Unit -1 || Human Anatomy and Physiology -1 || B.Pharmacy 1st Semester Notes

Looking for B.Pharmacy 1st Year Unit 1 Human Anatomy and Physiology handwritten notes? Download high-quality, exam-focused notes based on the latest PCI syllabus (2025). These notes cover all essential topics of Human Anatomy with clear explanations, diagrams, and easy-to-understand language.

Unit 1: Introduction to the Human Body

1.1 Definition and Scope of Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy is the branch of biology that deals with the structure of organisms and their parts. It is divided into:

• Gross (Macroscopic) Anatomy: Study of structures visible to the naked eye.
• Microscopic Anatomy: Study of structures that require a microscope to be seen, such as cells and tissues.

Physiology is the branch of biology that focuses on the functions and mechanisms occurring in living organisms. It explains how the body’s structures work and interact to maintain life.

In the context of pharmacy, understanding anatomy and physiology is crucial for comprehending how drugs affect the body and how the body responds to these drugs.

1.2 Levels of Structural Organization and Body Systems

The human body is organized into several levels of complexity:

1. Chemical Level: Atoms and molecules form the basic building blocks of matter.
2. Cellular Level: Cells are the basic units of life, composed of molecules.
3. Tissue Level: Groups of similar cells performing a specific function.
4. Organ Level: Structures composed of two or more tissue types working together.
5. System Level: Groups of organs that work together to perform complex functions.
6. Organismal Level: The human body as a whole, functioning together.

The major body systems include:

• Integumentary System: Protects the body; includes skin, hair, and nails.
• Skeletal System: Provides structure; includes bones and joints.
• Muscular System: Allows movement; includes muscles.
• Nervous System: Controls and coordinates body activities; includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
• Endocrine System: Regulates body functions through hormones; includes glands like the thyroid and pancreas.
• Cardiovascular System: Transports nutrients and gases; includes the heart and blood vessels.
• Lymphatic System: Defends against infection; includes lymph nodes and vessels.
• Respiratory System: Facilitates gas exchange; includes lungs and airways.
• Digestive System: Breaks down food; includes stomach and intestines.
• Urinary System: Eliminates waste; includes kidneys and bladder.
• Reproductive System: Produces offspring; includes reproductive organs.

1.3 Basic Life Processes

The basic life processes essential for maintaining life include:

• Metabolism: All chemical reactions occurring within the body.
• Responsiveness: The ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment.
• Movement: Includes motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells, and even tiny structures inside cells.
• Growth: Increase in size and complexity.
• Differentiation: Process by which unspecialized cells become specialized.
• Reproduction: Formation of new cells for growth, repair, or replacement; production of offspring.

1.4 Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment within the body, despite external changes. It is vital for the proper functioning of cells and organs. Homeostatic mechanisms include:

• Feedback Systems: Mechanisms that detect and respond to changes in the body to maintain balance.
  • Negative Feedback: Reduces the effect of the stimulus, bringing the system back to normal.
  • Positive Feedback: Amplifies the effect of the stimulus, driving the system further from normal.

Examples of homeostasis include the regulation of body temperature, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels.

1.5 Basic Anatomical Terminology

Understanding anatomical terminology is essential for describing the locations and relationships of body parts. Key terms include:

• Directional Terms:
  • Superior: Toward the head.
  • Inferior: Away from the head.
  • Anterior (Ventral): Toward the front.
  • Posterior (Dorsal): Toward the back.
  • Medial: Toward the midline of the body.
  • Lateral: Away from the midline.
  • Proximal: Closer to the point of attachment.
  • Distal: Farther from the point of attachment.
• Body Planes:
  • Sagittal Plane: Divides the body into left and right parts.
  • Frontal (Coronal) Plane: Divides the body into front and back parts.
  • Transverse (Horizontal) Plane: Divides the body into upper and lower parts.
• Body Cavities:
  • Dorsal Cavity: Includes the cranial and spinal cavities.
  • Ventral Cavity: Includes the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.
• Regions of the Body:
  • Axial Region: Includes the head, neck, and trunk.
  • Appendicular Region: Includes the limbs and girdles.

1.6 Cellular Level of Organization

Cells are the basic structural and functional units of the body. They are composed of:

• Plasma Membrane: A selective barrier that regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell.
• Cytoplasm: The fluid and organelles within the cell, excluding the nucleus.
• Nucleus: Contains genetic material and controls cell activities.

Transport Across the Cell Membrane:

• Passive Transport: Movement of substances without energy expenditure.
  • Diffusion: Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
  • Facilitated Diffusion: Movement of molecules via a membrane protein.
  • Osmosis: Movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane.
• Active Transport: Movement of substances against a concentration gradient, requiring energy.
  • Endocytosis: Process by which cells ingest external substances.
  • Exocytosis: Process by which cells expel substances.

Cell Division:

• Mitosis: Division of a somatic cell into two identical daughter cells.
• Meiosis: Division of germ cells, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells.

Cell Junctions:

• Tight Junctions: Prevent leakage of extracellular fluid.
• Adherens Junctions: Anchor cells together.
• Desmosomes: Provide mechanical strength.
• Gap Junctions: Allow communication between cells.

1.7 Tissue Level of Organization

Tissues are groups of similar cells performing specific functions. The four primary tissue types are:

• Epithelial Tissue: Covers body surfaces and lines cavities.
  • Functions: Protection, absorption, secretion, filtration.
  • Types: Simple (single layer) and stratified (multiple layers); squamous, cuboidal, columnar.
• Connective Tissue: Supports and binds other tissues.
  • Functions: Structural support, protection, insulation, transportation.
  • Types: Loose connective tissue, dense connective tissue, cartilage, bone, blood.
• Muscle Tissue: Responsible for movement.
  • Types:
    • Skeletal Muscle: Voluntary movement, striated.
    • Cardiac Muscle: Involuntary movement, striated, found in the heart.
    • Smooth Muscle: Involuntary movement, non-striated, found in walls of hollow organs.
• Nervous Tissue: Transmits electrical impulses.
  • Components: Neurons (nerve cells) and neuroglia (supporting cells).
  • Functions: Sensory reception, integration, motor output.

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