Define the systems you wish to teach. The parameters can be as broad or as narrow as is appropriate for your course's level of depth. A systems approach to anatomy and physiology allows you to divide the body into its natural systems, such as digestive, respiratory, circulatory, skeletal, muscular, nervous and reproductive systems. For introductory courses, define systems as these larger bodily systems. More complex courses can focus on subdivisions of a system, such as upper and lower GI tracks instead of the more general digestive system.
Establish the system's elements and processes. For example, the digestive system's elements would be organs, such as esophagus, stomach or intestine, while the processes would be digestion or absorption. Each system requires a separate set of elements and processes. Provide students with the necessary definitions of elements, but encourage them to explain processes and interactions before establishing concrete definitions.
Determine the system's category as open or closed. Open systems are those whose elements and processes can flow in and out of the system. Closed systems are those whose elements and processes remain within the system. Most systems in anatomy and physiology are both open and closed depending on how you define your elements and processes. For example, the digestive system could be considered open if you examine external food that enters the body, nutrients that are absorbed from the digestive system to the bloodstream and waste that leaves the body. However, it could also be considered a closed system in that the organs that facilitate the processes remain within the system.
Teach each system individually. Focus on defining the elements and explaining how the processes affect these elements. Since systems can be both open and closed, perspective is crucial. Encourage students to shift perspectives to expand critical and analytical thought.
Combine the systems. Examine how the bodily systems interact with one another. Focus on the elements specifically involved in the interaction between two systems. For example, the small intestine is the element whose process of absorption allows transfer of nutrients from the digestive system to the circulatory system.