Learn & Review: ATI TEAS Science Version 7 Anatomy and Physiology (How to Get the Perfect Score)

Summary of Human Anatomy and Physiology for ATI TEAS

This summary covers essential human anatomy and physiology topics relevant for the ATI TEAS exam, focusing on anatomical terminology, body systems, and their functions.

I. Anatomical Terminology and Orientation

Understanding anatomical terms and directional planes is crucial for describing body positions and locations.

• General Orientation: Refers to the overall structure and position of the body.
• Anatomical Terminology (Regional):
  • Head: Cephalic (head), Cranial (skull), Facial (face), Frontal (forehead), Occipital (base of skull), Temporal (temple), Orbital/Ocular (eyes), Buccal (cheek), Nasal (nose), Oral (mouth), Mental (chin).
  • Neck: Cervical.
  • Torso: Sternal (breastbone), Thoracic (chest), Mammary (breasts), Abdominal (abdomen), Umbilical (navel), Coxa (hips), Sacral (between hips), Coxageal (tailbone), Gluteal (buttocks), Pelvic (pelvis), Pubic (pubis area).
  • Back: Occipital (base of skull), Dorsal (back in general), Vertebral (spinal column), Lumbar (lower back).
  • Shoulder/Arm: Acromial (shoulder), Scapular (shoulder blade), Axillary (armpit), Brachial (arm), Antebrachial (forearm), Carpal (wrist), Palmar (palm), Polex (thumb), Manual (hand), Dorsum (back of hand), Digital/Phalangeal (fingers).
  • Leg/Foot: Femoral (thigh), Patella (front of knee), Popliteal (back of knee), Curial (shin), Sural (calf), Pedal (foot), Tarsal (ankle), Digital/Phalangeal (toe), Plantar (sole of foot), Calcaneal (heel), Hallux (great toe).
• Directional Terms:
  • Anterior/Ventral: Towards the front.
  • Posterior/Dorsal: Towards the back.
  • Superior/Cranial: Towards the head.
  • Inferior/Caudal: Towards the feet.
  • Medial: Towards the midline of the body.
  • Lateral: Away from the midline of the body.
  • Proximal: Closer to the trunk of the body.
  • Distal: Further away from the trunk of the body.
• Planes of the Body:
  • Sagittal/Median Plane: Vertical plane dividing the body into right and left halves.
  • Frontal/Coronal Plane: Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior halves.
  • Transverse Plane: Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior halves.

II. Body Systems

A. Respiratory System

• Function: Gas exchange (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out) and maintaining blood pH.
• Structure:
  • Upper Respiratory: Nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx (voice box).
  • Lower Respiratory: Trachea (windpipe), bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli (air sacs), lungs.
  • Lungs: Right lung has three lobes, left lung has two lobes to accommodate the heart.
• Mechanism of Breathing:
  • Inhalation: Diaphragm contracts, thoracic cavity volume increases, pressure decreases, air flows in.
  • Exhalation: Diaphragm relaxes, thoracic cavity volume decreases, pressure increases, air flows out.
• Factors Affecting the System: Diseases (pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma), mucus buildup, smoking, pollution, dust, allergies, inflammation.

B. Cardiovascular System

• Function: Transport of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products; regulation of blood pressure, body temperature, and pH; fighting infections; aiding digestion and tissue repair.
• Structure: Heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries), blood.
• Heart: Four chambers (right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle) separated by a septum.
• Blood Vessels:
  • Arteries: Carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.
  • Veins: Carry oxygen-poor blood towards the heart.
  • Capillaries: Tiny vessels where exchange of nutrients and waste occurs.
• Cardiac Cycle:
  • Systole: Contraction of the heart, blood pumped out, AV valves close (lub sound).
  • Diastole: Relaxation of the heart, chambers fill with blood, semilunar valves close (dub sound).
• Electrical System: Sinoatrial (SA) node (pacemaker), Atrioventricular (AV) node, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibers.
• Blood Flow: Oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium, left ventricle, aorta, body tissues. Deoxygenated blood from body tissues to veins, right atrium, right ventricle, lungs.
• Regulation: Blood pressure, body temperature (vasodilation/vasoconstriction), pH (bicarbonate buffer system).

C. Digestive System

• Function: Breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.
• Structure:
  • GI Tract: Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), large intestine (cecum, colon, rectum), anus.
  • Accessory Organs: Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas.
• Process:
  • Mouth: Mechanical digestion (chewing), chemical digestion (saliva with amylase and lipase).
  • Esophagus: Peristalsis moves food to the stomach.
  • Stomach: Stores food, gastric acid kills bacteria, denatures proteins, activates enzymes.
  • Small Intestine: Main site of digestion and absorption; increased surface area due to folds.
  • Large Intestine: Absorbs water, electrolytes, and vitamins.
  • Rectum: Stores feces.
• Key Enzymes and Hormones: Gastrin, Cholecystokinin (CCK), Secretin, Insulin, Glucagon, Bile.

D. Nervous System

• Function: Transmitting signals between the body and brain, controlling communication and actions.
• Divisions:
  • Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord.
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves branching from the spinal cord.
• Neuron Structure: Cell body, dendrites (receive signals), axon (transmits signals), axon terminal, myelin sheath (insulates axon), synapse (gap between neurons).
• Neuron Types:
  • Sensory (Afferent): Send messages to the CNS.
  • Motor (Efferent): Send messages to muscles.
• Nervous System Types:
  • Autonomic (Involuntary): Controls heart rate, digestion, respiration.
  • Somatic (Voluntary): Controls limb movement.

E. Muscular System

• Function: Movement, generating force through contraction.
• Types of Muscle Tissue:
  • Skeletal Muscle: Attached to bones, striated, voluntary, responsible for body movement.
  • Cardiac Muscle: Found in the heart, striated, involuntary, pumps blood.
  • Smooth Muscle: Found in internal organs and blood vessels, non-striated, involuntary, weakest muscle type.
• Muscle Characteristics: Over 700 named muscles, make up ~50% of body weight.
• Nerve-Muscle Interaction: Nerves send impulses to muscles, causing contraction.

F. Reproductive System

• Male Reproductive System:
  • Structures: Testes (produce sperm and testosterone), epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, penis.
• Female Reproductive System:
  • Structures: Ovaries (produce eggs and hormones), fallopian tubes, uterus (houses fetus), vagina, vulva (external genitalia).
• Hormonal Control: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone.
• Female Cycle: FSH stimulates estrogen production, LH triggers ovulation, progesterone prepares the endometrium. Menstruation occurs if fertilization doesn't happen.

G. Integumentary System

• Function: Protection, temperature regulation, sensation.
• Structure: Skin, hair, nails, sweat glands.
• Skin Layers:
  • Epidermis: Outer layer, waterproof barrier, protects from infection.
  • Dermis: Middle layer, contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, sweat glands.
  • Subcutaneous (Hypodermis): Innermost layer, contains fat and connective tissue.
• Homeostasis: Regulates body temperature through vasodilation/vasoconstriction and sweating.

H. Endocrine System

• Function: Regulates growth, development, metabolism, reproduction, and mood through hormones.
• Glands and Hormones:
  • Pituitary Gland: Master gland (growth hormone, prolactin).
  • Thyroid Gland: Thyroxine (metabolism), calcitonin (calcium levels).
  • Parathyroid Gland: Parathyroid hormone (calcium levels).
  • Thymus Gland: Thymosin (immune system development).
  • Adrenal Gland: Epinephrine, norepinephrine (fight or flight).
  • Pancreas: Insulin, glucagon (blood sugar regulation).
  • Testes: Testosterone (male characteristics).
• Hormone Types: Lipid-based (steroids), nonpolar fat-soluble, water-soluble.
• Feedback Mechanisms:
  • Positive Feedback: Amplifies a change (e.g., oxytocin during childbirth).
  • Negative Feedback: Reverses or slows a change (e.g., insulin regulating blood sugar).

I. Urinary System

• Function: Excretes waste, maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, regulates blood pressure, and contributes to homeostasis.
• Structure: Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.
• Kidney Structure: Renal cortex (outer layer), renal medulla (inner layer), nephron (functional unit).
• Nephron Function: Filtration (glomerulus), reabsorption, and secretion (tubule).
• Relationship with Cardiovascular System: Cardiovascular system transports blood to kidneys for filtration; kidneys regulate blood pressure and produce erythropoietin (stimulates red blood cell production).

J. Immune System

• Function: Protects the body from foreign invaders (bacteria, viruses, fungi).
• Defense Systems:
  • Innate Defense: First line of defense (skin, mucous membranes, chemical barriers, inflammatory response, phagocytes).
  • Adaptive Defense: Second line of defense (lymphatic system, white blood cells, antibodies, memory cells).
• Key Components: Antigens, antigen-presenting cells, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, cytokines, antibodies, memory cells.
• Types of Immunity:
  • Passive Immunity: Antibodies received from another individual (e.g., mother to child).
  • Active Immunity: Body produces its own antibodies in response to infection.

K. Skeletal System

• Function: Support, protection, movement (in conjunction with muscles), blood cell production (marrow).
• Structure: Bones connected by joints, held together by ligaments.
• Bone Types: Long, short, flat, irregular.
• Bone Tissue Types: Compact bone, spongy bone (cancellous, trabecular), marrow.
• Relationship with Muscular System: Muscles attach to bones via tendons and contract to produce movement.