Anatomy and Physiology may be presented as two different subjects, but they are so closely linked that they are impossible to separate. In Elementary Biology, you learn that structure, even at the level of molecular biology, is directly tied to function. Anatomy and Physiology classes apply this rule in much greater detail. You gain in-depth knowledge of structures in the Anatomy sections of the course, and you are introduced to the specific implications of these structures in the Physiology section.

Instruction in Anatomy often begins by discussing bodily structures including muscles, bones, organs, connective tissues, nerves, and vasculature. You learn the mechanics of these structures, implementing some biophysics material into your understanding of biological structures. It becomes important to understand the mechanical properties of various tissues during the physiological analysis, including force-tension analyses, bone structures, bioelectrical conduction, and other characteristics of muscle, bone, and nerves.

In Anatomy, you also need to learn the names and positions of numerous structures, which requires a great deal of memorization. You become familiar with the actions, origins, and insertions of muscles, as well as the various protrusions and contours of the bones. Neuroanatomy is often a point of focus, requiring you to learn both the topical anatomy of the brain and the sub-cortical structures. Neural and muscular anatomy generally compose the majority of Anatomy course content.

Anatomy is essentially the foundation from which you can build an understanding of Physiology. Once you are familiar with the orientation of various structures and their integration with one another, you can begin to apply functional significance to these relationships. Physiology focuses on the causes and effects of various bodily functions. Physiological content will often parallel the depth to which anatomical content was previously covered. For example, since Anatomy frequently focuses on nerves and muscles, Physiology often pays particular attention to these groups. In Physiology, you learn in-depth mechanisms of action potential propagation and neural regulation, muscle contraction theories and neuromuscular junction mechanics, and the causes of numerous disorders that are linked to the functions of these regions. Most Physiology courses also focus on endocrine mechanisms, since these actions largely affect the function of the rest of the body. Physiology content can vary from the large-scale functions of the body (e.g. walking mechanics) to the molecular functions (e.g. linkage of T-tubule and sarcoplasmic reticulum channels). It is impossible to cover all physiological mechanisms in a single course, but even introductory Physiology courses address numerous mechanisms that affect different levels of function.

Testing and exams in Anatomy and Physiology can include both written exams and laboratory practicals. For written exams, questions are often linked to labeling anatomical diagrams, though exam format can vary greatly by course. Many courses will teach the symptoms or signs of diseases, disorders, or injuries associated with class topics. Be prepared to provide diagnoses of hypothetical conditions or scenarios that may be offered on exams. Laboratory practicals are based on physical models, often dissected organisms. Questions in the practical are often linked to Anatomy, but can also easily cover the function of a pinned organ or the relationship it shares with other structures in the body.

You can bolster your Human Anatomy and Physiology knowledge by taking Varsity Tutors’ free Human Anatomy and Physiology Practice Tests. Each Practice Test consists of ten to twelve Human Anatomy and Physiology questions; you can think of each one as being a little quiz you can use to hone your skills. Each question includes a detailed explanation, so if you miss one, you can figure out where you went wrong. Upon completing a Practice Test, you also receive detailed statistics that allow you to see how well you did in comparison to other test-takers, as well as how long you took to answer each problem. By utilizing Varsity Tutors’ free Human Anatomy and Physiology resources, you can study effectively and master Human Anatomy and Physiology with ease!