Body Planes and Directions
One of the organizational approaches to studying the human body is use of body planes and directions. Body planes are essential as they divide the body into different parts and approaches. A body can be described using the front or the back planes. In addition, it can also be described with reference to either the right or left planes (Joan, 2008, p. 36). When a body is moving to or from these planes, an understanding of direction can be realized. The planes and directions can be used when conducting magnetic resonance imaging. These planes help in defining the body’s view as posterior, anterior, inferior or superior.
Body Cavities
The other approach that can be used is the use of body cavities. In the human body, bones outline the body’s cavities. One of the roles of the bones is to protect the cavities as well as support body organs. These cavities are therefore important in studying the human body. Analyzing the abdominal cavity in a pregnant mother may help provide the best medical attention she needs. In addition, cavities such as the cranium are important in protecting the head. All these cavities can be assessed by medical practitioners to develop an understanding of the health and medical conditions of a patient (Turley, 2008, p. 345).
Quadrant or the Regions
The other approach uses quadrants or regions. Quadrants are in the abdominal pelvic area of the human body. In this region, four quadrants can also be divided into nine regions. The quadrants are right upper, right lower, left upper and left lower. These quadrants are important to practitioners when they perform internal assessments on their patients. Determining the exact area that has been affected by a certain disorder is only possible if the quadrants are approached independently.
Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy and physiology are other approaches in the study of the human body. Anatomy dwells on the structure of the human body and analyzes each part and organ according to its position in it (Joan, 2008, P. 36). Physiology on the other hand deals in the functions or roles of each of the body organs. When the two concepts are applied together, a physician can determine the exact area that has been affected, which organs are the most affected and the types of organ malfunctions that can be harmful to the entire body. If a certain structure in a human being is found to differ from the known structure, then that human being is diagnosed with a specific disorder.
Microscopic-to-Macroscopic
Human organs and processes can be classified as either macroscopic or microscopic. Macroscopic processes are those that can be identified by mere observation while the microscopic can only be seen through a microscope (Lee, & Lim, 2007, p. 116). One of the processes that can be seen through macroscopic means is chewing. On the other hand, gene formation can only be identified by use of a microscope. Cells are microscopic elements in a human body and by analyzing the organs and systems according to these two approaches, a lot of information can be deduced.
Body Systems
Body systems provide another approach through which the human body can be studied. Various body systems combine to form the human body. There is the respiratory, the lymphatic, reproductive and other body systems concerned with various body processes. Body systems can be studied to determine whether one has a health problem.
Medical Specialty
Medical specialty is another approach that can be used to study the human body. This is the practice of medicine that each practitioner is specialized in and held responsible for. This approach is concerned with anatomy, disease control and diagnosis, as well as other practices that may be of relevance in a particular medical specialty. This approach helps in assessing diseases, diagnosing and treating them, and preventing their spread.
References
Joan, B. (2008). Fifth Graders Studying the Human Body: Using a Design Challenge as an Assessment Tool. ProQuest, 36-40.
Lee, G. H., & Lim, C. T. (2007). Biomechanics Approaches to Studying Human Diseases. Trends in Biotechnology, 25(3), 111-118.
Turley, S. (2008). Medical language (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Prentice Hall.