title: Anatomy & Physiology C sidebar_position: 1
Anatomy & Physiology C
Anatomy and Physiology (Division C) concentrates on three topics per year, which rotate in a usually predictable way. The following are updated for the 2026 season.
Nervous System
The brain, spinal cord, and nerves that coordinate and transmit signals across the body.Sense Organs
Organs that detect and relay sensory information to the brain.Endocrine System
A network of glands that release hormones to regulate growth, metabolism, and mood.What will I be tested on?
Note: Information here is from the 2022 manual, which tests on the same Anatomy topics via rotation system.
| Topic | Description | | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | The Brain | Major regions and their functions | | EEG Waveforms | Identify simple encephalographic waveforms and understand why they occur | | Neural Impulses | Neuron and glial anatomy, synapses, neurotransmitters, action potential generation and propagation, membrane potential | | Central Nervous System | Organization of spinal cord, brainstem, cranial nerves; purpose/functions of sleep | | Peripheral Nervous System | Sensory/motor neurons, ganglia, sympathetic/parasympathetic divisions, somatic/sensory systems, reflex arcs, proprioception, nerve structure | | Disorders | Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Cerebral Palsy, Shingles, Stroke, ALS | | Drug Effects | Effects of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and marijuana on the nervous system | | National Tournament Only | Advanced brain anatomy, dreaming theories, retrograde signaling, MRI/EEG purpose, condition treatments (drugs, surgery, etc.) |
| Topic | Description | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Sensory Receptors | Types of sensory receptors; General vs. Special Senses | | General Senses | Mechanisms for touch, pressure, pain, temperature, itch, proprioception | | Special Sense Organs | Structures and functions of sight, hearing, balance, smell, and taste organs | | Sensory Physiology | Physiology behind each sense | | Disorders | Myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, nyctalopia, astigmatism, conjunctivitis, color blindness, otitis media, deafness types, anosmia, dysosmia, dysgeusia | | National Tournament Only | Neural pathways for vision, hearing, depth perception; extra disorders: diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, otosclerosis, presbycusis, Meniere’s, pink eye + treatments/prevention |
| Topic | Description | | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Hormone Classes | Steroids, peptides, amines | | Hormone Mechanisms | Nuclear vs. cytoplasmic mechanisms of hormone action | | Hormone Imbalances | Hypersecretion vs. hyposecretion | | Hormone Glands | Glands, the hormones they produce, and their functions | | Disorders | Diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, Graves’, Hashimoto’s, goiter, cretinism | | National Tournament Only | Endocrine cycles, negative feedback, autonomic-endocrine interaction, extra disorders (Cushing’s, Addison’s, myxedema, acromegaly), treatments/prevention |