Anatomy and Physiology is an advanced laboratory course in the life sciences which challenges students to relate the human body to their training in the arts. The course is organized around two themes. The first is how the human body is a system in balance. Changes in the environment that upset this balance cause the body to return to a new state of balance. The second is how body structures complement the functions they help serve. Dancers are encouraged to take Anatomy and Physiology because the study of the muscular and skeletal systems complements their study of movement. Visual artists are strongly encouraged to take the course in order to better render the human figure. Thespians too benefit because a better understanding of the human body can augment their training to act on the stage.