Understanding Health Determinants, Tissues, and Anatomy
Determinants of Health
- Human Biology: Birth, death, health, and diseases.
- Environment: Physical and social environment.
- Physical: Airports, factories, fields, etc.
- Social: Hard work, leisure, etc.
- Lifestyle: A significant factor in health development.
- Health Care: Has the least impact on health but incurs higher costs.
The quality of life is defined as each person’s perception of their position in life within the cultural context and value system in which they live, concerning their goals, standards, and concerns.
Disease and Etiology
The concept of disease: A disease is any abnormal condition of body or mind that causes discomfort and alterations in normal functions, affecting both the physical and psychic states.
Etiology: The study of the causes of disease.
Pathology: The study of diseases in the organs.
Pathogens: Agents that produce harm.
Welfare and Health
Health produces wellness. Health can be in a good or bad state depending on physical, psychological, and social fulfillment.
WHO has classified six essential areas for quality of life in all cultures:
- Physical health
- Psychological health
- Level of independence
- Social relationships
- Environment in which you live
- Personal and spiritual beliefs
Levels of Organization
Abiotic Level: Atoms, molecules, macromolecules (no life).
Biotic Level: Cells, tissues, organs, apparatuses, systems.
The Cell
The cell is the basic anatomic and functional unit, with the capacity for nutrition, relationships, and reproduction.
Eukaryotic Cell: Cells presenting their genetic material in a nucleus surrounded by a membrane.
Tissues
A tissue is a set of cells that have a common origin, are differentiated and organized regularly, and are designed to perform a specific activity.
Types of Tissues
- Epithelial Tissue: Lines the skin, internal and external cavities, mucous membranes that line all the cavities, blood vessels, and the inside of the heart.
- Glandular Epithelial Tissue: Secretes substances.
- Connective Tissue: Formed by cells with large intercellular material containing many fibers (collagen and elastin).
- Connective Tissues: Unite (scarring).
- Adipose Tissue: Cells that contain fat.
- Cartilaginous Tissues: Pinna, joints.
- Muscle Tissue: Smooth, skeletal, cardiac.
- Hematopoietic Tissue: Forms blood.
- Nervous Tissue: Formed by cells called neurons.
Organs and Systems
Organs: Formed by different tissues performing an organized function. Examples: skin, intestine, liver, heart, arteries, lungs.
Systems: Organs formed by the same type of tissue with a similar function. Example: The muscular system is made up of different types of muscular tissue and tendons facilitating movements. Others: nervous, skeletal, endocrine…
Apparatus
Consists of different organs acting in concert to carry out one or more higher functions. Example: The digestive system consists of various organs such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, which act together to perform the digestive function. Others: respiratory, circulatory, excretory, locomotive, and reproductive.
Body Cavities
- Dorsal Cavity: Cranial and spinal canal.
- Ventral Cavity: Chest cavity, abdominal-pelvic cavity.
Anatomical Position and Terminology
The anatomical position is used as a reference point, irrespective of the position adopted when describing the human body.
- Inferior or Caudal: The most distant from the head; the stomach is below the chest.
- Medial: Toward the midline; the vertebral column is medial.
- Visceral: Refers to the organs of the body; stomach pain is a visceral pain.
- Parietal: Refers to the body wall cavities; an abdominal muscle contracture is parietal pain.
- Proximal: Closer to the trunk; the elbow is proximal to the hand.
- Distal: The far side of the body; the hand is distal to the body.