(TBBS) Body Systems Lesson One

Body Systems

We all appear to be fascinated by how our bodies work. This unit will give you an insight into how the human body works and how it performs the many complex functions that are required to keep us alive. While this is not a Human Anatomy and Physiology course, it is helpful to understand the basic structures and functions of the body in order to provide effective care in an emergency. You will not be required to become an expert in human anatomy, but you will be able to recognize and locate important body structures, evaluate the severity of an illness or injury and be able to effectively communicate with the EMS team regarding a victim's condition.

A good starting point is to identify the spaces in the body that contain organs. These are known as body cavities. The main body cavities include the following:

Spinal Cavity that is formed by the vertebrae of the vertebral column, extends from the bottom of the skull to the lower back and contains the spinal cord. Cranial Cavity which is located in the head, contains the brain and is protected by the skull. Thoracic Cavity (chest cavity) which is located in the trunk and contains the heart, lungs and other important structures which are protected by the rib cage and upper spine. Abdominal Cavity that contains the stomach, spleen, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, small intestine, and most of the large intestine. It is located in the trunk between the diaphragm and the pelvis. Pelvic Cavity which contains the bladder, portions of large intestine, and internal reproductive organs and is located in the pelvis, the lowest part of the trunk.

Now that you have familiarized yourself with the basic spaces within the body that contain important and vital organs, let's take a look at the organization levels of the human body.

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