Anatomy and Physiology 2 covers major body systems, including circulation, immunity, breathing, digestion, metabolism, the urinary system, fluid balance, and reproduction. Biology 212 explores both the structures of these systems and how they work together to keep the body in balance. Here is what each chapter covers and how to prepare for the material.
What does human anatomy and physiology 2 cover?
In UPI Study’s Anatomy and Physiology 2 course, the chapters move from blood and circulation through immunity, breathing, digestion, metabolism, the urinary system, fluid balance, and reproduction. The syllabus below lists each lesson and its assigned hours, along with the assignment and final exam.
| # | Chapter | Lessons | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Cardiovascular System: Blood | An Overview of Blood; Production of the Formed Elements; Erythrocytes; Leukocytes and Platelets | 3 |
| 2 | The Cardiovascular System: The Heart | Heart Anatomy; Cardiac Muscle and Electrical Activity; Cardiac Cycle; Cardiac Physiology | 2 |
| 3 | The Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels and Circulation | Structure and Function of Blood Vessels; Blood Flow, Blood Pressure, and Resistance; Capillary Exchange; Homeostatic Regulation of the Vascular System | 3 |
| 4 | The Lymphatic and Immune System | Anatomy of the Lymphatic and Immune Systems; Barrier Defenses and the Innate Immune Response; The Adaptive Immune Response: T Lymphocytes and Their Functional Types; The Adaptive Immune Response: B-Lymphocytes and Antibodies | 4 |
| 5 | The Respiratory System | Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System; The Lungs; The Process of Breathing; Gas Exchange | 4 |
| 6 | The Digestive System | Overview of the Digestive System; Digestive System Processes and Regulation; The Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus; The Stomach | 4 |
| 7 | Metabolism and Nutrition | Overview of Metabolic Reactions; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Lipid Metabolism; Protein Metabolism | 4 |
| 8 | The Urinary System | Physical Characteristics of Urine; Gross Anatomy of Urine Transport; Gross Anatomy of the Kidney; Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney | 5 |
| 9 | Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance | Body Fluids and Fluid Compartments; Water Balance; Electrolyte Balance; Acid-Base Balance | 4 |
| 10 | The Reproductive System | Anatomy and Physiology of the Testicular Reproductive System; Anatomy and Physiology of the Ovarian Reproductive System; Development of the Male and Female Reproductive Systems | 2 |
| ASSIGNMENT | 5 | ||
| FINAL EXAM | 2 |
The common thread is homeostasis: how the body maintains relatively stable internal conditions. For example, the respiratory system removes carbon dioxide, while the kidneys help regulate fluid and acid–base balance.
What is taught in anatomy and physiology 2?
The first five chapters focus on blood, circulation, immune defenses, and breathing:
- Blood: Blood components, their production and functions, hemostasis—the process that stops bleeding—and blood typing.
- The heart: Heart anatomy, cardiac muscle and electrical activity, the cardiac cycle, cardiac physiology, and heart development.
- Blood vessels and circulation: Vessel structure, blood pressure and resistance, exchange at capillaries, circulatory pathways, and fetal circulation.
- The lymphatic and immune system: Lymphatic structures, innate defenses, T cells, B cells and antibodies, immune responses, and immune-related disorders.
- The respiratory system: Respiratory organs, the lungs, breathing mechanics, gas exchange and transport, changes in respiratory function, and development.
These topics overlap. For instance, gas exchange in the lungs puts oxygen into the blood, and the cardiovascular system carries that oxygen to tissues.
Which colleges have matched Anatomy and Physiology 2? 1 college confirms UPI Study's Anatomy and Physiology 2 (Biology 212, 3 credits), according to its equivalency page on UPI Study. Here they are, with the course it counts as at each:
| College | Course it counts as | Credits | How it counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of the People | General Elective (UoPeople) | 3 | Transfers (Elective) |
See Anatomy and Physiology 2 on UPI Study →
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Each college confirms the course when it evaluates your transcript.
What do you learn in anatomy and physiology 2?
Chapters six through 10 cover how the body obtains and uses nutrients, removes waste, maintains fluid balance, and reproduces:
<ol start="6"><li><strong>The digestive system:</strong> Digestive organs and processes, the liver, pancreas and gallbladder, and how nutrients are broken down and absorbed.</li><li><strong>Metabolism and nutrition:</strong> Carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism; metabolic states; energy and heat balance; and nutrition.</li><li><strong>The urinary system:</strong> Kidney and urinary tract anatomy, urine formation, reabsorption, blood flow regulation, and hormonal control of kidney function.</li><li><strong>Fluid, electrolyte, and acid–base balance:</strong> Body fluid compartments, water and electrolyte regulation, acid–base balance, and related disorders.</li><li><strong>The reproductive system:</strong> Testicular and ovarian reproductive anatomy and physiology, hormonal regulation, and reproductive system development.</li></ol>Pay attention to connections across chapters. For example, the kidneys help regulate water and electrolytes, linking urinary anatomy to the fluid-balance material in the next chapter.
The Complete Resource for Anatomy
UPI Study has a full resource page built specifically for anatomy — covering which courses count and how to get started at $250 per course with no deadlines. Your college decides how credits transfer.
See the Biology 212 course →What is the relationship between anatomy and physiology?
Anatomy describes body structures; physiology explains how those structures work. Studying them together helps you understand why a structure is suited to its job.
For example, the thin walls of capillaries support the exchange of substances between blood and tissues. The guide to anatomy versus physiology explains the distinction with more examples.
How to study anatomy and physiology 2?
Study each system in two passes: first identify its major structures, then explain the processes they perform. Use a diagram to trace a pathway, such as blood through the heart or filtrate through a nephron, and describe what happens at each stage without looking at your notes.
For the final, revisit connections between systems rather than memorizing isolated terms. Practice explaining how the lungs and kidneys contribute to acid–base balance, or how the digestive and circulatory systems work together to deliver nutrients.
If you need the course for a nursing program, also check the program’s requirements before enrolling. This guide to self-paced anatomy options and nursing requirements can help you identify questions to ask.
Which colleges list Anatomy and Physiology 2 on an equivalency chart?
These colleges show Anatomy and Physiology 2 (Biology 212) on their equivalency charts with UPI Study. Open a college for its full chart.
| College | Equivalent course | Credits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UoPeople | General Elective (UoPeople) | 3 | Elective credit |
| CSU | EMS 2302 – Anatomy and Physiology for EMS II | 3 | Recommended by UPI Study — the college confirms on evaluation |
| Crestpoint | General Education – Natural Science | 3 | Recommended by UPI Study — the college confirms on evaluation |
| Dunlap-Stone | General Education Science | 3 | Recommended by UPI Study — the college confirms on evaluation |
| Gracelyn | General education: Broad Knowledge and Intellectual Skills (Sciences) | 3 | Recommended by UPI Study — the college confirms on evaluation |
| Indiana Tech | BIO 2730 – Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 | Recommended by UPI Study — the college confirms on evaluation |
| Maestro | UPI Recommended | 3 | Recommended by UPI Study — the college confirms on evaluation |
| Newlane | Scientific Reasoning GE | 3 | Recommended by UPI Study — the college confirms on evaluation |
See the rest of the equivalency on the Anatomy and Physiology 2 course page, or open a college above for its full chart. ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anatomy
The course number for UPI Study’s Anatomy and Physiology 2 is Biology 212. Course numbers can differ by institution, so check the title and syllabus as well as the number.
Chapter 1 covers blood. Topics include blood components and their production, red and white blood cells, platelets, hemostasis, and blood typing.
It can be challenging because it combines detailed terminology with processes that span several body systems. Regular practice explaining those processes can help you move beyond memorizing names.
That depends on the student and the courses being compared. You may find the interconnected processes in the second course more demanding, or you may prefer them to the topics covered in your first course.
Review basic cell structure, tissues, and the idea of homeostasis before starting. Then preview the organ systems in the syllabus and make a study schedule that includes regular review.
Review each system’s structures and functions, then practice explaining how systems interact. Use diagrams and self-testing to identify topics you need to revisit.
A college may consider the course for credit, but the receiving college makes the final decision. Ask how the course would apply to your specific degree requirement before enrolling.
It depends on the nursing school’s requirements and its evaluation of the course. Ask the program whether it accepts the course for the relevant requirement and whether a lab is required.
Requirements vary by medical school, so it is not safe to assume the course is universally required. Check each school’s prerequisite list and ask how it evaluates the course.
Final Thoughts on Anatomy
Start by reviewing the chapter list and marking any systems you have not studied before. If you need the course to meet a degree requirement, ask your college how it would evaluate the course and whether a separate lab is required.
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Skip step 3 and the whole thing is wasted.
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