| Regional Antomy | Studies of all structures within a particular region of the body. E.g the leg. |
| Systemic Anatomy | Studies the body 1 system at a time. E.g the cardiovascular system. |
| Levels of structural organisation- 1 Chemical level | The basic level of organisation. Atoms combine to form molecules such as water, proteins and organelles. |
| Levels of structural organisation- 2 Cellular level | Cells are the smallest unit of living things. Whilst all cells have common functions, they vary widely in size and shape to reflect their roles. |
| Levels of structural organisation- 3 Tissue level | Tissues are groups of similar cells that have a common function. There are 4 basic tissue types: Connective- supports and protects body organs, Epithelial- covers the body and lines its cavities, Muscle- provides movement and protects organs and Nervous- provides rapid internal communication and response. |
| Levels of structural organisation- 4 Organ level | An organ is a discrete structure that is compromised by at least 2 (commonly 4) tissue types. It performs complex functions for the body. |
| Levels of structural organisation- 5 Organ system level | Organs work together to achieve a common purpose. |
| Levels of structural organisation- 6 Organisational level | The sum total of all levels working together to keep us alive. |
| Functions of life | Maintaining boundaries, Movement, Responsiveness, Digestion, Metabolism, Excretion, Reproduction, Growth. |
| Survival needs | Nutrients, Oxygen, Water, Normal body temperature, Appropriate atmospheric pressure. |
| Homeostasis | This indicates a state of dynamic equilibrium in which internal conditions vary within narrow limits. |
| Homeostatic control | Receptor, Control system, Effector |
| Homeostatic receptors- Baroreceptors | Mechanoreceptors located in the carotid sinus and the aortic arch. Their function is to sense pressure changes by responding to change in the tension of the arterial wall. (blood pressure) |
| Homeostatic receptors- Chemoreceptors | A specialised sensory receptor cell which induces a chemical substance to generate a biological signal. (detecting levels of carbon dioxide in the blood) |
| Homeostatic control center | Central nervous system |
| Positive feedback mechanisms | The results are in the same direction as the initial change, E.g blood clotting and enhancements of contractions during labour. |
| Negative feedback mechanisms | Most homeostatic control mechanisms are negative feedback mechanisms. These cause the variable to change in a direction opposite to the initial change, to return to the ideal value. E.g Regulation of body temperature. |
| Ventral / Dorsal | Ventral- towards the front or belly. Dorsal- towards the back or spine. |
| Anterior / Posterior | Anterior- towards the ventral side. Posterior- towards the dorsal side. |
| Superior / Inferior | Superior- above. Inferior- below. |
| Medial / Lateral | Medial- towards the midsagittal plane. Laterial- away from the midsagittal plane. |
| Proximal / Distal | Proximal- closer to the point of attachment origin. Distal- farther from the point of attachment origin. |
| Central / Peripheral | Central- near or towards the midline of the body. Peripheral- away from the midline or centre of the body. |
| Superficial / Deep | Superficial- closer to the body surface. Deep- farther away from the body surface. |
| 2 main body divisions- Axial | Head, Neck and trunk. |
| 2 main body divisions- appendicular | Limbs attached to the axis. |
| Body planes and sections- Sagittal / Mid-sagittal. | Sagittal- divides the body into right and left parts. Mid-sagittal- divides the body into exact, equal right and left parts. |
| Body planes and sections- Frontal / Coronal plane. | A vertical plane that divides the body into ventral and dorsal sections. |
| Body planes and sections- Transverse | A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior sections. |
| Abdominal regions- Right hypochondriac. Where is it? What does it contain? | Right side, Hypo = below / under, chondriac = cartilage of ribs. Contains the right portion of the liver, the gallbladder, the right kidney, and parts of the small intestine. |
| Abdominal regions- Epigastric. Where is it? What does it contain? | Epi = over / above, gastric = stomach / belly. Contains the majority of the stomach, part of the liver, part of the pancreas, part of the duodenum part of the spleen and the adrenal glands. |
| Abdominal regions- Left hypochondriac. Where is it? What does it contain? | Left side, Hypo = below / under, chondriac = cartilage of ribs. Contains part of the spleen, the left kidney, part of the stomach, the pancreas and parts of the colon. |
| Abdominal regions- Right lumbar. Where is it? What does it contain? | To the right side of the umbilical region- lumbar refers to the lumbar vertebrae in the spine. Contains the gallbladder, the right kidney, part of the liver and the ascending colon. |
| Abdominal regions- Umbilical. Where is it? What does it contain? | Most central in location- surrounding the umbilicus (navel / belly button). Contains many parts of the small intestine such as part of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. It also contains the transverse colon and the bottom portions of both left and right kidneys. |
| Abdominal regions- Left lumbar. Where is it? What does it contain? | To the left side of the umbilical region- lumbar refers to the lumbar vertebrae of the spine. Contains the left kidney, descending colon and part of the spleen. |
| Abdominal regions- Right iliac. Where is it? What does it contain? | Right side, iliac crest = on hip bone. Contains the appendix, and cecum. |
| Abdominal regions- Hypogastric / pubic. Where is it? What does it contain? | Hypo = below, Gastric = stomach / belly. Contains the bladder, part of the sigmoid colon, the anus, and many organs of the reproductive system. |
| Abdominal regions- Left iliac. Where is it? What does it contain? | Left side, iliac crest = on hip bone. Contains part of the descending colon and the sigmoid colon. |
| Body cavities- Dorsal / ventral cavities | Dorsal = towards the back, Ventral = towards the front. |
| Body cavities- Cranial cavity | Contains the brain. |
| Body cavities- Spinal cavity | Contains the spine. |
| Body cavities- Thoracic cavity | Also called the chest cavity. It houses the primary organs of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems- such as the heart and lungs. |
| Body cavities- Abdominal cavity | Contains the abdominal organs. |
| Body cavities- Pelvic cavity | Primarily contains the reproductive organs, the bladder, the pelvic colon and the bladder. |
| Body cavities- Abdominopelvic cavity | Contains part of the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity. |
| Membranes of body cavities- What is the heart covered by? | Pericardium- a thin sac that surrounds the heart. It protects and lubricates the heart and keeps it in place within your chest. |
| Membranes of body cavities- What are the lungs covered by? | Pleura- a thin, 2 layered membrane that covers each lung. Its role is to cushion the lungs and reduce any friction that may occur between the lungs. |
| Membranes of body cavities- What are the abdominal organs covered by? | Peritoneum- the serious membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity. It covers most of the intra abdominal organs. |
