1. According to Tortora and Derrickson (2014), there are several subspecialties of anatomy and physiology.
In Anatomy
- Embryology – the study of the first eight weeks of growth and development after fertilization of a human egg
- Developmental Biology – the study of the complete development of an individual from fertilization to death
- Cell Biology – the study of the cellular structure and functions
- Histology – the study of the microscopic structure of biological tissues
- Gross Anatomy – the study of structures that can be examined without a microscope (macroscopic)
- Systemic Anatomy – the study of the structure of different systems of the body, such as the nervous or respiratory systems
- Regional Anatomy – the study of the specific regions of the body such as the chest or head
- Surface Anatomy – the study of surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpitation (gentle touch)
- Imaging Anatomy - the study of body structures that can be visualized with techniques such as X-rays, MRI, and CT scans
- Pathological Anatomy – the study of the structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease
In Biology
- Neurophysiology – the study of functional properties of nerve cells
- Endocrinology – the study of hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how they control body functions
- Cardiovascular Physiology – the study of functions of the heart and blood vessels
- Immunology – the study of the body's defenses against disease-causing agents
- Respiratory physiology – the study of the air passageways and lungs
- Exercise Physiology – changes in cell and organ functions due to muscular activity
- Renal Physiology – the study of the functions of kidneys
- Pathophysiology – the study of the functional changes associated with disease and aging
2. One example of how a body part's structure is related to its function is the skin. Our skin is made up of three layers, namely the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis is primarily comprised of keratinocytes which form the protective layer on the outside of the skin. It also contains Langerhans cells that protect the body against infection. The dermis contains the sebaceous glands, which are responsible for making the oil sebum to make the skin softer and waterproof. The hypodermis is made of connective tissue, blood cells, and cells that store fat which provides the primary structural support for the skin, insulates the body from cold, and acts as a shock absorber (Hirsch, n.d; Lawton, 2019).
References
Hirsch, L. (n.d). Skin, hair, and nails. KidsHealth. Retrieved September 11, 2022, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/skin-hair-nails.html
Lawton, S. (2019). Skin 1: the structure and functions of the skin. Nursing Times [online]; 115, 12, 30-33.
Tortora, G. J, & Derrickson, B. (2074). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. New York, United States of America: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.