An Overview of Anatomy and Physiology

Although many branches of science contribute to an understanding of the human body, the most critical concepts are embodied in two subdivisions of biology: anatomy and physiology. Anatomy and physiology are complementary sciences.

• Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts and of how these parts relate to one another.

• Physiology concerns the functioning of the body's structural machinery, that is, how the parts of the body work and carry out their life-sustaining activities.

Topics of Anatomy

Gross anatomy

• the study of large body structures visible to the naked eye, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Studies of gross anatomy can be approached in different ways.

Regional anatomy

• all of the structures (muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, etc.) in one particular region of the body, such as the abdomen or leg, are examined at the same time.

Systemic anatomy

• The gross anatomy of the body is studied system by system.

• For example, when studying the cardiovascular system, you would examine the heart and the blood vessels of the entire body.

Surface anatomy

• study of internal body structures as they can be recognized from and relate to the overlying skin surface.

• You use surface anatomy when you identify the bulging muscles beneath a body builder's skin, and nurses use it when they locate the appropriate blood vessels in which to feel pulses and draw blood.

Microscopic anatomy

• concerns structures too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope.

• exceedingly thin slices, or sections, of body tissues are stained and mounted on slides for examination under the microscope.
• Subdivisions of microscopic anatomy include

1. cytology concerns the cells of the body
2. histology the study of tissues.