Basic Anatomy and Physiology of the Body

Structure and Function of the Skeletal System

The skeletal system is primarily made up of bones and joints, along with cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.
This structure provides form and support to the body, protects delicate organs, facilitates movement, and acts as a storage for minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.
The adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones. These are categorised as long bones (like the femur), short bones (like the wrist bones), flat bones (like the skull), and irregular bones (like the vertebrae).
Joints allow for movement and flexibility. There are three main types: fibrous joints which are immovable (like the sutures in the skull), cartilaginous joints which allow limited movement (like between vertebrae), and synovial joints which allow a range of movements (like the knee or elbow).

Muscular System

The muscular system is composed of muscle tissue that helps move the body and maintain its posture.
It includes three types of muscles: skeletal muscle which is voluntary and moves bones, smooth muscle found within organs and is involuntary, and cardiac muscle found only in the heart and is also involuntary.
Contraction and relaxation of muscles allow for bodily movements and functions, such as locomotion, facial expression, posture, joint stability, and heat production.

Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular or circulatory system is responsible for the transport of nutrients, gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), hormones, and waste products.
It is composed primarily of the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), and blood.
The heart is a vital organ, constantly pumping blood throughout the body. It has four chambers – two atria and two ventricles.
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart (except the pulmonary artery), while veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart (except the pulmonary veins).

Respiratory System

The respiratory system is responsible for the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide.
Major components include the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
During inhalation, air enters through the nose or mouth, is filtered, warmed, and moistened, and reaches the lungs. The oxygen molecules then pass through the lungs’ walls and into the bloodstream.
During exhalation, carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, is removed from the body.

Nervous System

The nervous system is the body’s main control system comprising the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It oversees sensation, thought, movement and all functions vital to life.
The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the CNS). The PNS is further subdivided into the autonomic (involuntary) and somatic (voluntary) systems.
Nervous communication is facilitated by specialised cells called neurons. They transmit signals in form of nerve impulses or action potentials.

Each of these systems plays a unique and significant role in the body. Understanding their form and function is fundamental to appreciating how different beauty treatments may interact with and impact these systems.