Anatomy & Physiology I (A&P I) — OpenStax Aligned
Course Description
Anatomy & Physiology I is a foundational course designed to introduce students to the structure and function of the human body. Using the OpenStax Anatomy & Physiology textbook, this course provides a comprehensive exploration of how the human body is organized, how it maintains internal balance, and how its major systems function together to sustain life.
Students will examine the body from the cellular level to the organ-system level, gaining a strong understanding of biological organization, homeostasis, and physiological regulation. This course is essential for students pursuing careers in healthcare, allied health, nursing, medical assisting, sonography, phlebotomy, and other medical and biological sciences.
Through interactive lessons, illustrations, virtual labs, and real-world clinical connections, students will develop the scientific knowledge needed to understand how the human body works in both healthy and diseased states.
Topics Covered
This course follows the OpenStax A&P I framework and includes:
- Anatomical terminology and body organization
- Levels of organization (cells, tissues, organs, systems)
- Homeostasis and feedback mechanisms
- Chemistry for anatomy & physiology
- Cell structure and function
- Cellular metabolism and membrane transport
- Tissues (epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous)
- Integumentary system (skin, hair, nails)
- Skeletal system (bones, joints, bone tissue)
- Articular system (joint structure and movement)
- Muscular system (muscle tissue, physiology, and movement)
- Nervous system (neurons, brain, spinal cord, nerve signaling)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Use correct anatomical terminology to describe body structures and positions
- Explain how cells, tissues, organs, and systems work together
- Describe how the body maintains homeostasis
- Identify major bones, muscles, and organs and their functions
- Understand how the nervous system controls and coordinates the body
- Apply A&P knowledge to healthcare and clinical situations
Who This Course Is For
This course is ideal for:
- Pre-nursing and nursing students
- Medical assistant and patient care technician students
- Phlebotomy and EKG students
- Diagnostic medical sonography and radiologic technology students
- Allied health and healthcare career programs
- Anyone preparing for medical or healthcare certification exams
Textbook
OpenStax – Anatomy & Physiology
OpenStax is a nationally recognized, peer-reviewed, open-educational resource used by colleges and universities across the United States.
