General organization The nervous system allows us both to detect and respond to our external environment and to monitor and control our viscera. The brain and spinal cord are central in position and are wired to the rest of the body by peripheral nerves. The nervous system can be separated into parts based on function and on structure: □ functionally, it can be divided into somatic…

General organization The lymphatic system is a network of thin-walled vessels throughout the body that collect fluid lost from the capillary beds during nutrient exchange and return it to large veins in the root of the neck. This fluid also contains cell products, cell debris, cells of the lymphocytic system, and pathogens. Located along the lymphatic vessels are lymph nodes that function as part of the…

General organization Parts of the urinary and reproductive (genital) systems are closely related developmentally, so the two systems are often discussed together. The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. In women, major parts of the reproductive (genital) system are the ovaries, uterus, vagina, external genitalia, and breasts. In men, the reproductive system consists of the testes, epididymides, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate,…

General organization The gastrointestinal system can be separated into the upper gastrointestinal tract, consisting of the oral cavity (mouth), pharynx, and esophagus, and the lower gastrointestinal tract, consisting of the abdominal organs. Oral cavity The oral cavity is inferior to the nasal cavities ( Fig. 3.1A ) and is the beginning of the upper intestinal tract. It has a roof and floor and lateral walls, opens…

General organization The respiratory system can be divided into the upper airway (consisting of the nose and nasal cavity), pharynx, and lower airway (consisting of the larynx, trachea, and lungs). Nose and nasal cavity The two nasal cavities are the uppermost parts of the respiratory tract and contain the olfactory receptors. They are elongated wedge-shaped spaces with a large inferior base and a narrow superior apex…

General organization The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, which pumps blood throughout the body, and the blood vessels, which are a closed network of tubes that transport the blood. There are three types of blood vessels: ▪ Arteries—which transport blood away from the heart; ▪ Veins—which transport blood toward the heart; ▪ Capillaries—which connect the arteries and veins, are the smallest of the blood vessels,…

Part I: Nervous system overview The nervous system is structurally divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) ( eFig. 9.1 ). Components of the CNS are the brain and spinal cord, which are enclosed by the cranial cavity and vertebral column. PNS structures include cranial nerves (CNs), spinal nerves, autonomic nerves, and the enteric nervous system. Development During the third week…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 8, Head and Neck, can be Found on the Accompanying Ebook: Conceptual overview General Description The head and neck are anatomically complex areas of the body. Head Major compartments The head is composed of a series of compartments, which are formed by bone and soft tissues. They are: ▪ the cranial cavity, ▪ two ears, ▪ two orbits, ▪ two nasal…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 7, Upper Limb, CAN BE FOUND ON THE ACCOMPANYING EBOOK: Conceptual overview General Description The upper limb is associated with the lateral aspect of the lower portion of the neck and with the thoracic wall. It is suspended from the trunk by muscles and a small skeletal articulation between the clavicle and the sternum—the sternoclavicular joint. Based on the position of…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 6, Lower Limb, can be Found on the Accompanying Ebook Conceptual overview General Description The lower limb is directly anchored to the axial skeleton by a sacroiliac joint and by strong ligaments, which link the pelvic bone to the sacrum. It is separated from the abdomen, back, and perineum by a continuous line ( Fig. 6.1 ), which: ▪ joins the…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 5, Pelvis and Perineum, Can be Found on the Accompanying Ebook Conceptual overview General Description The pelvis and perineum are interrelated regions associated with the pelvic bones and terminal parts of the vertebral column. The pelvis is divided into two regions: ▪ The superior region related to upper parts of the pelvic bones and lower lumbar vertebrae is the false pelvis…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 4, Abdomen, can be Found on the Accompanying Ebook Conceptual overview General Description The abdomen is a roughly cylindrical chamber extending from the inferior margin of the thorax to the superior margin of the pelvis and the lower limb ( Fig. 4.1A ). The inferior thoracic aperture forms the superior opening to the abdomen and is closed by the diaphragm. Inferiorly,…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 3, Thorax, CAN BE FOUND ON THE ACCOMPANYING EBOOK Conceptual overview General Description The thorax is an irregularly shaped cylinder with a narrow opening (superior thoracic aperture) superiorly and a relatively large opening (inferior thoracic aperture) inferiorly ( Fig. 3.1 ). The superior thoracic aperture is open, allowing continuity with the neck; the inferior thoracic aperture is closed by the diaphragm.…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 2, Back, Can be Found on the Accompanying Ebook Conceptual overview General Description The back consists of the posterior aspect of the body and provides the musculoskeletal axis of support for the trunk. Bony elements consist mainly of the vertebrae, although proximal elements of the ribs, superior aspects of the pelvic bones, and posterior basal regions of the skull contribute to…

ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES for Chapter 1, The Body, CAN BE FOUND ON THE ACCOMPANYING EBOOK What is anatomy? Anatomy includes those structures that can be seen grossly (without the aid of magnification) and microscopically (with the aid of magnification). Typically, when used by itself, the term anatomy tends to mean gross or macroscopic anatomy—that is, the study of structures that can be seen without using a…