Key Takeaways:
- Anatomy and physiology refers to the two closely related branches of science that study the body’s parts and how they relate to one another.
- In general, any major that leads to a career in direct patient care requires students to take anatomy and physiology, including nursing and physical therapy.
- You can take anatomy and physiology with lab online through accredited institutions such as Portage Learning.
A career in the medical field starts with an understanding of anatomy and physiology. Imagine trying to provide safe, effective care but lacking knowledge on how the human body works.
Not exactly a situation any professional or patient wants, right?
That’s why most healthcare programs require students to pass it.
Traditionally, this entailed two full semesters during your first year in a campus lecture hall and lab – but today, you build that foundational knowledge online through accredited institutions such as Portage Learning.
Anatomy and Physiology I and II rank among its most popular courses.
Here’s what you need to know about them to decide whether to enroll.
What Is Anatomy and Physiology?
Anatomy and physiology refers to the two closely related branches of science that study the body’s parts and how they relate to one another.
More specifically, anatomy covers the physical structure while physiology examines their biological and chemical functions and processes.
What Do You Learn in Anatomy and Physiology?
During the anatomy portion of an A&P course, you learn the following as it relates to each of the body’s major systems:
- Gross anatomy, or the parts of a human visible to the naked eye
- Microscopic anatomy, or cellular and tissue structures
- Systemic anatomy, or the organs
Physiology then teaches you how they each operate and interact together.
For example, when studying the cardiovascular system, anatomy would help you understand four chambers make up the heart. You’d grasp how it regulates your blood pressure during physiology.
Because your body contains dozens of organs, hundreds of bones, and trillions of cells, programs typically divide the material into two courses:
A&P I introduces the basic concepts of the subject and the following systems:
- Skeletal
- Nervous
- Integumentary
- Muscular
- Endocrine
- Sensory
The second course builds off the topics learned in the first and covers the rest of the systems, which include:
- Circulatory
- Lymphatic
- Respiratory
- Digestive
- Urinary
- Reproductive
Why Do Healthcare Majors Take Anatomy and Physiology?
In general, any major that leads to a career in direct patient care requires students to take anatomy and physiology. Professions such as:
- Nursing
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Pharmacy
- Pre-med
- Biology
- Kinesiology
“No matter what healthcare field you go into, you need that foundational understanding of the human body,” Dr. Brittany Martinez, the associate dean of biology at Portage Learning, states.
She explains A&P I and II also allow medical professionals to:
- Respond quickly in an emergency: Clinicians can recognize the root cause of an illness immediately and create a treatment plan.
- Grasp changes in a situation: Nurses can identify when fluctuations in a patient’s vital signs indicate a potential complication and respond before it worsens.
- Interpret new research: Pharmacists can comprehend new studies on medications and their effects on the body to make informed recommendations.
What to Expect From an Online Anatomy and Physiology Course
With Portage Learning’s online anatomy and physiology courses, you can expect the following while enrolled:
- One-on-one instruction from an experienced professor
- A self-directed format with content aligned toward degree program expectations
- Personalized assistance from success coaches invested in your growth
- Transfer credit opportunities at more than 2,800 colleges and universities nationwide
Each course gets broken into six to 10 learning modules, which focus on a key concept and explore the topic through:
- Video lectures: Pre-recorded and may be reviewed as many times as you need.
- Active learning components: Materials such as digital flashcards to self-evaluate your understanding.
- Assessments: Problem sets or written exercises submitted and graded by your professor.
Once you finish the section and feel prepared, you sit for the exam.
The institution delivers A&P I and II through Canvas, a learning management system.
Students, on average, finish each course within eight to 10 weeks.
Portage Learning’s annual alumni survey indicates the vast majority feel well prepared afterward too. When asked about their experience, respondents said the institution contributed considerably to their ability to:
- Connect and apply what they learned to their chosen field of study
- Process information, evaluate viewpoints, and solve real world problems
- Control what they learned through goal setting and self-reflection, adjusting as needed
“I had a great experience with my Anatomy and Physiology course,” Megha Patel, a former student, says. “My professor was extremely knowledgeable and always helpful whenever I had questions. Overall, it was convenient, well-structured, and very supportive.”
Jessica Clark also took A&P through Portage Learning. “My professor and student success coach were great,” she adds. “Portage learning provided everything I needed to succeed and learn the entirety of the subject.”
At $230 per credit, the institution’s tuition for anatomy and physiology remains significantly lower than the rate public, four-year colleges charge in-state students.
How Do Online Anatomy and Physiology Labs Work?
You can also expect an enriching lab experience with Portage Learning’s online A&P courses.
The institution teaches lab skills through video demonstrations. Students watch experiments conducted by professionals, and they maintain a notebook with their observations.
You don’t gain tactile skills, but Dr. Jerrod Poe, director of curriculum for Portage Learning, notes that’s OK.
“If you need those hands-on capabilities, you’re going to have so many more labs in your future that you’ll have the time to build them out,” he explains.
“With our labs, we emphasize the content and contextualize it so that you know why you’re doing what you’re doing. When you understand each step, that learning becomes magnified, and it translates later into the hands-on labs.”
How to Succeed in Online Anatomy and Physiology Courses
Approximately 30 percent of students fail anatomy and physiology on their first try.
That statistic, along with stories from classmates, may make the course seem intimidating. Success, however, starts with the right approach.
“Our A&P courses are comprehensive, and there is a lot of information, but our institution has a robust support network for our students,” Dr. Martinez states.
She recommends the following study strategies for those enrolled:
- Slow down: Take as much time as you need to work through the material with the institution’s flexible format.
- Plan ahead: Portage Learning’s Student Success team will create a study schedule that accounts for your availability and program deadlines.
- Practice active learning: Both courses include researched-backed resources developed by the institution, including study guides, to improve your performance.
“We really want to prepare students for whatever program they go on toward after leaving Portage Learning and make sure that they know what they need to know,” Dr. Martinez says.
Taking Anatomy and Physiology Online for College Credit with Portage Learning A career in the medical field offers:
- Competitive pay
- Purposeful work
- Diverse opportunities
- High demand
You just need to first pass anatomy and physiology I and II with lab. And with Portage Learning you can. All while online, too.
