Topic 1A: Structural Organization of the Human Body
1.1 Define anatomy and physiology and describe their subdivision
● Anatomy: study of the structure of body parts and their relationship to one another
- Gross or Macroscopic anatomy: study of large body structures
- Regional anatomy: study of structures in a particular region
- Systemic anatomy: study of structures system by system
- Surface anatomy: study of internal structures as they relate to the
overlying skin surface
- Microscopic anatomy: study of structures too small to be seen with the naked eye
- Cytology: study of cells
- Histology: study of tissues
- Developmental anatomy: study of changes that occur throughout the lifespan
- Embryology: study of developmental changes that occur before birth
● Physiology: study of how the structure works
- Based on organ systems
- Focuses on cellular and molecular levels of the body
- Basic chemical and physical properties:
1. Electrical currents
2. Pressure
3. Movement
1.2 Explain the principle of complementarity
Principle of complementary of structure and function: function always reflects structure, and
what a structure can do depends on its specific form
- Bone: support organs due to containing hard mineral deposits
- Bloods: flows in one directions through the heart due to the hearts valves that prevent
backflow
- Lungs: site for gas exchange due to the air sac’s walls that are very thin
1.3 Describe the levels of structural organization that make up the human body
1. Chemical level: atoms, molecules, organelles
2. Cellular level: single cell
- Cells: fundamental structural & functional unit of a living thing. Smallest unit that
can perpetuate life
3. Tissue level: groups of cells similar in structure and function
- Connective tissue
- Epithelial tissue
- Muscle tissue
- Nervous tissue
