Page 17 - Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, 8th Edition

2 / Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals

• How is the embryonic coelom divided measuring the electrical potential across
in the adult and what are the serosa
the cell membrane of a single cell.
VetBooks.ir associated with the cavities and struc- commonly pursued as more or less inde-
Although anatomy and physiology are
tures in those cavities?
• Understand the concept of “potential” pendent disciplines, they are both facets of
spaces as applies to body cavities, and the study of the animal body. A thorough
identify by name the serous membranes knowledge of structure imparts much
that line each of the body cavities. information about its function. However, a
mere description of structure without
describing function would be of little prac-
he term anatomy literally translates tical value. Conversely, it is impossible to
Tas “to cut apart,” as it acknowledges gain a thorough understanding of function
the central role of dissection in the study without a basic knowledge of structure.
of body structure. In contemporary usage, The science of anatomy has become so
though, it has come to refer more generally extensive that it is now divided into many
to the science that deals with the form and specialized branches. In fact, Dorland’s
structure of all organisms. Medical Dictionary defines 32 subdivisions
In contrast to anatomy, which deals of anatomy. This text chiefly describes
primarily with structure, physiology is gross (macroscopic) anatomy. This is the
the study of the integrated functions of study of the form and relationships (rela-
the body and the functions of all its parts tive positions) of the structures of the body
(systems, organs, tissues, cells, and cell that can be seen with the unaided eye.
components), including biophysical and Comparative anatomy is a study of the
biochemical processes. structures of various species of animals,
Study in a typical gross anatomy labo- with particular emphasis on those char-
ratory is often based primarily on dissec- acteristics that aid in classification.
tion of animal cadavers. Dissection coupled Embryology is the study of developmental
with handling and direct observation of anatomy, covering the period from con-
grossly visible structures gives the student a ception (fertilization of the egg) to birth.
concept of the shape, texture, location, and Another large branch of anatomy consists
relations of structures visible to the unaided of the study of tissues and cells that can be
eye that can be gained in virtually no other seen only with the aid of a microscope.
way. Similarly, the use of the microscope This is known as microscopic anatomy.
with properly prepared tissue sections on The most recent development in the
slides through which the student can navi- study of anatomy is ultrastructural cytol-
gate fosters a comprehensive understanding ogy, which deals with portions of cells and
of structures that are so small they cannot tissues as they are visualized with the aid of
be seen without microscopic assistance the electron microscope. The term fine
(microscopic anatomy). structure is used frequently in reference to
In the physiology laboratory, the student structures seen in electron micrographs
studies the response of whole animals, (photographs made with the electron
isolated organs, or individual cells to changes microscope).
in their environment (both internal and Our approach to the study of anatomy
external). will be chiefly by systems, an approach
Changes may be induced by almost which can be described as systematic
any agent or manipulation, for example, anatomy. To name a particular subdivision
drugs, changes in temperature or altitude, of systematic anatomy, the suffix ‐ology,
surgical modifications (such as neutering), which means branch of knowledge or science,
and changes in diet. Monitoring of the is added to the root word referring to the
responses may be as simple as monitoring system. Table 1‐1 indicates the commonly
changes in body weight or as complex as accepted systems, the name of the study of