Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Digestive

This unit examines the anatomy and physiology of the muscular and integumentary systems and develops a detailed understanding of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive systems. Students build on foundational cell and tissue concepts to identify structures, explain key physiological processes, and prepare for clinical application and pathophysiology in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the anatomy and primary physiological functions of the muscular and integumentary systems and relate them to movement, protection, temperature regulation, and basic injury responses.
• Demonstrate accurate identification of major cardiac structures, principal blood vessels, key blood components, respiratory tract anatomy, and digestive tract structures using models, diagrams, or lab-based observations.
• Apply principles of circulation, blood composition, respiratory mechanics, and ventilation to explain how gas exchange, blood flow, and oxygen/nutrient delivery maintain homeostasis and respond to common challenges (e.g., hemorrhage, hypoxia, obstruction).
• Evaluate the mechanical and chemical stages of digestion by tracing the pathway of food through the digestive tract, describing enzyme and organ roles in nutrient breakdown, and predicting consequences of dysfunction on nutrient absorption and health.