Tag: Anatomy & Physiology Tips

Categories of Anatomy in Nursing

The study of Anatomy & Physiology is an integral part in the field of nursing. The main concern of anatomy & physiology is the study of organisms and their parts, as well as their uses. It is a field in medicine where functions of specific organs are studied and dissected.

Anatomy, however, is sometimes divided into three categories, namely: Superficial, Comparative and Artistic. These categories comprise much of the study of anatomy, but we will have to examine these types in relation to the nursing course and see why anatomy or even physiology should have its place in the nursing profession.

Superficial or Surface Anatomy
This study in anatomy concerns itself with anatomical landmarks that can be seen from the exterior. By looking into certain contours on the body, a nurse can diagnose a patient better by determining what goes inside a person. Superficial is a directional term, meaning that structures located on the surface have its roots within a person’s body.

Comparative Anatomy
This is anatomy that seeks to compare patterns from two entities, the gross and the microscopic, to see if there are discrepancies or abnormalities in its anatomical structures. By comparing it, nurses will be able to assess the state of their patient through patterns. These then may have some similarities or differences between the two.

Artistic anatomu
As the term suggests, this is a category in anatomy that aims to put explanation on patterns based on artistic reasons. The intangible, so they say, can have deep and diverse effect on people. Placed on a nursing perspective, this type of anatomy enables nurses to go beyond the conventions of medical care through artistic means.

These are a few of the many categories that can be associated with anatomy & physiology; studies that can integrate, and at times put emphasis, in the field of nursing.

Anatomy & Physiology Tips for Getting a Good Grade

The first thing to do is to focus upon the terms that explain orientation and direction in space of areas of one’s individual body. Be particularly careful not to mix up left and right. Our use of computers has taught us some habits. We left and right justify material on the screen without thinking much about it, the reference always being our own left and right side. However, in anatomy and physiology, you need to always think with regards to the specimen’s left and right side.

Pay attention to the correct pronunciation of physiological terms. Most brain components dedicated to processing of auditory signals are superb at critical pitch of the individual speech and giving meaning to it. If English is not your primary language and you are taking an anatomy and physiology course with an English speaking instructor, Google has a great free website to help you. There, you can enter the scientific term from your anatomy and physiology book and then have it converted into virtually any language in the world. Under each term is a mic symbol that you can click to hear the phrase in both languages. Practice saying the terms and pay attention to your own speech.

anatomy-&-physiologyBreak lengthy anatomic names into small areas to extract meaning. Researchers love to make up lengthy terms from a combination of small terms. Originally, shorter terms used in anatomy and physiology were Roman Latin and Greek terms. Early anatomists established the concept of using the meaning of the Latin and Greek terms to explain newly observed areas of one’s individual body.

Work at understanding what is meant by homeostasis. Briefly, every aspect of anatomy is directed toward the body maintenance of an optimal set of working circumstances, set temperature, neutral blood pH, precise body fluid composition and so forth. Physiologists call this process of keeping individual body conditions in the correct range maintaining homeostasis. Maintaining homeostasis requires a network of Receptors that signal when a property of the system wanders out of the preferred range. Receptors or sensors send alerts to Responders. Responders bring the system back to the preferred condition. Individual sets of Receptors and Responders are called Feedback Loops.