INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: LEARNING THE LANGUAGE

Chapter 1 introduction to Anatomy and Physiology: Learning the Language Lecture Outline I. Introduction A. Medical terminology is the language of health professionals. B. This chapter lays the foundation for this language and for an introduction to anatomy and physiology (A & P). C. Future chapters build on this foundation to help students understand anatomy and physiology and become fluent in the language. II. What is Anatomy and Physiology? A. Anatomy 1. Anatomy is the study of internal and external structures of the human body. 2. Anatomy is Greek for “to cut apart.” 3. Microscopic anatomy studies the structures that can be seen only with magnification, like a microscope. a. Cytology is the study of cells. b. Histology is the study of tissues. 4. Macroscopic anatomy (or gross anatomy) is the study of structures visible to the naked eye. a. Study of the skeletal system b. Looking at an x-ray B. Physiology 1. Physiology focuses on the functions and processes of body structures. 2. Physiology is the study of how anatomical structures function. 3. Physiology deals with all the vital processes of life and is more complex than anatomy, with more subspecialties. a. Human physiology b. Animal physiology c. Cellular physiology d. Neurophysiology C. Putting It All Together 1. Anatomy focuses on structures and how body structures are put together. 2. Physiology is the study of how these different structures work together to make the body function as a whole. 3. The design of the structure is often related to its function. 4. Human anatomy and physiology forms the foundation for all medical practice. a. Pathophysiology is the study of disease, or anything that negatively changes the body's normal function or structure. III. The Language A. Medical Terminology 1. Most terms are derived from Greek and Latin languages. 2. Each medical term has a basic structure on which to build, called a root word. 3. Prefixes and suffixes added to root words change or alter the meaning. B. Forming medical terms 1. If a suffix begins with a vowel, drop the vowel in the combining form. 2. When using prefixes, put the word parts in the order you say the definition; for example, before birth is prenatal. C. Abbreviations 1. The medical profession uses abbreviations extensively. 2. Abbreviations are useful in simplifying long, complicated terms for diseases, diagnostic procedures, and therapies. IV. The Metric System A. The metric system is the “mathematical language” of anatomy and physiology to measure weight, volume, and length. B. Two major systems of measurement used in the world today: 1. The U.S. Customary System (USCS) or English system a. Used in the United States b. Based on the British Imperial System c. Different designations for length, weight, and volume d. Difficult to use because there is no common base and no relationship between units 2. The metric system (Systéme International [SI]) a. Used everywhere else, especially in health care, science, and pharmaceutical companies b. Based on the power (or multiples) of 10 c. Relationship between units V. The Language of Disease A. Disease is a condition in which the body fails to function normally. B. Eating habits, smoking, inherited traits, trauma, cancer, environmental factors, and aging can cause disease. C. Signs and Symptoms of Disease 1. Signs are definitive, objective (measurable), obvious indicators of wellness or an illness. a. Vital signs (signs that are essential to life) include pulse (heart rate), blood pressure, body temperature, respiratory rate, and pain. b. Lab values 2. Symptoms, like pain tolerance, are more subjective and difficult to measure. 3. A syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms that commonly occur with a specific disease. D. Other Disease Terms 1. Diagnosis is the identification of a disease determined by studying the patient’s signs, symptoms, history, and results of diagnostic tests. a. Chief complaint/concern (CC) is why the patient is seeking medical help. 2. Etiology is the cause of the disease. 3. Chronic conditions refer to a disease process that has existed for some time. 4. Acute conditions refer to a rapid onset of signs and symptoms. 5. Remission is a period of time when a chronic disease disappears. 6. Relapses are recurrences of the signs and symptoms of disease. 7. Exacerbation refers to an acute flare-up of signs and symptoms. 8. Mortality is the measure of the number of deaths attributed to a specific disease in a given population over a period of time. 9. Morbidity is the measure of the disabilities and extent of problems caused by an illness. 10. Endemic refers to a disease that is continually present within a specific population or region. 11. An epidemic is a disease that occurs suddenly in large numbers over a specific region; a pandemic is a disease that spreads country- or worldwide. 12. Prognosis is the prediction of the outcome of a disease; a terminal disease has a prognosis of death. VI. Anatomy and Physiology Concepts You Will Encounter on Your Journey A. Homeostasis 1. Homeostasis is the physiologic process that monitors and maintains a stable internal environment or equilibrium. a. Heart rate and blood pressure must be maintained within a set point, or certain range. b. Homeostatic regulation refers to the adjustments made in the human organism to maintain homeostasis. 2. A negative feedback loop is a continuous feedback loop that senses the internal and external environments and makes adjustments. a. The feedback opposes the stimulus, bringing variable back to normal range. b. Example: The hypothalamus in the brain uses a negative feedback loop to control body temperature and maintain homeostasis. 3. Positive feedback increases the magnitude of a change instead of resisting change. a. This kind of process is also known as a vicious cycle. b. Not homeostasis c. An example of useful positive feedback is the recurrent contractions of the uterus during childbirth. VII. Metabolism A. On the cellular level, all humans require the process of metabolism to survive. 1. Metabolism refers to all the energy and material transformations that occur within living cells; it is subdivided into: a. Anabolism: the process by which simpler compounds are built up and used to manufacture materials for growth, repair, and reproduction. b. Catabolism: the process by which complex substances are broken down into simpler substances. Classroom Activities 1. Make flash cards for students to learn to define medical terminology. Using the tables found in Chapter 1 of the text, print root words on blue paper, suffixes on red paper, and prefixes on yellow paper. Then tape one of each to the board to create a medical term and ask students to define it. Next, remove the suffix or prefix, replace it with another one, and ask them to define the new term and explain how it changed. 2. Name a common or familiar illness or disease, such as the common cold, allergic rhinitis, or diabetes. Have students give examples of signs and symptoms of that disease. Discuss how they know which examples are signs and which are symptoms. 3. Have students give examples of negative or positive feedback loops, or give them examples and have them decide whether the example is of a negative or positive feedback loop. 4. Visit the Joint Commission web site and download the Official "Do Not Use" List of abbreviations. Discuss with students the various reasons different abbreviations are included on the list. Teaching Strategies 1. Take every opportunity to use medical terminology, and have students dissect the word to determine what it means. 2. When medical terminology is used, have students learn the abbreviations that apply to that term. 3. Jeopardy! is a wonderful game to play to teach students medical terminology. Categories can include root words, prefixes, suffixes, medical terms, abbreviations, and medical definitions. 4. During each class, post an unfamiliar medical term or terms for students to decipher. Turn it into a challenge, and award points to the student who figures out the term's meaning first, without the aid of a medical dictionary or other reference. Factoids 1. Many medical terms originate from the Latin language. Prior to the 1970s, students entering medical fields were encouraged to take Latin in high school. Latin is an extremely difficult language to learn, and few high schools even offer this subject today. 2. Hospitals regulate abbreviations used in medical documentation to maintain legality of the record. Each hospital has a standardized list of acceptable abbreviations, including things like HOB (head of bed), ROM (range of motion), HS (bedtime), and QID (four times a day). Ethical Dilemmas 1. It is virtually impossible to understand the meaning of every medical term—no matter how long you are in the profession—because you will always run into a new word you’ve not heard before. Have students discuss the ethical consequences of “guessing” what a term means when you don’t want to take the time to look the term up and learn exactly what it refers to. 2. Hospitals are required to have a legally acceptable list of abbreviations that can be used in patient documentation. Ask students to explain what could happen if an abbreviation were used that others didn’t understand. Have students explain both the legal and ethical considerations of following this acceptable list of abbreviations. Answers to Test Your Knowledge Test Your Knowledge 1–1 Answers, p. 3 1. G 2. M 3. M 4. G 5. M Test Your Knowledge 1–2 Answers, p. 7 1. Acrocyanosis: blue extremities (condition of blue extremities) 2. Nephrologist: one who studies the kidneys 3. Cytomegaly: enlarged cells 4. Dermatitis: skin inflammation 5. Appendectomy: removal of the appendix 6. Removal of the stomach: gastrectomy 7. Disease of the bones: osteopathy 8. Electrical recording of the heart: electrocardiogram, or EKG or ECG 9. Inflammation of the joints: arthritis 10. One who studies the nervous system: neurologist 11. Abbreviation for patient not allowed to eat or drink: NPO 12. Abbreviation for giving a drug or treatment as needed: PRN Test Your Knowledge 1–3 Answers, p. 11 1. a. vital sign b. not a vital sign c. vital sign d. not a vital sign e. not a vital sign f. vital sign g. vital sign 2. c 3. a 4. b 5. d 6. a Answers to the Case Study, p. 14 a. What are his CCs and etiology? Chief complaints or concerns: shortness of breath (SOB), abdominal pain. Etiology: vehicular accident. b. Where exactly in the hospital was the patient taken? To the intensive care unit c. Describe the patient’s color, heart rate, and breathing. Patient’s extremities are bluish (acrocyanosis), his heart rate is fast (tachycardia), and he is having shortness of breath. d. What is the medical term for what the x-ray is showing? Cardiomegaly e. What future facial surgery will he need? A nose job or rhinoplasty Answers for Review Questions, p. 15 Multiple Choice 1. c, 2. b, 3. b, 4. b, 5. d, 6. b, 7. c 8. d Fill in the Blank 1. arthroscope 2. Anatomy; physiology 3. liver; enlarged 4. vital 5. positive feedback (vicious cycle) Short Answer 1. A diagnosis is the process of pinpointing the underlying cause of symptoms and signs, whereas a prognosis is the predicted outcome of the disease. 2. A phagocyte is a cell that ingests bacteria, viruses, and cellular debris (literally, a swallowing cell). 3. Negative feedback is a process in which the body attempts to reverse any change in physiology, bringing the variable back to “normal.” Positive feedback is a vicious cycle. Positive feedback enhances a change in physiology, usually making the situation worse. 4. There are many examples of homeostasis in the body. All physiological variables are controlled by homeostasis, including blood pressure, blood pH, blood sugar, body temperature, and hormone levels. All are regulated by negative feedback. For example, if blood pressure falls below normal levels, your body increases the heart rate and causes vasoconstriction. Increased heart rate and vasoconstriction increase blood pressure back toward normal. On the other hand, if blood pressure rises, the heart rate will decrease, and vasodilation will occur, decreasing blood pressure. 5. Jose has broken his leg. His symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, and decreased range of motion. The etiology is excessive mechanical forces that caused bone damage. His prognosis is that he will recover after rest and treatment. Treatment is immobilization for several weeks, rest, and perhaps surgery, depending on the severity of the break. 6. An endemic refers to a disease that is continually present within a specific population or region. An epidemic is a disease that occurs suddenly in large numbers over a specific region; a pandemic is a disease that spreads country- or worldwide. 7. Catabolism and anabolism are both functions of metabolism. Catabolism is the process by which complex substances are broken down into simpler substances, while anabolism is the process by which simpler compounds are built up and used to manufacture materials for growth, repair, and reproduction. Name __________________ Chapter 1—Worksheet Multiple Choice 1) The study of body structures is: A) anatomy. B) physiology. C) pathology. D) etiology. 2) The study of body functions is: A) anatomy. B) physiology. C) pathology. D) etiology. 3) The study of disease is: A) cytology. B) histology. C) physiology. D) pathology. 4) The physiological process that maintains a state of balance in the body is: A) homeostasis. B) idiopathic. C) communicable. D) pathological. Fill in the Blank For each of the following abbreviations, please write out the whole term. 5) PRN ________________________________________ 6) t.i.d. ________________________________________ 7) GI ________________________________________ 8) BP __________________________________________ 9) DX __________________________________________ 10) CA _________________________________________ Worksheet – p. 1 of 2 Matching Please match the following word parts with the appropriate definition. 11) _____ graphy A. Below 12) _____ cardi/o B. Small 13) _____ sub? C. Tumor 14) _____ hyper? D. Above normal 15) _____ arthr/o E. Process of recording 16) _____?logist F. Tissue 17) _____ brady? G. Specialist 18) _____ micro? H. Cell 19) _____?megaly I. Disease 20) _____?oma J. Nose 21) _____endo? K. Within 22) _____ hist/o L. Slow 23) _____ cyt/o M. Joint 24) _____ rhin/o N. Heart 25) _____ path/o O. Enlargement Worksheet – p. 2 of 2 Answer Key Chapter 1—Worksheet 1) A 2) B 3) D 4) A 5) as needed 6) give three times a day 7) gastrointestinal 8) blood pressure 9) diagnosis 10) cancer 11) E 12) N 13) A 14) D 15) M 16) G 17) L 18) B 19) O 20) C 21) K 22) F 23) H 24) J 25) I Name _________________ LABELING ACTIVITY Instructions: Please label the arteries or common pulse points in the following diagram. Labeling Activity answer key 2