Activity 1: Anatomy and Physiology Subspecialties
1. Anatomy is the science of body structure and the relationship among them. Its subspecialties include Embryology which is the study of the first eight weeks of development following fertilization of an egg; Development Biology, which is about the complete development of an individual from fertilization of an egg to death; Cell Biology, which is about the cellular structure and its functions; Surface Anatomy that deals with surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation; Gross Anatomy which is the study of structures that can be examined without using a microscope; and Systemic Anatomy which is about the structure of specific systems of the body such as the nervous and respiratory systems.
Physiology is the study of how body parts work together. Its subspecialties are Neurophysiology which is the study of functional properties of nerve cells; Endocrinology, which is about hormones and how they control body functions; Cardiovascular physiology is about the functions of the heart and blood vessels; Immunology, which is about how the body defends itself against disease-causing agents; Renal physiology which is about the function of the kidneys; and Pathophysiology which is about the functional changes which are associated with disease and aging.
2. Body structures are designed to keep our bodies alive and functional. The ribcage in our chest is an example of this. The ribs form a cage that protects our vital organs such as the lungs and heart by connecting on the front of the chest with a long flat sternum and on the back with the vertebral column.