ​positive feedback mechanism​, in which the ​output of the response augments​ ​the
change in the variable​. This is a less common situation since it tends to take the variable away from the set point.
One example is the ​Ferguson reflex​ that occurs during childbirth. During labor, the infant begins to stretch the
cervix​. In response to cervical stretch, the mother’s ​pituitary gland​ releases the hormone ​oxytocin​. Oxytocin
stimulates uterine contraction. The contracting uterus forces the infant further into the cervix, thus increasing
cervical stretch. This results in increased oxytocin production and so on until the delivery is complete.
Because positive feedback mechanisms are self-perpetuating, some external event (e.g., the delivery of the baby)
is necessary to turn them off.
Positive feedback mechanisms are also involved in ​blood​ ​clotting​, ​lactation​, ​nerve​ ​signaling​, and ​protein​ ​digestion
©​ ​B​IOLOGY ​2050​ ​L​ECTURE ​N​OTES ​–​ ​A​NATOMY &
​ ​ ​P​HYSIOLOGY ​I​ ​(A.​ ​I​MHOLTZ​)​ ​–​ I​ ​NTRO TO ​H​UMAN ​A&P​ ​–​ P
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in the stomach.