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Anatomy & Physiology (ATC)

A community-written study guide covering every topic on this event's official test plan. Sign in to contribute to a section.

1Describe the physiology of the human body

40% of exam

Physiology is the study of how the body's parts function.

  • The body maintains homeostasis — a stable internal environment.
  • Systems work together: the nervous and endocrine systems coordinate function.
  • Feedback loops (mostly negative) regulate temperature, glucose, and more.
  • Cells, tissues, and organs each carry out specialized functions.

2Identify the anatomy of the human body

40% of exam

Anatomy is the study of the body's structures.

  • Levels of organization: cells → tissues → organs → systems.
  • Four tissue types: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.
  • Directional terms and body planes describe location.
  • The 11 organ systems each have distinct structures.

3Identify common diseases and disorders of the human body

20% of exam

Diseases disrupt normal structure and function.

  • Diseases may be infectious, genetic, degenerative, or lifestyle-related.
  • Each body system has characteristic disorders (e.g., diabetes, asthma, arthritis).
  • Signs and symptoms guide diagnosis.
  • Understanding normal function helps recognize disease.

Member-written study notes, not official HOSA competition material. Topic titles and exam weights come from the official Anatomy & Physiology (ATC) guidelines.