Relationship Between Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy and physiology are the sciences that most closely relate to the human body, enabling us to understand ourselves and why our bodies work the way they do. Anatomy is the study of the form of the human body--the shapes of the muscles, the number of bones, the cells that sustain life. Physiology is the study of the function of these parts, such as how the muscles in your face work together to make a smile, or how parts of cells turn sugar into energy. As form follows function, so the two sciences are intertwined and usually studied together.

Anatomy

• The two subsets of the study of anatomy are gross anatomy, meaning what can be seen by the naked eye, and histology, the study of tissues, also called microscopic anatomy. In addition to viewing the body either in total or through dissection, there are three other ways to examine gross anatomy: palpation, or touching (such as feeling swollen lymph nodes); auscultation, or listening (as a doctor may listen to the lungs using a stethoscope); and percussion, or tapping (such as hitting the knee to check for reflexes). Imaging techniques such as x-rays or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can also aid in anatomical examination.

Physiology

• Physiology is the study of how the parts of the anatomy function together to create and sustain life. There are numerous subdisciplines of physiology such as neurophysiology (physiology of the nervous system), endocrinology (physiology of hormones) and pathophysiology (how diseases work). Some aspects of physiology can be observed and tested on the human body, but when that is not possible, studies of other species lend information on the body. This is called comparative physiology, and it is the basis for new drugs and procedures that must first be tested on animals before being deemed safe for humans.

Applications

• Anatomy and physiology are required classes for nursing and medical degrees. They are also either required or helpful for such health care fields as physical therapy, chiropractic and veterinary medicine. In most schools it is one class stretched out over two semesters, and typically includes memorizing every bone, muscle, joint and major blood vessel in the body.

Hierarchy

• Part of the study of anatomy and physiology involves the hierarchy of complexity. This shows how a human being can be broken down into smaller and smaller levels of complexity. The whole person is an organism. The organism is made up of organ systems, such as the respiratory system or digestive system. Organ systems are made up of organs--for example, three organs of the digestive system are the stomach, small intestine and large intestine. Organs are composed of tissues. For example, skin (which is an organ of the integumentary system) contains epithelial, connective and nervous tissue. Tissues are made up of different types and sizes of cells, which in turn contain organelles that perform various functions within cells. Organelles are made up of molecules such as protein and DNA, which are composed of atoms, the smallest particle with a unique chemical identity.

Life Processes

• Anatomy and physiology are the study of living organisms. Organisms that are alive have several properties. These properties often form the basis of anatomical and physiological study. Some of those properties are: organization; metabolism and excretion; movement and response to stimuli; development (by differentiation or growth); reproduction; and homeostasis, or the organism's ability to maintain internal stability.