Why Is Chemistry Important to the Study of Anatomy & Physiology?

Anatomy is the study of the parts of the body. Physiology is the study of how those parts work together. Any study of these two must include a strong background in chemistry in order to be able to understand the processes of life.

Nutrition

Chemistry illustrates how the body takes food and breaks it down into energy and waste. To understand this, students must grasp chemical equations and how bonds hold molecules together.

Fitness

Health care workers and athletes alike must understand the process of lactic acidosis, where overworked muscles try to pull energy from lactic acid. This is part of anerobic respiration, a complicated chemical process that requires knowledge of chemistry to be understood.

Bone Formation

Students of anatomy & physiology must learn a lot about bones, from their names and locations to how they are formed. Since bones are the body's major storage spots for chemical elements like calcium and phosphorus, knowing chemistry is vital to understanding how these minerals are stored and released.

Building Blocks

Many of the major components of life include proteins, sugars, fats and enzymes. These complex molecules feature chemical bonds and reactions in the body.

Solutions

The body is made up of many solutions of different concentrations. The principle of diffusion determines how nutrients get into--and stay inside--cell membranes. These are only a few of the many ways chemistry is important to the study of anatomy & physiology.

References

• "Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function," 4th edition; Kenneth S. Saladin; 2007