Anatomy and physiology collectively refer to the study of the structures of the body, such as its organs, and the body’s various functions. You may need to know how to study for anatomy and physiology concepts if you become a science major in college and if you intend to pursue a healthcare career.

An introductory anatomy course will cover a great deal of material pertaining to the cells and tissues and bodily systems. Students will explore key concepts in organ systems and body function. 

Human anatomy is the study of the body’s parts and their relationship to each other. Gross anatomy, also known as macroscopic anatomy, examines the larger structures of the body, whereas microscopic anatomy is the study of tissues and cells that must be examined with a microscope.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Anatomy can also be categorized as regional or systemic. Regional anatomy examines the relationships of all of the structures in a particular region, such as the organs in the abdomen. Systemic anatomy is the study of the structures that comprise a body system, such as the reproductive system.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Physiology explores the functions of the structures of the body, such as through the lens of chemistry or physics. It focuses on how these functions work together to enable the processes of life. One significant concept in physiology is homeostasis, which is a state of ideal balance of internal conditions that support life.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Physiology includes specializations. Physiologists may focus on the functions of specific organs or on how the body operates on a molecular level.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

What Is the Difference Between Anatomy and Physiology? 

The primary difference between anatomy and physiology is that the former studies structures of the body, whereas the latter studies function. For example, anatomy teaches that the heart has four chambers. Physiology teaches that the electrical system of the heart controls the muscle contractions that make it beat.

Relationship Between Anatomy and Physiology 

Anatomy and physiology are typically studied together, as they go hand-in-hand. It’s difficult to study one without the other, as they both explore the same building blocks of the human body, but with a different focus. The structure of the human body and its systems direct its function.

What is an anatomy and physiology class like? You’ll cover a wide range of bodily structures, functions and systems. These include anatomical concepts such as:^{(See disclaimer 2)}

• Cells
• Tissues
• Organs

You’ll also explore bodily systems, including:^{(See disclaimer 2)}

• Skeletal
• Muscular
• Nervous
• Endocrine
• Lymphatic
• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Urinary
• Digestive
• Reproductive

Anatomy and physiology examines how these bodily structures function and work together, including the relationships between one structure and another. For instance, you may examine how an electrochemical signal travels along a nerve pathway to enable movement or vision.

Every student has their own experience with this course, but in general, it’s considered challenging. Some of the factors that influence its difficulty level include:

• The large volume of information to memorize, including many medical terms.
• The need for conceptual understanding, such as how systems and structures work.
• The extensive use of Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes can make it feel like you're learning a new language.
• It can involves abstract processes that can be difficult to visualize.

Is anatomy and physiology hard for you? If you’re having trouble with this course, you may want to reach out to classmates to form a study group. Tutoring can also help you conquer the material and your professors should be available for extra help during their office hours.

Many students take anatomy and physiology classes, including those who aspire to work in the healthcare and medical fields, such as future nurses, physicians, dentists, physician assistants and other health professionals. You may also take a course in anatomy and physiology if you intend to become a scientist or researcher.

Practical Importance of Anatomy and Physiology

Studying anatomy and physiology is essential for the practice of human healthcare. Without foundational knowledge in how the body is structured and how it works, nurses and physicians would be hard-pressed to diagnose health issues and recommend appropriate treatments.

For example, it’s necessary to understand how the thyroid gland works in order to understand hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism — two health issues involving an imbalance of thyroid hormone.^{(See disclaimer 3)} With knowledge of the structure and function of the thyroid gland, healthcare providers can identify the symptoms of thyroid disorder and prescribe the appropriate treatment for it.

Beyond healthcare, knowledge of anatomy and physiology can be helpful in other ways, such as in the arts. Leonardo da Vinci, for example, was a well-known anatomist who was particularly interested in the heart and blood vessels. He used his knowledge of anatomy to craft realistic-looking sculptures.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Once you move past the basics of this class, such as understanding the difference between anatomy and physiology, you’ll find that there is a considerable volume of medical terminology to memorize and bodily processes to conceptualize. This class can be difficult, but using some smart studying techniques can help make it more approachable.

Try applying a combination of studying techniques, such as using mnemonic devices and visualization techniques, as well as studying the Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes. You may also want to form a study group with your classmates, which may provide a source of emotional support as well as practical studying assistance.

Use Anatomy Mnemonic Devices

Mnemonic devices are memory tricks that can help your brain remember complex information. There are at least nine basic types of mnemonics, including musical jingles and expression mnemonics.

Expression mnemonics are commonly used in academic settings. In an expression mnemonic, the first letter of the word in a phrase corresponds to the information you need to remember. You might remember Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally from your high school math classes, for example. This mnemonic device helps students remember the order of operations, from parentheses to subtraction.

Use the device, Come, Let’s Get Sun Burned, to remember the layers of the epidermis.

• Corneum
• Lucidum
• Granulosum
• Spinosum
• Basale

You can also use acronym mnemonics. One example of this is PEST OF, which can help you remember the cranial bones:

• Parietal
• Ethmoid
• Sphenoid
• Temporal
• Occipital
• Frontal

You can look up more mnemonic devices for anatomy and physiology systems, functions and concepts as you progress through the class.

Use Visualization Techniques

If you have an active imagination, you can create visual imprints in your mind for the concepts that you’re struggling with. Do this by considering words that might sound similar to the medical terminology. Then, form a picture of those words in your head.

The sillier the picture is, the easier it will likely be to remember. For example, the ginglymoid joints, which are the hinge joints, sound similar to “jingle mud.” Picture a golfer using those impressive elbow joints to swing a string of jingle bells back and forth through a patch of mud.

Study the Latin and Greek Roots

If medical terminology sounds like a foreign language, it’s because much of it is. Many of the terms you’ll encounter in anatomy class have Latin or Greek roots. You can study the common prefixes, which are the groups of letters at the beginning of the word, and suffixes, which are the letter groupings at the end. The root word is the base.

As an example, take a look at “pericarditis.” The root is card, which means “heart.” The suffix is itis, which means “inflammation.” And the prefix is peri, which means “around.” Even if you’d never seen this word before, you could safely assume, based on its basic components, that pericarditis refers to inflammation around the heart.

Furthermore, if you’re familiar with the pericardium, which is the sac-like tissue that surrounds the heart, you can infer that pericarditis specifically refers to inflammation of the pericardium. Knowing the components of the words you’re studying can help you decipher other terms as well.

At GCU, you can choose from many different science degrees that incorporate the study of human anatomy and physiology, including those designed for healthcare tracks. Whether you're interested in forensic science, nursing, exercise science or other health-related fields, these programs can help you build a strong foundation in understanding the human body.