COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Anatomy & Physiology of Human Body Systems course. This program will equip you with the skills and knowledge to understand how the major body systems are structured, how they function, and how they interact to maintain life and health. Throughout this course, you will learn how organs, tissues, and cells work together within and across systems, and how to interpret key anatomical and physiological concepts that explain normal function and provide a foundation for recognising change and dysfunction.
This course begins by introducing the major body systems and the relationships between them, providing a broad map of how the human body is organised. It explains how body systems are interconnected rather than isolated, and how structural organisation from cells to tissues, organs, and systems underpins overall function and homeostasis.
Understanding the nervous system and the special senses is then explored in depth so you can see how the body coordinates and interprets information. This section explains the ways the nervous system operates, the two principal divisions of the nervous system, and the functions and components of the central and peripheral nervous systems, including the somatic and autonomic divisions. This section also examines nervous tissue, the components and classification of neurons, and the sensory organs responsible for touch, smell, taste, hearing, and sight, including an overview of selected olfactory disorders and how sensory input is converted into conscious perception.
The respiratory and musculoskeletal systems are then examined to show how movement, posture, and gas exchange are achieved. This section describes the structures of the respiratory system, the physiology and process of respiration, and the mechanisms that regulate breathing. This section also explains the muscular system, including the function and types of muscle tissue, the specific functions and structure of skeletal muscle, and the concepts of muscle contraction and muscle tone, before outlining the skeletal system, skeletal tissues and cartilages, classification and functions of bones, bone markings and textures, bone membranes, microscopic structure, chemical composition, and the processes of bone deposition and resorption.
The cardiovascular, blood, endocrine, lymphatic, and immune systems are then explored to explain transport, regulation, and defence within the body. This section describes the coverings and chambers of the heart, heart valves, properties of cardiac muscle fibres, and key aspects of heart physiology, including common problems and methods of measuring heart activity. This section also examines the composition of blood vessels, the cardiac cycle, blood pressure and volume, total peripheral resistance and blood pressure regulation, and the composition of blood and plasma, including haemostasis through vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, and coagulation, as well as blood groups. This section then introduces the endocrine system, mechanisms of hormone action such as cyclic AMP, control of hormone release, the major endocrine glands, and the lymphatic and immune systems, including lymphatic structures and organs, lymphatic functions, and immune system defences.
The integumentary, urinary, and reproductive systems are then examined to highlight protection, excretion, and reproduction. This section explains the integumentary system, the functions of the skin, the structure of the skin, and features such as skin colour and sweat glands that contribute to protection and regulation. This section also describes the urinary system, including the functions and structural organisation of the kidneys, urine formation, the characteristics and chemical composition of urine, and the main urinary structures. This section then explores the reproductive system, outlining the anatomy and physiology of the male reproductive system, the anatomy and structure of the female reproductive system, and the effects of oestrogens and progesterone on reproductive function.
The digestive system is then explored to bring together concepts of structure, function, and nutrient processing. This section explains the functions of the digestive system, describes the structure of the digestive tract and associated organs, and links organ-specific functions to overall processes of digestion, absorption, and waste elimination.
By the end of this course, you will be able to describe the major human body systems, outline their key structures and functions, and explain how they interact to support normal physiology. You will understand fundamental concepts such as neural control, gas exchange, circulation, hormonal regulation, immunity, protection, excretion, reproduction, and digestion, and you will be able to read and use anatomical and physiological terminology more confidently when discussing the human body, interpreting information, and building further study or practice in health-related fields.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:
· The relationships between different body systems
· The major body systems
· The nervous system
· The ways the nervous system operates
· The two principal divisions of the nervous system
· The functions of the central nervous system
· The components of the central nervous system
· The peripheral nervous system
· The somatic nervous system
· The autonomic nervous system
· The nervous tissue
· The components of neurons
· The classification of neurons
· The sensory organs
· The sense of touch (tactile sensation) (skin)
· The sense of smell (nose)
· The sense of taste (mouth)
· The sense of hearing
· The sense of sight (the eye)
· The olfactory disorders
· The respiratory system
· The structures of the respiratory system
· The physiology of respiration
· The process of respiration
· The regulation of respiration
· The muscular system
· The function of muscle tissue
· The types of muscle tissue
· The functions of skeletal muscle
· The structure of skeletal muscle
· The muscle contraction and muscle tone
· The skeletal system
· The bones and skeletal tissue
· The skeletal cartilages
· The classification of bones
· The functions of bones
· Bone markings and bone textures
· The bone membranes
· The microscopic structure of bone
· The chemical composition of bone
· Bone deposition and bone resorption
· The cardiovascular system
· The coverings and chambers of the heart
· The heart valves
· The properties of cardiac muscle fibres
· The heart physiology
· The problems with the heart
· The measuring of heart activity
· The composition of blood vessels
· The cardiac cycle
· Blood pressure and blood volume
· The total peripheral resistance
· The regulation of blood pressure
· The blood and blood plasma
· Haemostasis
· The vascular spasm
· The platelet plug formation
· The clotting process/ coagulation
· The blood groups
· The endocrine system
· The mechanism of hormone action
· The cyclic AMP
· The control of hormone release
· The major endocrine glands
· The lymphatic system / circulatory system
· The function of the lymphatic system
· The structures of the lymphatic system
· The lymphoid organs
· The immune system – body defences
· The integumentary system
· The functions of the integumentary system
· The functions of the skin system
· The structure of the skin
· The skin colour and sweat glands
· The urinary system
· The functions of the kidneys
· The structural functioning of the kidney
· The urine formation
· The characteristics of urine
· The chemical composition of urine
· The urinary structures
· The reproductive system
· The anatomy of the male reproductive system
· The physiology of male reproductive system
· The anatomy of the female reproductive system
· The structure of the female reproductive system
· The effects of oestrogens and progesterone
· The digestive system
· The functions of the digestive system
· The structure of the digestive system and organ functions
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.