1: Intro

This LibreText contains my notes for this course

Be sure to read the syllabus and familiarize yourself with Canvas

Course materials

• Readings 

• Additional explanations/material can be found in Modules

Keep in mind that this is a scientific course, so there may be new terminology that is unfamiliar

• Office hours are available if you need help!

Recognition - response to a sensory cue; you compare to information stored in your memory

• Example: picking out a suspect in a police lineup

Recall - retrieval of information in memory without a cue

• Example: describing a suspect to a sketch artist

Recognition is often easier but less accurate than recall - focus on study habits that improve recall

• Coming to class/viewing lectures continuously exposes you to the curriculum, improving recall

• Instead of reading the definition and figuring out the term, try to explain the definition of a term by memory

• Handwriting or retyping notes can improve recall

• Teaching the material to others can improve recall

Anthropology = study of humans

• Anthropology shares some similarities with other social sciences, but there are some key differences:

  • Sociology is study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society (social systems)

  • Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior

  • However, anthropology focuses on humans, as a whole (human biology and human culture)

• Information from the American Anthropological Association

Biological anthropology

• Focuses on humans in evolutionary and biological contexts

Cultural anthropology

• Focuses on human culture, social organizations

Archaeology

• Focuses on material culture, past ecosystems, and past human societies

Linguistic anthropology

• Focuses on language and process of communication

Molecular anthropology

• Study of human genetics

Paleoanthropology

• Study of human evolution and hominin species

Bioarchaeology

• Study of remains in archaeological contexts

Human biology

• Study of human variation, osteology, and adaptation

Forensic anthropology

• Identification of skeletal remains (disasters, crime scenes, etc.)

Primatology

• Study of primates

Anatomy – study of the structure of the human body

Physiology – study of body function

Anatomical position – body upright, feet slightly apart, palms forward, thumbs out

Biological anthropologists primarily focus on the skeletal system (type of organ system)

• Axial skeleton – main part of body (head, neck, trunk)

• Appendicular skeleton – limbs attached to axis

The body can be sectioned along flat surfaces called planes

• Sagittal plane: divides into right/left

• Median (midsagittal): exactly down middle

• Frontal/coronal plane: divides into anterior/posterior (front/back)

• Transverse/horizontal plane: divides into superior/inferior (top/bottom)

• Oblique: diagonal cuts between horizontal/vertical

Cell – smallest unit

Tissue – group of cells working together

Organ – group of tissues working together

Organ system – group of organs working together

Organism – can be made of one cell or many organ systems

Integumentary – skin, hair, nails, vitamin D synthesization, pain receptors

Skeletal – bones, joints, support, red blood cell formation

Muscular – muscles, manipulation of environment, posture

Nervous – brain, spinal cord, nerves, control of body

Endocrine – glands, pancreas, ovaries, testes, hormones, growth, reproduction, metabolism

Cardiovascular – heart, blood vessels, blood transport

Lymphatic – lymph nodes, spleen, immune response, white blood cells, returns fluid from blood vessels

Respiratory – lungs, airways, keeps blood supplied with oxygen

Digestive – stomach, intestines, liver, digestion, eliminates waste

Urinary – kidney, bladder, eliminates waste, regulates water

Reproductive – produce gametes and hormones