What are Anatomy and Physiology?

Anatomy

The word anatomy is derived from a Greek word “Anatome” meaning to cut up. It is the study of structures that make up the body and how those structures relate with each other. The study of anatomy includes many sub specialties. These are Gross anatomy, Microscopic anatomy, Developmental anatomy and Embryology.

Gross Anatomy studies body structure without microscope. Systemic anatomy studies functional relationships of organs within a system whereas Regional anatomy studies body part regionally. Both systemic and regional approaches may be used to study gross anatomy

Microscopic Anatomy (Histology) requires the use of microscope to study tissues that form the various organs of the body.

Physiology

The word physiology derived from a Greek word for study of nature. It is the study of how the body and its part work or function. Hence, Anatomy and physiology are studied together to give students a full appreciation and understanding of human body.

Homeostasis

When structure and function are coordinated the body achieves a relative stability of its internal environment called homeostasis / staying the same. Although the external environmental changes constantly, the internal environment of a healthy body remains the same with in normal limits.

Under normal conditions, homeostasis is maintained by adaptive mechanisms ranging from control center in the brain to chemical substances called hormones that are secreted by various organs directly into the blood streams. Some of the functions controlled by homeostasis mechanisms are blood pressure, body temperature, breathing and heart rate.