Systems Structure and Function

This unit examines the anatomy and physiology of multiple body systems—cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, lymphatic, endocrine, integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, and reproductive—focusing on how structures support function and how systems interact. Students investigate blood and immune components, homeostatic regulation, growth and development, and reproductive processes to prepare for clinical applications and pathophysiology in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the structure and function of major organ systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, lymphatic, endocrine, integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, and reproductive) and explain how their components contribute to overall physiological roles
• Apply principles of homeostasis, fluid and electrolyte balance, and gas exchange to predict physiological responses to common perturbations (e.g., hemorrhage, dehydration, hypoxia) across interacting systems
• Demonstrate identification and functional roles of blood components, blood vessel types, lymphatic structures, and immune cells, and evaluate how these elements coordinate transport and host defense
• Evaluate human reproductive processes including gametogenesis, fetal development, pregnancy, lactation, and age-related changes, and relate these processes to clinical implications for maternal and neonatal health