Anatomy and Physiology - Advanced Level 4

Our Anatomy & Physiology course has been designed to provide a more in depth understanding of the human body and the accompanying physiological process that allow for its optimal functioning.

About Anatomy & Physiology

As well as revisiting and expanding on some basic principles such as the skeletal and muscular system, this course provides detailed explanations of some more complex aspects of anatomy such as the heart, the brain and spinal cord and the autonomic nervous system.

This course also provides detailed aspects of a number of the physiological functions that occur in the human body.

The Skeletal System
Describe the main functions of the skeletal system
Identify the types of bone that make up the skeletal system
Identify the 5 main types of bone classification
Explain the structure of skeletal tissue
Describe the development of bone
Joints
What is a joint
Main types of joint
Synovial joints – their common characteristics and movement patterns
Anatomical position
Degrees of freedom of joints
Planes of the body
Training the skeleton
The Muscular System
Identify the three types of muscle tissue
Properties of skeletal muscle
Describe the functions of skeletal muscle
Identify different muscles shapes
What is the role of the muscle fibres
Identify the types of muscular contraction
Identify the structure of skeletal muscles
Explain the Sliding Filament Theory
Describe how muscle contraction is initiated
The all or none law
Explain how muscle contraction is controlled
The Chemistry of Using Food to provide Energy for the Body
How the food we eat is taken apart and utilised to provide energy
How food molecules are transported to cells where they will be used
Cellular Energy
describe where the energy to drive cellular activity comes from
explain what mitochondria are and how they function
explain where mitochondria are thought to have originated
The Heart
Describe the anatomical position of the heart, its size and its structure
Explain the passage of blood flow through the heart
Identify the mechanisms of the heart beat and how it is controlled
Describe the cardiac cycle
Describe how the heart is trained
Identify the main arteries that supply the heart with blood
Describe the relationship between the heart and blood pressure
The Brain
Summarise the functions of the central nervous system
Identify the structure and function of the five main parts of the brain
Explain the function of the ventricles of the brain
Explain the role of the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid
The Spinal Cord
Explain the structure and function of the spinal cord
Identify the peripheral nerves
Explain the type, function and distribution of the twelve cranial nerves
Explain the function and route of the spinal nerves.
Neurones
Describe the structure of a typical neuron
Identify different types of neuron and explain their functions
Explain the function of nerve endings
Identify the electrical and chemical factors essential in the functioning of nerve tissue
Voluntary and Reflex Actions and the Automatic Nervous System
Explain the anatomical difference between a voluntary movement and a reflex action
Explain the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Identify the functions of the autonomic nervous system