Online accredited college courses, labs & human body guides
If you aspire for a career as a healthcare professional, particularly as a physiologist, the knowledge of anatomy and physiology holds utmost importance for improving other people’s health and wellbeing.
Even if you don’t intend to work in medicine, understanding the concepts of human anatomy and physiology can help you deal with a crisis when you cannot access professional medical support.
To help you pursue your interest in this field, TangoLearn, after consulting 18 healthcare experts, has curated a list of top-rated anatomy and physiology online courses. These courses especially come in handy in today’s time, when we are confined to our homes and have the time to add on to our skillsets.
These courses have been selected based on their utility, worthiness, institution, and course coverage.
If you are a medical student looking for professional courses that will count towards your degree, we have also listed five anatomy and physiology courses online accredited by different educational committees and bodies.
Best Anatomy and Physiology 1 Online Accredited College Course: Human Anatomy And Physiology I – [Harvard]
Best Anatomy and Physiology Class Online Non-Accredited: Anatomy Specialization By University Of Michigan [Coursera]
We have given our recommendation for both the best non accredited class and the course worth your college credits.
But we suggest that you first go through all the courses listed below and then choose the that fulfils your requirements the best.
So let’s dive straight into our top 10 choices for this area i.e. anatomy and physiology.
6 Accredited Best Online Anatomy and Physiology Courses
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I – [Harvard]
- Anatomy Courses Online By The West Virginia University
- BIO 231, 232, 233 Human Anatomy and Physiology By Oregon Institute of Technology
- Online Anatomy & Physiology I [StraighterLine]
- Online Anatomy & Physiology Course [Corexcel]
- Introduction to Human Physiology [UC Berkeley Extension]
Non Accredited Anatomy and Physiology Courses
- Anatomy Specialization By University of Michigan [Coursera]
- XSeries Program in Anatomy By Michigan University [edX]
- Human Anatomy For Stroke By The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [edX]
- Easy Anatomy and Physiology (Platinum Edition) [Udemy]
Best Anatomy and Physiology Online Accredited College Courses (or with Credits)
1. Human Anatomy and Physiology I – [Harvard]
This is an introductory level course with anatomy and physiology class online.
It is taught by Jennifer Carr. You will have to make time for these classes as they are instructor led. It gives you wholesome integrative view of both anatomy and physiology.
Learning areas:
- Skeletal System Structure
- Function of The Tissues
- Nervous System
- Endocrine System
- Muscle function from cellular to organism level
You will have to watch out for these classes because they have limited seats and fixed enrollment dates. Since it is one of the best online anatomy and physiology courses, the seats fill up pretty quickly.
2. Anatomy Courses Online [West Virginia University]
What Is This Course About?
West Virginia University’s School of Medicine is offering two courses in this area that have been created for asynchronous distance learners. These courses will introduce you to the world of human anatomy and help you earn college credit hours. While the first course offers three credit hours, the second course provides two choices, on the basis of which you can earn 1 or 2 credit hours.
These anatomy and physiology courses online accredited are offered under spring, summer, and fall semesters. These courses are divided into 4-6 modules with 2-3 sections under each module. Once you have completed all the online classes, you will have to appear for the semester exam to qualify for the credit hours.
A. Online Introduction to Human Anatomy Lecture – 3 Credit Hours
This anatomy and physiology online course will introduce you to the fundamentals of human anatomy relevant to clinical application. You will learn about the major structures in the head/neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and back/limb regions.
While this course primarily focuses on gross anatomy, some micro-anatomy concepts will also be covered when needed. As a pre-requisite, you are expected to have completed one semester of introductory biology.
What You Will Learn
- Cells and tissues
- Skeletal and muscular systems
- Respiratory, cardiovascular, and lymphatic systems
- Digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems
- Regional anatomy of the pelvis
- Fundamentals of the nervous system
B. Online Introduction to Human Anatomy Laboratory – 1 or 2 Credit Hours
The second anatomy and physiology online accredited college course is an introductory lab that will give you practical lessons on the relationships and organizations of the structures in different regions of the body. The lectures of this course will contain human corpse dissection videos and other interactive learning activities to teach you the fundamental anatomy concepts.
This online anatomy course with lab accredited inclusive can be taken independently or along with the above course. While the basic lab course will earn you one credit hour, you can opt for the two-credit lab course that includes additional modules on upper and lower limbs.
These additional modules will prove beneficial for students who want to prepare for medical, dental, physical therapy, or other professional schools. This course also requires you to have completed one semester of undergraduate biology. Completing the first course is also recommended, though not compulsory.
What You Will Learn In This Course
- Axial skeleton
- Appendicular skeleton
- Thorax and respiratory system
- Abdomen and pelvis
- Nervous system
- Upper and lower limb (included in the 2-credit course)
3. BIO 231, 232, 233 Human Anatomy and Physiology [Oregon Tech Online]
What Is This Course About?
This course by Oregon Tech Online has been accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. This course consists of three fully online four-credit courses that can help you earn a total of 12-term credits (equivalent to 8-semester credits).
Each of these anatomy and physiology online courses need to be taken in order. The sequence also meets the requirements of different allied health fields. These courses have both lecture and lab components and are enriched with video lectures, exercises, assigned readings, a 3D interactive anatomy program, images and drawings, and weekly quizzes and tests. These classes do not have any pre-requisites.
What You Will Learn
The topics covered in these anatomy and physiology courses online accredited for college level include:
- Introductory cytology and histology
- Different body systems
- Acid-base balance
- Metabolism
- Human genetics and development
4. Online Anatomy & Physiology I [StraighterLine]
What Is This Course About?
You get human anatomy online course college credits with this StraighterLine class. It will help you fulfill the common education science requirements. This anatomy and physiology course with lab has been designed to provide you with working knowledge of college-level anatomy and is covered under a credit transfer guarantee.
Enrolling in this anatomy and physiology online course will offer you the benefit of one-to-one online tutoring and access to the ebooks for free. You can study at your own pace and take the final exam once you feel you are ready.
The Anatomy & Physiology I is a 3-credit course that will take approx. 75 hours to complete. The other course – Anatomy & Physiology I Lab, counts for 1-college credit. You can manage to complete these courses within a month if you can dedicate 17-20 hours per week for the anatomy and physiology class online.
What You Will Learn In This Course
The topics covered under the two online courses offered by StraighterLine include:
- Structural and functional organization of the body
- Homeostasis
- Cell functions and division
- The different body systems and their interactions
- How muscles, bones, and nerves together create movement
- Sensory organs
- Diseases and disorders
This lab-based human anatomy and physiology online course is created to give you a solid foundation in laboratory sciences. In this standalone lab-based course, you will conduct at-home experiments, track and record results, and answer questions to complete the assessments.
These in-home experiments will be facilitated by eScience Labs, which provides at-home lab kits and supplemental material. As a pre-requisite, it is recommended to simultaneously enroll for the above theory-based Anatomy & Physiology I course.
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5. Online Anatomy & Physiology Course [Corexcel]
What Is This Course About?
This online course on Corexcel is one of the best anatomy and physiology courses online accredited by the International Accreditors of Continuing Education and Training. This self-paced course is also suitable for non-medical students with no prior knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
This course will cover the different body systems and focus on how these systems work together to promote homeostasis. These lessons are imparted through concept maps, animations, case studies, and audio-visual mediums. This self-paced anatomy and physiology online accredited college course will help you earn 9.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
However, we would suggest that you first check if this course meets your college or university requirements. Registering for this course online will give you full access to the content for one year.
What You Will Learn
- Anatomic terminology
- Major cavities of the bodies and the organs in those zones
- Matching anatomical terms with appropriate physiology
- Components of a cell and functions
- Major constituents in the blood and lymphatic system and their role
- Digestive system and its anatomical structures
6. Introduction to Human Physiology [UC Berkeley Extension]
What Is This Course All About?
Offered by UC Berkeley Extension, this anatomy and physiology online accredited college course will serve as an introduction to human physiology wherein you will learn about the complexities of the cells, tissues, and different organ systems.
In addition, you will learn about the common diseases that affect normal human function to understand how structures and functions are correlated. You will also explore why most of the bodily processes require energy and how the flow of information between body functions occurs.
This course will help you earn three semester units, and it comprises reading assignments, multimedia lectures, research discussions, case study analysis, quizzes, and a final examination. You can take a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of 180 days to complete this anatomy and physiology online course.
What You Will Learn
- Basic cell functions
- The endocrine system
- Neurons and the CNS
- Sensory systems and motor control
- The muscular system
- The cardiovascular system
- The respiratory system
- The urinary system
- Digestion and metabolism
Related: Best Bioinformatics Courses Online, Top Pathophysiology Courses, Best Mycology Classes
Best Online Anatomy and Physiology Classes & Courses – Non Accredited But Great Ones!
1. Anatomy Specialization By University of Michigan [Coursera]
About the Specialization Course
The first anatomy and physiology class online that we want to discuss here is a specialization series offered by the University of Michigan. This course is a four-course series that will help you understand the integumentary system and the skeletal system anatomy and function using a systems approach. This specialization is supported by a vast multimedia resource that offers extensive study material on anatomical models.
By enrolling in these courses, you will also learn about joint classifications, functions, and clinical correlations. Skeletal muscle anatomy and function is another topic covered under these online anatomy and physiology courses. This specialization also covers different organ systems, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, nervous, reproductive, and the endocrine system.
The duration of this specialization course is approximately five months, provided that you can dedicate four hours per week for its online classes. The courses included here are beginner-level courses, so you do not need any prior knowledge of this field. This specialization also offers a flexible schedule, so you have the freedom to set and maintain flexible deadlines.
You can enroll for the entire specialization or select from the four anatomy and physiology online courses, offered under this series. However, enrolling for any of these courses will automatically subscribe you to the entire specialization. You will also have to complete hands-on projects included in the courses to be eligible for the certificate of completion. This online course has earned a rating of 4.8, and 54,000 students have already enrolled in it so far.
Though this is not a human anatomy online course with college credit. But, the specialization certificate does hold a lot of value equivalent to college credits. You will have to check with your university as different institutions have different policies regarding this.
Courses Included In The Specialization
a. Anatomy: Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems
The first course of this series will teach you about the integumentary system and its components (hair, nails, glands, epidermis, dermis) that protect the body. Plus, you will learn how the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, and skeletal muscles) supports different body movements.
You will explore joint classifications, functions, and clinical correlations and learn skeletal muscle anatomy and function. The duration of this course is approx. 26 hours.
b. Anatomy: Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Urinary Systems
The second course will explain the relationship between cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary systems and the role of each in our body. This course will take you approx. 19 hours to complete.
c. Anatomy: Human Neuroanatomy
In the third course, you will explore the central and peripheral nervous systems. This human anatomy and physiology online course will teach you about basic neuroanatomy, sensory and motor pathways, and the autonomic nervous system.
You will gain knowledge about how the human body influences and is, in return, influenced by our nervous system. The duration of this online course is around 17 hours.
d. Anatomy: Gastrointestinal, Reproductive and Endocrine Systems
The fourth and the last leg of this series will introduce you to different digestive, endocrine, and reproductive organs, their functions, as well as the network of nerves and blood vessels that serve these organs.
In addition, this course will stress the importance of these anatomical structures and their interdependencies through clinical correlations and vignettes. The fourth course will take around 12 hours to complete.
2. XSeries Program in Anatomy By Michigan University [edX]
About the Program
This XSeries program, offered by the Michigan University on edX, comprises four anatomy and physiology online courses that will teach you basic human anatomy using a systems approach. You will get to learn and understand the organ system features and their role in wellness and pathology.
Also, you will explore the primary functions and importance of each of the different organ systems in our body, especially from a health worker’s perspective. Some of the organ systems covered in this anatomy and physiology class online include the integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular systems.
This four-course program is also enriched with a wide range of multimedia material to visually and accurately understand the human anatomy.
You can complete the XSeries program in five months, provided that you are ready to spare 2-3 study hours per week. While you can access these courses individually for free, you will have to pay a fee to obtain a verified certificate of completion from the institution.
What You Will Learn In The Courses Included
a. Anatomy: Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems
- The integumentary system anatomy and its function
- The skeletal system anatomy and its function
- Joint classifications, function, and clinical correlations
- Skeletal muscle anatomy and its function
b. Anatomy: Cardiovascular, Urinary, and Respiratory Systems
- Structures and functions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and the urinary systems
- The interactive relationship between these systems
- Roles played by these systems in the human body
c. Anatomy: Human Neuroanatomy
- Basic anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems
- How the sensory information enters our brain?
- How our brain and spinal cord control different muscles
- How the fight or flight response is activated by our autonomic nervous system
- The names and functions of the cranial nerves
d. Anatomy: Gastrointestinal, Reproductive and Endocrine Systems
- The basic anatomy and clinical concepts related to the gastrointestinal, endocrine, and reproductive systems
- The primary functions of these systems independently and clinical correlations
3. Human Anatomy For Stroke By The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [edX]
What Is This Course About?
This edX course is the first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) offered by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University that will teach you the human anatomy through a real-life case study of severe stroke. This course aims to explain the concepts of anatomy from different healthcare professional perspectives.
By undertaking this anatomy and physiology class online you will explore the basics and learn how to dissect the human body by adopting a logical approach. This case-based course uses a micro movie and an interactive case summary and survivor interview to keep things interesting. Plus, two more modules will cover the theoretical concepts related to the stroke case and the six healthcare disciplines where this anatomical knowledge can be applied.
The duration of this self-paced anatomy and physiology online course is eight weeks, and it will require a study effort of 2 to 4 hours per week. While you can enroll in this course for free, you will have to pay an additional fee to obtain a verified certificate of completion.
What You Will Learn
- Body systems and vital organs
- Anatomical orientation and skeletal system
- The muscular system
- The nervous system
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary system
- Role-play and round-ups for six healthcare disciplines
This human anatomy and physiology course is also a part of the Professional Certificate “Introduction To Stroke Care,” available on edX.
Note* This course is currently archived and may or may not be available at a later date. But you can view its course materials and learn.
4. Easy Anatomy and Physiology (Platinum Edition) [Udemy]
What Is This Course All About?
The next anatomy and physiology online course is a bestseller course on Udemy that will serve as an easy-to-follow guide on the anatomy and physiology of the human body.
Students enrolled in nursing, physical therapy, pre-chiropractic, and pre-medicine programs can especially benefit from the basics covered in these classes. Plus, this course will prove helpful for students opting for anatomy and physiology in high school.
What makes this course one of the best online anatomy and physiology courses is that it can serve as an independent or supportive course for a typical college-level course. It will help you learn the anatomical terminology, identify anatomical structures found within the human body, and also understand better the physiology of the different human body systems.
You will learn these concepts with the help of animated videos and an ebook – “An Easy Guide to Learning Anatomy and Physiology. ”Besides the online classes, this course also has quizzes for each section to help you assess your progress.
The duration of this self-paced course is 11 hours and 32 minutes. It comprises a whopping 125 lectures divided into 21 sections. You can enroll in this anatomy and physiology class online with a one-off fee which is also secured by Udemy’s 30-days money-back guarantee.
What You Will Learn In This Class
The range of topics covered under this course include:
- Cells and cell metabolism
- The different human body tissues
- Joints
- The integument
- Different body systems – skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, and the urinary system
- Blood
- Fluids, electrolytes, acid-base balance
This course has been rated a 4.5, with 8000+ enrollments so far. You will also bag a certificate of completion.
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Final Word
That’s a wrap for our us. Learning human anatomy and physiology can be an excellent addition to your skills if you plan to work for the medical or care sector. You can explore different career options and work as a nurse, pharmacist, physician, or dietitian.
Also, as an anatomy and physiology graduate, you can work towards a degree in medicine or dentistry. We hope that these accredited and non-accredited anatomy and physiology online courses will be helpful along the way.