Human

Anatomy &
Physiology
-the study of the structures
or morphology of the body
-the study of the function of
the body parts
-the study of the diseases
of the body
 -directions
-planes
-cavities
-structural units
-person standing erect with the
face directed forward
-the arms at the sides
-palms of the hand are positioned
toward the front
uppermost or above

lowermost or below
toward the front

toward the back

toward the head

toward the tail

nearest to the midline of the body

toward the side or away from the

midline of the body
 near the point of attachment of
origin

away from the point of

attachment of origin
-imaginary flat geometric
surfaces passing through
the body
• MIDSAGITTAL (Median)
-vertically divides the body
through the midline into two
equal left and right portions or
halves
• SAGITTAL
-is any plane parallel to the
midsagittal or median plane
vertically dividing the body into
unequal right and left portions.
• HORIZONTAL OR TRANSVERSE
-is any plane dividing the body
into superior and inferior
portions.
• FRONTAL or CORONAL
-divides the anterior and
posterior portions of the body
at right angles to the sagittal
plane.
• DORSAL
-Cranial, Spinal

• VENTRAL
-Thoracic, Abdominopelvic
• VISCERA – organs of the cavity
• Cranial Cavity
-contains the brain

• Spinal Cavity
-contains the spinal cord
• Thoracic Cavity - divided into right
and left parts by a median
structure called the mediastinum.

• Abdominopelvic Cavity
• PARIETAL
-walls of a cavity

• VISCERAL
-covering of an organ
 Levels of
Structural and
Functional
Organization
• CHEMICAL LEVEL
involves how atoms interact and
combine to form molecules

• Molecules -combination of one or

more atoms; the smallest particle of
a substance
• CELLS
-smallest units of life
-perform all activities necessary
to maintain life
• TISSUES
-made up of different types of cells

-epithelial -connective
-muscular -nervous
• TISSUES

Epithelial : covers and protects

Connective: binds and supports other
tissues
Muscle: movement
Nervous: connects sensory structures to
motor structures
• ORGANS
-cells integrated to tissues
-serve a common function
• SYSTEM
-is a group of organs that
together perform a common
function or set of functions and
are therefore viewed as a unit.
Organism level– any living thing that
is considered as a whole
(e.g. bacterium, plants, animals)

- represents the highest level of

structural organization