Anatomy and Physiology / Unit 1: Body Organization and Homeostasis
1.1 Anatomy, Physiology and Levels of Organization
Notes
Anatomy is the study of body structure; physiology is the study of how structures work. Structure and function are closely linked (the complementarity of structure and function).
- Levels from simplest to most complex: chemical (atoms, molecules), cellular, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.
- A tissue is a group of similar cells doing a common job. An organ is two or more tissue types working together. An organ system is a group of organs with a shared function.
- Example: cardiac muscle cells form cardiac muscle tissue, which combines with connective and epithelial tissue to form the heart, which is part of the cardiovascular system.
Practice
Which list shows the levels of organization in the correct order from smallest to largest?
Cells make tissues, tissues make organs, organs make organ systems, and systems make the organism.
A student studies how the bones of the hand are shaped and arranged. This is mainly a study of:
Structure is anatomy. Physiology would focus on how the hand functions, such as how muscles produce grip.
The stomach contains muscle tissue, epithelial tissue, connective tissue and nervous tissue working together to digest food. At which level of organization is the stomach?
An organ is made of two or more tissue types that perform a specific function together.
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