Activity 1
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY SUBSPECIALTIES
by GEORGETTE E. ZALDIVAR
1. Anatomy, as well as physiology, have several subspecialties. Can you identify these subspecialties and explain what they specifically study?
ANATOMY, according to Prof. Peter James Abad in his lecture video on the organization of the human body, is constituted of the six (6) following subspecialties, which are as follows:
- EMBRYOLOGY, which studies the development of an embryo from the first eight (8) weeks, following the fertilization of an ovum to the fetal stage;
- DEVELOPMENT BIOLOGY, which studies the complete development of an individual from fertilization of an egg to death—notably including the includes production of gametes, fertilization, development of the embryo, the emergence of the adult organism, senescence, and death;
- CELL BIOLOGY, which studies the cellular structure and functions, as well as cellular formation and division, and other related foci;
- SURFACE ANATOMY, sometimes called superficial anatomy, studies the surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation of anatomical landmarks;
- GROSS ANATOMY, otherwise known as macroscopic anatomy, studies the anatomical features visible to the naked eye, which, thus, can be examined without using a microscope, such as internal organs and external features; and
- SYSTEMIC ANATOMY is the system-by-system examination of human structures, studying the configuration of specific systems of the body, such as the nervous system or respiratory system.
In addition to these, Tortora and Derrickson also identified four (4) further subspecialties of ANATOMY, which are as follows:
- HISTOLOGY, which studies the microscopic structures of tissues, focusing on the structure and composition of plant and animal tissues in connection to their specialized functions;
- REGIONAL ANATOMY, which studies the morphology of specific regions of the body, such as the head or chest;
- IMAGING ANATOMY, whichlooks into the body structures that can be visualized with the use of techniques such as x-rays, MRI, and CT scans; and
- PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY, which studies the structural changes, ranging from gross to microscopic, associated with diseases.
On the other hand, PHYSIOLOGY, according to Prof. Peter James Abad in the same lecture video, has six (6) subspecialties, which are as follows:
- NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, which studies the functional properties of the nerve cells, as well as deals with the measurement and assessment of nervous system function;
- ENDOCRINOLOGY, which studies the endocrine glands and hormones and how they control body functions;
- CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY, which specifically focuses on the functions of the heart and blood vessels;
- IMMUNOLOGY, which studies the body’s defenses against disease-causing agents; specifically, it is concerned with the structure and function of the immune system, the bodily differentiation of self from non-self, and the use of antibody-based research methods or immunoassays;
- RENAL PHYSIOLOGY, which is the study of the function of the kidneys; and
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, which specializes in the functional change associated with disease and aging.
In addition to these, Tortora and Derrickson also identified two (2) further subspecialties of PHYSIOLOGY, which are as follows:
- RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY, which studies the functions of air passageways and lungs; and
- EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY, which studies the changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity.
2. Can you give your own example on how a structure of a body part is related to its function?
One example of how a structure of a body part is related to its function is the hand. Human hands are structured in such a way that it is able to grab things due to their length, shape, and finger mobility. In addition, the way the muscles and bones are arranged is responsible for muscle contraction and, hence, would bring the bones together. The composition of the organelles within the muscle cell also impinges on how much and how long a muscle of a hand is able to contract.
REFERENCES:
Department of Biology. (n.d.). Developmental Biology. Retrieved from Duke Trinity College of Arts and Sciences: https://biology.duke.edu/research/developmental-biology
Dowd, S. E., Halonen, M. J., & Maier, R. M. (2012). Chapter 12 - Immunological Methods. Environmental Microbiology 2nd ed., 225-241.
LibreTexts Medicine. (2020). 1.1A: Defining Anatomy. Retrieved from LibreTexts Medicine: https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Book%3A_Anatomy_and_Physiology_(Boundless)/1%3A_Introduction_to_Anatomy_and_Physiology/1.1%3A_Overview_of_Anatomy_and_Physiology/1.1A%3A_Defining_Anatomy
LibreTexts Medicine. (2020). 1.2: What is Human Anatomy, What is Human Physiology. Retrieved from LibreTexts Medicine: https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Book%3A_Human_Anatomy_and_Physiology_Preparatory_Course_(Liachovitzky)/01%3A_Levels_of_Organization_of_the_Human_Organism/1.02%3A_What_is_Human_Anatomy_What_is_Human_Physiology
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2013). histology. Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/histology
Thomas, L. (2021). Neurophysiology & Nerve Conduction Studies. Retrieved from News Medical: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Neurophysiology-Nerve-Conduction-Studies.aspx
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2014). 1.1 Anatomy and Physiology Defined. In G. J. Tortora, & B. Derrickson, Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (p. 2). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.