Unit 1: Cells, tissues and blood
Human Anatomy and Physiology-I notes · PTU syllabus (BMLS203-18)
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Unit summary
Anatomy describes the body's structure and physiology its function. This unit introduces human anatomy and physiology, the cell and its organelles, cell division, the four types of tissue, and the composition and functions of blood.
After this unit you can
- Define anatomy and physiology and use anatomical terms
- Describe the cell, its organelles and cell division
- Classify tissues with their structure and functions
- Describe the composition and functions of blood
PTU syllabus topics
- Introduction to human anatomy and physiology
- cell and cell organelles — structure
- classification
- function and division (mitosis and meiosis)
- tissue classification with structure and function (epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous)
- composition and function of blood
Red blood cells
4.5–5.5 million/µL
Carry oxygen (haemoglobin)
White blood cells
4,000–11,000/µL
Defend against infection
Platelets
1.5–4.5 lakh/µL
Blood clotting
Plasma
About 55% of blood
Carries nutrients, hormones, proteins
Topic 1
Introduction to anatomy and physiology
- Anatomy: structure of the body; physiology: how its parts work. Levels of organisation: chemical → cell → tissue → organ → system → organism.
- Anatomical position
- Standing erect, facing forward, palms forward
- Superior and inferior
- Towards the head or feet
- Anterior and posterior
- Front or back
- Medial and lateral
- Towards or away from the midline
- Proximal and distal
- Nearer or farther from the trunk (limbs)
- Planes
- Sagittal, coronal (frontal), transverse
- Homeostasis: keeping the internal environment constant (temperature 37 °C, blood pH 7.4, glucose) by negative feedback.
Topic 2
The cell and cell organelles
- The cell is the structural and functional unit of the body; human cells are eukaryotic with a plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus.
Plasma membrane
Phospholipid bilayer with proteins
Selective barrier, transport, receptors
Nucleus
Nuclear envelope, chromatin, nucleolus
Holds DNA; controls the cell
Mitochondria
Double membrane with cristae
ATP production
Ribosomes and rough ER
Ribosome-studded membranes
Protein synthesis
Smooth ER
No ribosomes
Lipid synthesis, detoxification
Golgi apparatus
Stacked sacs
Packaging and secretion
Lysosomes
Enzyme-filled vesicles
Intracellular digestion
Centrosome
Pair of centrioles
Spindle formation
- Classification of cells by shape (squamous, cuboidal, columnar, spherical, spindle) and function (nerve, muscle, blood, epithelial cells).
Topic 3
Cell division
Purpose
Growth and repair
Gamete formation
Divisions
One
Two
Result
Two diploid (46) identical cells
Four haploid (23) different cells
Stages
Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
Meiosis I (with crossing over) and meiosis II
Topic 4
Tissues
Epithelial
Closely packed cells on a basement membrane
Protection, absorption, secretion — skin, gut lining
Connective
Cells in a matrix of fibres
Support, binding, transport — bone, cartilage, blood, adipose
Muscular
Contractile cells
Movement — skeletal, smooth, cardiac
Nervous
Neurons and neuroglia
Conducting impulses — brain, nerves
Topic 5
Composition of blood
- Blood makes up about 7–8% of body weight (about 5 litres in adults); pH 7.35–7.45.
Plasma (55%)
Water 91–92%; proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen); glucose, electrolytes, hormones, wastes
Red blood cells
4.5–5.5 million/µL (men), biconcave, no nucleus, haemoglobin, life 120 days
White blood cells
4,000–11,000/µL — neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils
Platelets
1.5–4.5 lakh/µL; fragments of megakaryocytes; clotting
- Transport
- Oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, hormones, wastes
- Defence
- White cells and antibodies
- Haemostasis
- Platelets and clotting factors stop bleeding
- Regulation
- Body temperature, pH (buffers), fluid balance (plasma proteins)
- Serum = plasma without clotting factors (fibrinogen).
Key terms
- Anatomy
- Study of body structure
- Homeostasis
- Maintenance of a stable internal environment
- Organelle
- Specialised structure within a cell
- Plasma
- Liquid part of blood
- Serum
- Plasma without clotting factors
Quick revision
- Levels of organisation; anatomical terms and planes; homeostasis.
- Organelles and functions; cell classification.
- Mitosis vs meiosis.
- Epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous tissues.
- Plasma and cells of blood; normal counts; functions; serum vs plasma.
Important exam questions
Practice questions written to the PTU exam pattern for this unit's syllabus: short answers (Section A style) and long answers (Sections B and C style).
Short-answer questions
- Q1.Define homeostasis.
- Q2.What is the anatomical position?
- Q3.Give the function of mitochondria.
- Q4.Name the four types of tissue.
- Q5.Give the normal red cell count in men.
- Q6.Distinguish plasma and serum.
Long-answer questions
- Q1.Describe the structure of a cell and functions of its organelles.
- Q2.Classify tissues with their structure and functions.
- Q3.Describe the composition and functions of blood.
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