The Revision Guide for Student Nurses (Part I)

Anatomy & Physiology

Introduction
The aim of this chapter is to familiarise you with the basic terms and definitions used in anatomy and physiology prior to going into more depth in chapters 9 & 10, which describe the organs and systems of the body.

Anatomy = How an animal is physically constructed.

Physiology = How an animal "works", or to be more precise - the science of the functioning of living organisms.

Learning Objectives
The learning objectives of this chapter are:

  • To understand basic terms and definitions relating to the subject of anatomy and physiology.
  • To learn basic chemistry relating to cell structure and function.
  • To gain a good knowledge of the various tissue types that make up the organs of the body.
  • To understand the types and formation of the fluids of the body.