1 Introduction to Anatomy

Welcome to the Mac Anatomy introduction to anatomy lab manual. This first chapter is designed to provide you with a basic foundation of anatomical concepts which will aid you in your journey through anatomy.

To get a better understanding of this text please view the introductory page as this page will outline how you should go about reading the content below.

Structure of Anatomy:

Imagine reading this manual right now. You are possibly sitting or standing, your eyes are fixated on each word, you might be eating a snack or maybe or thinking about the beautiful weather. Simultaneously your body is hard at work sensing, processing and executing hundreds of functions so you can stand upright, interpret the surroundings, digest food and process complex thought.

You will notice throughout the following chapters there is a basic structure to the human anatomy. While the entire human anatomy can be very broad, it can often be reduced to a simple relationship. Where  each system can be broken into organs which are made of tissues, consisting of various types of cells which are ultimately composed of chemicals.

Chemical < Cellular < tissue < Organ < System

Anatomical systems:

As mentioned above, your very existence requires the cohesion and execution of several systems. Your nervous system interprets cold sensations of the air conditioning, your digestive system is processing your last meal, and your visual system is interpreting the letters you are reading right now. The human body is vast, however it can be simplified by breaking it down into systems. A system is a organization of organs and tissues to fulfill a specific function. By the end of this manual, you should have a basic understanding of each of the systems identified below: