Anatomy and Physiology - Advanced Diploma

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.

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