Unit 16. Anatomy.

WARM-UP: Think of words and word-combinations you associated with human anatomy and complete the following diagram.

VOCABULARY: Learn the following words and word combinations.

Dissection cadaver X-ray MRI imaging receptors sense organs glands effector nervous system to stimulate to respond blood system liver to conduct impulses blood vessels to contract heart rate lung kidney bony skeleton ribcage joint intestine urine portal vein bladder

Guess the meaning of the following words.

Anatomy; branch; biology; medicine; structure of living things; human; plant; animal; organ; method; body; scientific study; technique; eye; ear; skin; muscle; impulse; function; oxygen; carbon dioxide; movement; to absorb; substance; waste material.

Practice the following for pronunciation.

dissection [da ɪˈsek.ʃn]

cadaver [kəˈdæv.ə]

gland [glænd]

receptor [rɪˈsep.tə]

effector [ɪˈfek.tə]

nervous [ˈnɜː.vəs]

stimulate [ˈstɪm.jʊ.leɪt]

liver [ˈlɪv.ə]

lung [lʌŋ]

kidney [ˈkɪd.ni]

ribcage [rɪb’ keɪdʒ]

joint [dʒɔɪnt]

urine [ˈjʊə.rɪn]

portal vein [ˈpɔː.tl veɪn]

bladder [ˈblæd.ə]

READING: Read the text and do the tasks that follow.

Anatomy (from the Greek anatomia - to cut up, cut open) is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy and plant anatomy.

The history of anatomy has been characterized, over time, by a continually developing understanding of the functions of organs and structures in the body. Methods have also improved dramatically, advancing from examination of animals through dissection of cadavers (dead human bodies) to technologically complex techniques developed in the 20th century including X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI imaging.

Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the adult human body.

The human nervous system, composed of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, connects the eyes, ears, skin, and other sense organs (the receptors) with the muscles, organs, and glands (the effectors). The nervous system functions in such a way that when a given receptor is stimulated, the proper effector responds appropriately.

The chief functions of the nervous system are the conduction of impulses and the integration of the activities of various parts of the body.

Our heart is the pump at the center of our blood system. Heart muscle is very strong as it has to pump blood through networks of small blood vessels around the body. Heart muscle contracts automatically; the number of times it contracts, or beats, in a minute is known as the heart rate.

Lungs take oxygen from the air into the blood and also get rid of carbon dioxide.

Our bony skeleton provides a firm attachment for the body’s muscles. The ribcage is part of our skeleton – it protects our lungs and heart. Where bones meet there are joints, allowing movement to occur.

Our skin is a waterproof protective covering for the whole body. It is very delicate and sensitive.

Our intestine absorbs nutrients from food we have eaten and collects waste material. Behind the intestine lie the kidneys, which remove waste and pass it into our urine. The liver sorts out useful substances from toxic substances. It is the blood’s cleaning and sorting center. A vein called the portal vein connects the intestines directly to the liver, bringing to the liver blood that is rich in dissolved food. When the kidneys receive blood containing waste substances, they filter and remove these substances together with any excess water. The kidneys pass this waste, or urine, to the bladder, and pass the filtered, clean blood back to the heart.