Portage Learning Anatomy & Physiology Course: An In-Depth Review

Human Anatomy and Physiology focuses on the structure and function of the human body. The course aims to explain how your organ systems work together to allow you to process sensations, think, communicate, grow, move, reproduce, and stay alive. Consider this your user guide to the human body. The course will also cover the major systems of the body and explain how they work and why they don't sometimes. In addition, it will examine different diseases and disorders, recent advances in medicine, and ways to take care of your body.

Course Overview

The Portage Learning Anatomy & Physiology course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the human body, its systems, and how they function. The course is structured to be approachable and relatable, making it suitable for students with varying levels of prior knowledge. Lessons include real-life examples and interactive exercises, allowing you to think critically about your own experiences and make connections with the lesson. Printable flashcards are used throughout the lessons that provide you with necessary study material to keep for this course and beyond as you continue your education or career.

The course covers a wide range of topics, from basic chemistry and cell biology to the intricacies of the nervous, skeletal, muscular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, integumentary, urinary, digestive, endocrine, and reproductive systems. It also delves into genetics, heredity, and the body's defense mechanisms against disease.

Key Topics Covered

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

The first lesson introduces you to the fascinating subject of human anatomy and physiology. Since chemical reactions drive all of your body's functions, this lesson will start by reviewing some basic chemistry. It will then discuss the organization of the human body and the four main types of molecules it contains. It will also touch on a little history because humans used to have some pretty funny ideas about living organisms. Later, you'll learn why a living human being is so different from one who's died. Finally, you'll learn about homeostasis-that drive your body has to keep many different variables (like temperature and blood pressure) within a narrow range.

Cells and Heredity

The smallest living unit of the body is the cell, and it's so amazing, it deserves a lesson of its own. Even though almost all cells are microscopic, they're packed with many distinct kinds of organelles and surrounded by complex membranes. You'll be amazed at their complexity as you learn about their functions. You'll also learn how cells reproduce. This lesson will tackle the subject of heredity and the basics of genetics. You'll learn how genes affect your physical and mental characteristics, and how your parents' genetic material influenced these traits. You'll learn the significant differences between reproductive cells and all of the other cells in your body. The lesson will also spend time on a man who lived in the 1800's-Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics-because his insights paved the way for the modern understanding of heredity.

Nervous System

This lesson focuses on the nervous system. You'll learn how it's organized, its different functions, and the structures that make thinking, feeling, and moving possible. You'll also learn how the nervous system works when you think you're in danger or you've suddenly experienced physical pain. You'll use your knowledge of chemistry in this lesson when it explains how neurons (nerve cells) generate nervous impulses.

Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Your bones have several functions, and some aren't very obvious. For example, red blood cells are made in your bones, and bones store minerals that are essential for the function of your nerves and muscles. This lesson on the skeletal system will explore the structure and function of bones, and then cover the different types of joints and the amazing structure of your spinal column. Like the skeletal system, the muscular system is crucial for movement, but it has other functions, too. Like bones, muscles are also a lot more complicated than they appear. You'll spend time learning about both the structures that you can see and the structures that you can't see without a microscope. The lesson will go over some of the specific muscles in the body and how they work together to perform specific movements. You'll also learn why even simple movements involve chemical reactions and a close coordination between the muscular system and the nervous system.

Respiratory System

This lesson focuses on the respiratory system. As you're probably aware, it's the group of organs that allow you to get that crucial substance, oxygen, to all the cells in your body. You'll learn about the anatomy of your respiratory organs and which muscles are crucial for breathing. You'll also become aware of the differences between ventilation, external respiration, internal respiration, and cellular respiration.

Circulatory System

This lesson will explore the composition of blood, the various blood cells, and the various kinds of blood vessels in your body. The heart is a crucial part of the circulatory system, so this lesson will teach you about its chambers, valves, coronary vessels, and electrical system. You'll learn how blood travels around your body and its essential functions. The last chapter will spend time on two of the most common health problems people experience-high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

Immune and Lymphatic Systems

In this lesson, you'll learn all about the disease-fighting ability of your body. This lesson will explain the several types of germs that can make a person sick, as well as some of the many ways your body fights back to keep you well, including defenses you're born with and those you develop later on. Your body also has a system of vessels (similar to blood vessels) called the lymphatic system. You'll learn about its disease-fighting role as well as some of its other functions. You'll also learn about some of the other organs in your body that engage in the battle against disease.

Integumentary and Urinary Systems

This lesson will take a close look at two different organ systems-the integumentary system (the skin and its accessory organs) and the urinary system. Both of these systems work to get rid of waste products that would kill you if they built up in your body. You'll learn, too, how important these two systems are in maintaining homeostasis. This lesson will spend quite a bit of time on the structure of these two systems. People are often surprised to learn how complex even the skin can be. And the structures and functions of the urinary system, particularly the kidneys, are quite amazing.

Digestive System

You may never think about food the same way again after this lesson on the digestive system! You'll learn about all the different structures involved with converting food into the chemicals your body needs to grow, repair tissues, and perform all the functions of life. The lesson also covers the role of the three main types of foods and the importance of many different vitamins and minerals. By the time you've finished this lesson, you'll understand the value of eating a variety of foods and how healthy food choices will enhance your well-being.

Endocrine and Reproductive Systems

This course ends with a discussion about the endocrine and reproductive systems. You'll learn how the endocrine and nervous systems work together to regulate all of your body's functions. You'll learn about different endocrine glands, the hormones they produce, and how they influence each other. Homeostasis again becomes something important to talk about because of the crucial role of the endocrine system. This lesson also covers both the male and female reproductive systems. You'll learn about their anatomy and how the endocrine system affects their organs, making reproduction possible.

Course Instructor: Holly Trimble

Holly Trimble earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado, a master's degree in Pediatric Physical Therapy from Boston University, a master's degree in Biology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University. After working as a physical therapist for many years, Dr. Trimble transitioned into teaching. She has lectured on health-related topics to all age groups and has taught middle and high school science courses in both private and public school settings. Holly also taught Human Anatomy and Physiology for a local community college system for 16 years.

Student Experiences and Reviews

Many students have praised the Portage Learning Anatomy & Physiology course for its informative content, approachable format, and the teaching style of Holly Trimble. Here's a summary of common sentiments:

Read also: Accepting Portage Learning

Informative and Comprehensive: Students consistently report that the course is highly informative and covers a great deal of material. The level of detail is appreciated, and the course is not overwhelming or too deep, but it is very complete.
Easily Digestible Format: The information is presented in an easily digestible format, making it accessible to students with varying backgrounds. As a novice I felt that this course was easy to read and understand as well as interesting.
Improved Understanding: Students have noted a significant improvement in their understanding of human anatomy and physiology. I learned so very much about human anatomy… I am still amazed as to how everything works together to maintain homeostasis and keep us going.
Real-World Application: The course helps students connect what they learn to real-world scenarios. I didn't realize how much I had learned until I happened to be watching a TV show on PBS. I could actually understand what the scientists/doctors were talking about and explaining. The show dealt with diseases of the brain and things that can go wrong in the human body.
Excellent Instructor: Holly Trimble is consistently praised as an excellent online instructor. As a lifelong student and college professor with several degrees, some of which included online courses, I found Holly Trimble to be the best online instructor I have ever had. She explained topics in a clear, yet thorough way, and accentuated these with narratives that helped to personalize the online classroom.
Career Advancement: The course has proven beneficial for individuals pursuing careers in healthcare. As a medical records coder, this course will help take me to a higher level of coding with the anatomy knowledge I have now. I took this class as a prereq for Medical Coding.
Personal Enrichment: Even students taking the course for personal enrichment have found it to be valuable and enjoyable. I was taking the course just for fun, but I learned so much due to the great amount of detail the instructor put into the course.

Course Structure and Materials

The Portage Learning Anatomy & Physiology course is delivered online and includes a variety of learning materials:

Lessons: Each lesson covers a specific topic in human anatomy and physiology.
Interactive Exercises: Interactive exercises are integrated into the lessons to promote critical thinking and engagement.
Printable Flashcards: Printable flashcards are provided throughout the lessons to aid in studying and retention.
Exams: The course includes module exams and a final exam to assess student learning.
Study Guides and Reviews:
- Module 1 Exam Review| BIOL 251 Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab | Review the studies of anatomy and physiology, mechanisms of homeostasis, and basic principles related to cellular and metabolic processes.
- Module 3 review: Bones and Skeletal Tissue.
- BIOL 252 Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/Lab , Module 3 Exam Review 70+ Questions and Answers -Summary,LockDown Browser,Portage Learning. Module 3 Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels.
- BIOL 252 Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/Lab, 90+ Questions and Answers -Summary in LockDown Browser from Portage Learning. Final Exam review only.
- Access the Portage Learning Anatomy & Physiology II Lab 7 Exam - converted, fully updated for 2026/2027. This resource provides comprehensive A&P II practice questions with verified answers and detailed rationales, covering human physiology concepts, organ systems, laboratory procedures, and critical thinking applications.*Document download is required to access the resources.

Technical Requirements

The course requires a computer with internet access and a compatible web browser. The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred.

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