A1 Subspecialties of Anatomy:
1. Embryology- Study of the formation of and development of an embryo and fetus during the first 8 weeks.
2. Developmental biology- Study of how an organism develops throughout a life cycle, starting from fertilization of an egg to death.
3. Cell biology- Study of cellular structure and function; the different processes and life history of cells.
4. Histology- Study of microscopic structure of tissues.
5. Surface anatomy- Study of surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation.
6. Gross anatomy- Study of structures that can be examined without using a microscope.
7. Systemic anatomy- Study of structure of specific systems of the body such as the nervous or respiratory systems.
8. Regional anatomy- Study of specific regions of the body such as the head or chest.
9. Radiographic anatomy- Study of body structures that can be visualized with x-rays.
10. Pathological anatomy- Study of structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease.
A2 Subspecialties of Physiology:
1. Neurophysiology- Study of functional properties of nerve cells.
2. Endocrinology- Study of hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how they control body functions.
3. Cardiovascular physiology- Study of functions of the heart and blood vessels.
4. Immunology- Study of the body’s defenses against disease-causing agents.
5. Respiratory physiology- Study of functions of the air passageways and lungs.
6. Renal physiology- Study of functions of the kidneys.
7. Exercise physiology- Study of changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity.
8. Pathophysiology- Study of functional changes associated with disease and aging.
Source: Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2011). Principles of anatomy & physiology. (13th ed., p. 2). Danvers, MA, Wiley.
2. Body part: Ears
Ears are located on the sides of the head; its structure resembles that of a conch shell; the human ears have an opening called external auditory canal. How is this related to its function? The opening in ears enables signals to travel and be processed into complex series of electrical signals in the central nervous system, allowing us to hear and identify sounds.