Healthcare professionals assess their patient’s clinical conditions based on their clinical history and interview. They conduct a physical examination of the patient, recommend diagnostic tests, and refer to the expert as per the case.
However, their work is possible based on their profound understanding of complex subjects like human anatomy and physiology.
A deep comprehension of these two subjects in their actual practice helps doctors differ in their medical opinion as well, where one may have addressed only a few elements and the other might have gone out and beyond to understand the cause of the medical condition. Anatomy and physiology are vast subjects.
For instance, in the human body, there are more than 500 functions that have been identified that are performed just by our liver.
Anatomy and physiology
Understanding medical anatomy and physiology is important for healthcare professionals to provide the best patient care possible. Anatomy is the science that describes different body parts and physiology explains the function of the body parts.
They are prominent subjects and essential for anyone who is studying to become a healthcare professional like a doctor or a nurse. Without studying these two subjects one cannot effectively clear their licensure exams like USMLE for doctors and NCLEX for nurses. Both exams have varied questions based on the study of human anatomy and physiology.
Why is the anatomy and physiology foundation important in healthcare courses?
- Strong fundamentals
In clinical courses understanding a topic at a conceptual level is very important to eliminate any reason for doubt. Anatomy and physiology courses help in understanding the structure of the body and the different functions of the body part.
It is based on research related to how the body functions so that doctors can understand the complexities of different hormonal imbalances or immune system responses whenever there is an associated ailment.
For instance, if a seemingly healthy patient complains of hunger despite eating food, a physiologist will recommend blood glucose monitoring to rule out pre-diabetic conditions. Sometimes the solution can be eating whole foods which the patient was perhaps neglecting and leading to a spike in glucose.
- Quick response in emergencies
In emergency cases, time is crucial and plays a vital role in saving a patient’s life. A healthcare team in an ER can only function if their core concepts about anatomy and related physiology are clear. A nurse or clinician can immediately recognize the root cause of the illness associated with the symptoms and can draw up the best course of treatment till an expert is required.
- Understanding changes in the situation
Growth, trauma, and post-critical illness changes are a few examples that impact the physiology of the body. Studying the subject will give complete knowledge about the changes to expect and how the body takes time to change. For example, the clinical needs of an adolescent child stepping into adulthood will vary at all levels. Patients battling medical trauma and psychological depression also find new changes in the functioning of their bodies. The study of human anatomy and physiology prepares clinicians and nurses to address these changes in a patient.
- Understanding the inter-dependence of organs functions
A healthcare professional needs to know how different organs depend on each function of each other. This is the primary reason why adversity in one body’s functional system will lead to multi-organ failure if not treated properly. The cardiovascular, blood and lymph circulatory, respiratory, nervous, bone structure, and digestive systems have interconnected functions. All of them play an important role in maintaining a healthy human body.
Understanding the dependence will help healthcare professionals devise treatment plans that can work on the root cause of an ailment. With a good foundation in anatomy and physiology subjects, students can train themselves to become competent and knowledgeable nurses and physicians. With close to 78 organs and 11 of them being vital for the complete sustenance of life, human anatomy and the physiological functions of the organs are amazing subjects.
- Understanding new research
Without getting our basics right, understanding advanced research in the concerned subject is not possible in any field. When prospective doctors and nurses study anatomy and physiology subjects and understand the concepts, they can comprehend advanced medical research. Being current and updating oneself with all the research papers in their profession will help a person advance in their career.
Taking online courses to understand human anatomy and physiology can be very helpful. With 3D simulations and animations, a topic is explained in a manner that a person can remember for a long time. Several students are finding animation and simulation explanations more purposeful than textbook images.
- Improves clinical skills
The adroitness of doctors and nurses is dependent on the precision of their clinical skills. One is good at their craft only when their foundation is strong and the basics are clear. With a better understanding of the human anatomy and how the body functions, healthcare professionals can determine the underlying problem as per the initial diagnosis and the patient’s symptoms. They come up with an accurate prognosis and devise the best course of action to bring the patient back on a healthy track.
Conclusion
To advance in their career a healthcare professional will need to be the best amongst all the skilled doctors who pass the licensure exam with better grades. With a sound understanding of anatomy and physiology, a doctor or nurse can improve patient outcomes drastically. When positive outcomes increase, a person’s professional contribution to the healthcare sector is recognized and rewarded suitably.
The medical profession is also one where gross negligence is punishable and also results in adverse loss of life. To avoid the mess of going through the legal rigmarole, hospitals tend to hire people with professional skills and good ethics. By understanding anatomy and physiology as pure science and in a holistic manner, one builds a strong foundation that helps save lives and make a difference to society at large. A person can choose to remain in active healthcare or move towards advanced research opportunities to progress in their career by studying human anatomy and physiology.