Anatomy & Physiology – General A&P Concepts
General A&P Concepts
Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology Lessons
It is important for massage therapists to have a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology concepts and terminology for the MBLEx and when working with clients. The A&P lessons in this MBLEx Course covers the main topics in this content area of the MBLEx, including:
- A review of the most important anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of each of the 12 systems of the body
- Explanations of key concepts needed to understand the body
- Definitions of terminology relevant to A&P and massage therapy
- Lessons on tissue healing and repair
- Overview of energetic anatomy for the MBLEx
The anatomy and physiology lessons here are organized by body system.
Introduction to A&P Terminology
Anatomy is the study of the parts and structure of the body, and the relationship between the body parts.
Physiology is the study of the function of the parts and systems of the body, and the body as a whole.
Gross anatomy refers to anatomy that can be seen and studied with the naked eye (without a microscope).
Histology is the study of tissues of the body at a microscopic level (tissue appearance, organization, function).
Levels of Organization of the Body
(From largest to smallest) Organism → organ system → organ → tissue → cells → molecules → atoms
Organ: a differentiated (self-contained) group of tissues within an organism that performs a specific function (e.g. heart, lung, stomach, spleen, eye, kidney, etc.)
Tissue: groups of cells that have a similar structure and work together to perform a specific function (e.g. muscle tissue, bone tissue, nervous tissue, connective tissue)
Cell: the smallest unit of life. Organelles are specialized structures within the cell that perform specific tasks (e.g. mitochondria, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum).
There are 12 major body systems covered on the MBLEx: Circulatory, Digestive, Endocrine, Integumentary, Lymphatic, Muscular, Nervous, Reproduction, Respiratory, Skeletal, Special Senses, and Urinary.
Since many of these systems work together very closely, you may see them arranged a little differently in other resources. For example, a book or online reference may talk about the cardiopulmonary system, the neuromuscular system, the immune system, or the genitourinary system.
Body Cavities
A body cavity is a space, compartment or area within the body. Body cavities are often occupied by organs, and are surrounded and protected by membranes and other structures. There are 2 main body cavities: ventral and dorsal.
The ventral cavity is located in the anterior aspect of the trunk. It is divided into two smaller body cavities:
- Thoracic cavity: located at the chest, contains the heart and lungs. The thoracic cavity can be divided into smaller cavities (left & right plural cavities, mediastinum, & pericardial cavity)
- Abdominopelvic cavity: Located in the lower half of the trunk, between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor. It can be divided into smaller cavities.
- Abdominal cavity: contains most of the digestive organs and the kidneys.
- Pelvic cavity: contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and part of the large intestine.
The dorsal cavity is located in the posterior aspect of the trunk and head. It is divided into two cavities:
- Cranial cavity: the space within the skull; contains the brain.
- Vertebral cavity: a long and narrow cavity that contains the spinal cord.
There are other smaller cavities in the body too: nasal cavity, oral cavity,
4 Tissue Types
The body is composed of 4 primary tissue types. These tissues are grouped into four types or categories based on similarities in their structure and function.
Muscle tissue contracts when excited, and functions to move the body and create movement within the body. There are different types of muscle tissue such as skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and smooth muscle.
Connective tissue connects structures of the body together. It is a diverse tissue type. Examples include bone, tendons, ligaments, fascia, some membranes (synovial membranes), adipose, and blood.
Nervous tissue generates and propagates electrochemical signals. These nerve impulses permit communication between different areas of the body.
Epithelial tissue covers the exterior body surfaces, line internal body cavities and passageways, form some glands. Examples are: skin, some membranes (mucous, serous and cutaneous membranes), and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.