Blood pressure
Chapter objectives
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
- Describe the structure of the body, from simplest to most complex, in terms of the six levels of organization
- List characteristics of human life
- Define homeostasis and explain its importance to normal human functioning
Though you may approach a course in human biology strictly as a requirement for obtaining your degree, the knowledge you gain in this course will serve you well in many aspects of your life. An understanding of your body and how it works can benefit your own health. Familiarity with the human body can help you make healthful choices and prompt you to take appropriate action when signs of illness arise. Your knowledge in this field will help you understand news about nutrition, medications, medical devices, and procedures. This knowledge will also help you understand genetic and infectious diseases. At some point, everyone will have a problem with some aspect of his or her body and your knowledge can help you to be a better parent, spouse, partner, friend, or caregiver.
This chapter begins with an overview of anatomy and physiology. It then covers the characteristics of life and how the body works to maintain stable conditions.