Human Anatomy + Physiology: A Very Brief Introduction

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Anatomy + Physiology and Their Complementarity

Regarding the human body, anatomy and physiology refer to the study of structure and function, respectively. Because function relies on structure, “physiology is explainable only in terms of the underlying anatomy” (Marieb & Hoehn, 2022, Section 1.1).

While anatomy examines the actual form of the body, physiology focuses on how the different anatomical parts fulfill a specific purpose, as it “reveals the body’s dynamic and animated workings (Marieb & Hoehn, 2022, Section 1.1).

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The Language of Anatomy + Physiology

Anatomy and physiology are explained in a shared language. In other words, “to prevent misunderstanding, anatomists use universally accepted terms to identify body structures precisely and with a minimum of words.” These terms describe different aspects of the body, as well as the relationships between them (Marieb & Hoehn, 2022, Section 1.5).

Using this terminology often addresses the body from what is known as anatomical position. This suggests that “the body is erect with feet slightly apart. . . palms face forward and the thumbs point away. . . [It is] as if it were in this position, regardless of its actual position” (Marieb & Hoehn, 2022, Section 1.5).

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Studying Anatomy + Physiology

Types of anatomy include macroscopic anatomy, also referred to as gross anatomy, which is “visible to the naked eye,” and microscopic anatomy, which isn’t. Additionally, “developmental anatomy traces structural changes that occur throughout the lifespan” (Marieb & Hoehn, 2022, Section 1.1).

Physiology also has its own branches. However, it is important to note that “although it is possible to study anatomy and physiology individually, they are really inseparable because function always reflects structure” (Marieb & Hoehn, 2022, Section 1.1).

References

Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (2022). Human anatomy & physiology (11th ed., Global ed.) [E-book]. Pearson Education Limited.