Chapter 8, Part 2, Anatomy and Physiology

EMT & PARAMEDIC Preparation・2 minutes read

The nervous system coordinates body functions through the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, with the central and peripheral nervous systems playing key roles in transmitting impulses and controlling body functions. Various body systems like the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems work together to maintain homeostasis, with each system having specific organs and functions to support overall health.

Insights

  • The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), with the CNS consisting of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for thought and perception, while the PNS includes somatic and autonomic nervous systems, controlling voluntary and involuntary body functions.
  • Hormones, neurotransmitters, and prostaglandins act as chemical messengers in the body, influencing target cells through specific receptors, with endocrine hormones circulating in the blood to regulate distant tissues and maintaining homeostasis through feedback systems.

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Recent questions

  • What is the function of the nervous system?

    The nervous system facilitates communication and body functions.

  • What are the basic types of cells in neural tissue?

    Neuroglia and neurons are the two basic cell types.

  • How does the endocrine system regulate metabolic functions?

    The endocrine system uses hormones to regulate metabolic functions.

  • What is the role of the heart's electrical conduction system?

    The heart's electrical conduction system regulates heart function.

  • What is the function of the lymphatic system?

    The lymphatic system aids in fluid recovery and immune response.

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Summary

00:00

Understanding the Human Nervous System

  • The nervous system comprises the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, facilitating communication throughout the body for functions like breathing and pulse rate.
  • It monitors internal and external environments, integrates sensory information, and coordinates voluntary and involuntary responses.
  • Divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), responsible for thought, perception, and autonomic body functions.
  • The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS consists of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
  • Neuroglia and neurons are the two basic types of cells in neural tissue, with neurons forming nerve fibers and bundles to transmit impulses.
  • Neurons consist of dendrites, cell bodies, and axons, with myelinated axons transmitting signals faster than non-myelinated ones.
  • Axon terminals release neurotransmitters across synapses, which can be excitatory or inhibitory, affecting nerve impulse transmission.
  • The central nervous system is protected by bone, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and a blood-brain barrier, with the scalp providing an additional layer of protection.
  • The limbic system controls emotions and behavioral responses, while the spinal cord connects the brain to muscle tissue and skin through spinal nerves.
  • The peripheral nervous system communicates between the CNS and the body, with divisions like the somatic and autonomic nervous systems, spinal nerves, nerve plexus, and cranial nerves.

19:23

Ear anatomy, deafness, and hormone functions explained.

  • The ear canal separates the middle ear, which contains the auditory ossicles transmitting sound waves to the cochlea.
  • The cochlea, a bony spiral shell, houses the primary receptor for sound.
  • Deafness refers to partial or complete hearing loss.
  • The vestibular system in the inner ear aids in balance, comprising fluid-filled sacs and semicircular channels.
  • The endocrine system, with glands throughout the body, regulates metabolic functions using hormones.
  • Chemical messengers like neurotransmitters and hormones act on specific receptors on target cells.
  • Endocrine hormones circulate in the blood to influence tissues distant from their origin.
  • Paracrine hormones act on neighboring cells of a different type.
  • Hormones, classified as proteins, amines, or steroids, operate within feedback systems for homeostasis.
  • Prostaglandins, not hormones, are tissue hormones with short-duration effects.

38:51

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems Overview

  • The heart's electrical conduction system includes the SA node, AV node, bundle of His, right and left bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers.
  • The autonomic nervous system regulates heart function through cardiac nerves, with parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers influencing heart rate.
  • Blood vessels in the cardiovascular system are divided into arterial and venous systems, with the arterial system carrying blood from the heart to tissues and the venous system returning blood to the heart.
  • Arteries include conducting and distributing arteries, arterioles, and major veins like the brachiocephalic, subclavian, and thoracic arteries.
  • The venous system carries deoxygenated blood back to the heart, with veins adjusting blood volume and containing about 70% of the body's blood.
  • The lymphatic system aids in fluid recovery, lymphocyte circulation, and immune response, with lymph vessels transporting lymph through passive circulation.
  • Lymphatic vessels pick up lymph from tissues, drain it into larger vessels, and filter foreign material in lymph nodes before returning it to the circulatory system.
  • The respiratory system brings oxygen into the body, eliminates carbon dioxide, and aids in immune defense, pH control, and vocalization.
  • The upper respiratory system includes structures like the nose, mouth, larynx, and pharynx, while the lower respiratory system consists of the trachea, bronchial tree, alveoli, and lungs.
  • Ventilation involves inhalation and exhalation, with factors like tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume, and vital capacity influencing lung function.

58:32

"Digestive and Urinary Systems: An Overview"

  • Organs in the digestive system convert food into basic sugars, fatty acids, and amino acids, which are carried across the interstitial wall to the liver through the portal vein for further processing.
  • The digestive system includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and anus, with walls consisting of mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer, and serosa.
  • Accessory organs of the digestive system include the teeth, tongue, saliva glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, each playing a specific role in digestion and nutrient processing.
  • The abdomen is divided into four quadrants, each housing different organs like the liver, gallbladder, stomach, spleen, colon, small intestines, and appendix.
  • The urinary system controls waste discharge, filtering waste from the blood by the kidneys, regulating fluid balance, and maintaining pH levels through components like the kidney, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.
  • The reproductive system involves gametes, sperm, and eggs, determining physical traits through dominant and recessive genes, with the male reproductive system comprising testes, accessory glands, and ducts for sperm transport.
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