Abstract
The human body is a complex mechanism. All the parts of the human body have to function properly in order for the whole body to be healthy. There are a number of ways to study the body in order to check for cancerous cells, tumors, or any kind of illnesses. In this essay, I will talk about seven organizational approaches to studying the human body. I will also discuss how each of these approaches is used to study the body and its systems. Last, I will discuss when each of these approaches is used in health care.
There are seven approaches to study the human body. These include planes and directions, body cavities, quadrants and regions, anatomy and physiology, microscopic to macroscopic, body systems and medical specialties. Each of these approaches is used to gather information about the body, which I will explain as I go along.
The body can be studied through planes and directions. First, the body can be divided into specific planes. The first of these planes is coronal or frontal plane. The division of the coronal plane into front and back is marked by what is called a coronal suture, which is a horizontal line that divides the cranium into approximately two parts. The coronal suture separates the body into front and back, or the anterior and posterior. Focusing only on the posterior part of the body would reveal information about the ears, nose and throat system. The next plane of study is the sagittal plane. The sagital plane is marked by what is called a sagittal suture which is a vertical line that divides the cranium into approximately two equal parts, left and right. This marking corresponds with the division of the body into two sections, left and right.
Moving away from the vertical line is referred to as a lateral direction while moving towards the vertical line is referred to as medial direction. The next plane is the tranverse plane, which divides the body into approximately two equal parts, top and bottom, or superior or inferior. Moving toward the top from the division line is referred to as moving in a superior direction; moving toward the bottom is referred as moving in an inferior direction.
One example of studying the body through body planes and directions is through MRI x rays. Having had had an MRI myself, I know that the purpose of an MRI x ray is to explore the frontal or coronal section of the body or the sagittal section of the body. The body planes and directions approach is used to see a clear picture of the organs and bones in the front, back or on the left or right side of the body.
The body can also be studied through the exploration of body cavities. A cavity is, in simple terms, a group of organs within a specific section of the body. Body cavities include the cranium cavity, the spinal cavity, thoracic cavity or abdominal cavity. Studying the abdominal cavity would reveal information about the gastrointestinal system. Also, studying the pelvic cavity would reveal information about the male or female reproductive system. For example, studying the cranial cavity would reveal information about the brain while studying the thoracic cavity would reveal information about the lungs or the heart.
Another approach is quadroons and regions. The body can be divided into either four quadrants or nine regions. The quadrant or regions can be used to study left and right sides of specific organs. Studying the human body through the left upper quadrant and left lower quadrant are used to reveal information about the lower part of the liver and lower lobe of the kidney respectively. The information obtained from this study could reveal any diseases of the urinary system. The left lower quadrant would also reveal information about the male genital reproductive system, as the left lower quadrant shows in detail parts of the left uterer. The information gathered through studying the body through quadrants or regions can be used to discover specific problem areas in those regions.
Another approach is what is called the microscopic and macroscopic approach. The key to studying the body through the microscopic perspective is what is called the cell. A cell is a smallest form of the human body. Cells compose tissues and tissues make up organs. Scientists may study the blood,lympathic system to see how well this system destroys abnormal cells within an organism. The blood, lympathic system is responsible for carrying blood to cells and destroying abnormal cells.
Another approach to study the human body is to study it through body systems. Studying a particular body system may reveal information about diseases within that system. For example, studying the cardiovascular system may reveal information about how well the heart is functioning whereas studying the urinary system may reveal how well the bladder or the urinary tract operates.
Finally, the last approach to study the human body is through medical specialties. Studying the human body through medical specialties means studying a particular body system by utilizing the information of the anatomy (structures), physiology (functions), medical and surgical procedures and effective drugs that could be useful when treating that particular system. For example, studying the body through the medical specialty of gastroentology would help treat a disease of a liver, stomach or gallbladder, just to name a few.
In conclusion, the seven approaches to studying the human body are useful when treating human diseases.
Works Cited:
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