DESCRIPTIVE ANATOMIC TERMS

A. Median Saggital plane divides the body

into equal right and left parts. Any plane
parallel to it is called paramedian plane
*medial-closer to the midline
*lateral-away from the midline
B. Coronal plane divides the body to front
(anterior/ventral) and back (posterior/dorsal)
(at a right angle to the median saggital plane)
C. Horizontal/transverse planes-at right angles
to the coronal and saggital planes
*Superior-higher
*Inferior-lower
*proximal-closer to the root/base of the
extremity
*distal-further from the root/base of the
extremity
*Ipsilateral-same side of the body
*Contralateral-oposite side of the body
*Superficial-closer to the surface
*Deep-farther from the surface
TERMS RELATED TO MOVEMENT
A.Flexion-decreasing the angle of a joint
*lateral flexion-movement of trunk in the
coronal plane
B.Extension-increasing the angle of a joint
C.abduction-movement of a limb away from
the midline of a body in the coronal plane
D.adduction-movement of a limb towards the
midline of a body in the coronal plane
E.rotation-movement of a part of a
body
around its long axis
*lateral rotation-anterior surface of body part
faces laterally
*medial rotation-anterior surface of body part
faces medially
F.Pronation-rotation which results in the body
art facing posteriorly
G.Supination-rotation in which the body part
faces anteriorly

H.circumduction-combination
in
sequence
flexion, extension abduction and adduction
I.protraction-to move forward
J.retraction-to move backward
K.inverson-sole faces medially
L.eversion-sole faces laterally
BASIC STRUCTURES
A.SKIN
A.epidermis-flattened stratified epithelium
B.dermis- composed of dense connective tissue
containing many blood vessels, lymphatic
vessels, and nerves
*hypodermis/superficial fasciae-connects the
dermis to the deeper fasciae or bones
Appendages of skin:
A.nail-keratinized plates on the dorsal tips of
the fingers and toes
*proximal part root of the nail
*surrounded by nailfolds (except distal part)
B.hair follicles invaginations of the dermis
into the epidermis where the hair bulb
(elongated part) originates
*hair papilla-vascular connective tissue found
at the end of the hair bulb
*arrector pili band of muscle that connects
the undersurface of the follicle to the
superficial part of the dermis
C.sebaceous
glands-produce
sebum that
maintains flexibility of the emerging hair and
oils he surface of the epidermis
D.sweat glands-long, spiral tubular glands
found all over the body except the lips, nail
beds, glans penis and clitoris
*most deeply penetrating appendage
B. FASCIAE
A.superficial/subcutaneous tissue-unites
dermis to the underlying deep fasciae

the

B.deep-membraneous layer of connective

tissue that directly surrounds the muscles and
other deep structures
*retinacula-thickened part of the deep fascia
(found in the joints) which serve as restraining
bands (hold underlying tendons in place/serve
as pulley in which tendons move
C. MUSCLE
A.skeletal/voluntary-produce movements of
the skeleton
-has two or more attachments
*origin-attachment that moves the least
*insertion-attachment that moves the most
*belly-fleshy part of the muscle
*aponeurosis-stong, fibrous sheet that attach
flattened muscles
*raphe-interdigitation of the tendous ends of
fibers of flat muscles
INTERNAL STRUCTURE of the skeletal muscle:
-epimysium-fibrous envelope consisting of
condensed areolar tissue which bind the
muscle fibers
*muscles with muscle fibers parallel to the line
of pull = greater degree of movement
*muscles with muscle fibers oblique to the line
of pull(also called pennate muscles) =
greater muscle substance/more fibers= greater
strength
A.unipennate- the tendon lies on one side of
the muscle and muscle fibers run obliquely to it
(extensor digitorum longus)
B.bipennate-tendon lies on the center of the
muscle and muscle fibers pass to it on both
sides(acromial fibers of the deltoid)
C.multipennate-series
of
bipennate
muscleslying alongside one another (tibialis
anteriror)
SKELETAL MUSCLE ACTION
A.Fixator- contracts isometrically (increases
tone but no movement) to stabilize origin of
prime mover

B.Antagonist-muscle opposes the action of

prime mover (biceps femoris)
C.Prime mover- muscle is responsible for a
particular movement (quadriceps femoris
moves the knee joint)
D.Synergist-contract and stabilize intermediate
joints (wrist muscles contract to allow finger
muscles to work properly)
NERVE SUPLY OF SKELETAL MUSCLES
60% motor+40% sensory+some SAF
*enters at the motor point (midpoint of the
deep muscle surface but near the margin)
NAMING OF SELETAL MUSCLES
-Heads/bellies (number of)-biceps,triceps
-Depth-profundus,superficialis,externus
-Direction of fibers-external oblique
-Position-pectoralis, supraspinatus, brachii
-Action-flexors
-Attachments-sternocleidomastoid
-Appearance-semimembraneous
-Shape-deltoid,quadratus
-Size-maximus,minimus
B.smooth/involuntary-consists
of
long,
spindle-shaped
cells
arranged
in
bundles/sheets
-responsible for peristalsis (in body tubes)
C.cardiac-consists of striated muscle fibers
that branch and unite with each other
-forms the myocardium of the heart
D. JOINTS
-site where to or more bones join together
(with/without movement)
Classified acc. To the tissue bet. Them:
a.fibrous joint-joined by fibrous tissue thus
disabling/minimizing movement (suture of
skull)
b.cartilagenousb.1.primary- joined by a plate/bar of hyaline
cartilage (epiphysis and diaphysis of growing
bone,1st rib and manubrium sterni)

b.2.secondary-united
by
a
plate
of
fibrocartilage and articuar surface of the bones
are covered by thin hyaline (intervertebral
joints)
c.synovial-articular surface are covered by
thin hyaline and separated by a joint cavity
lined by synovial membrane w/c produce
synovial fluid and protected by a tough fibrous
membrane called the joint capsule
-articular discs-discs/wedges of fibrocartilage
found in some synovial joints(knee)
-fatty pads-lie between the synovial membrane
and capsule (in some joints e.g. knee and hip
joints)
-cruciate ligaments-ligaments that lie within
the capsule
CLASSIFICATION OF SYNOVIAL JOINTS
a.SADDLE-resemble
a
saddle
or
concavoconvex (carpometacarpal joint of
thumb)
b.HINGE-allows extension/flexion
c.ELLIPSOID-elliptical convex articular surface
joins w/elliptical concave art. Surface, permits
FEAA (wrist)
d.PLANE-articula surfaces are flat; allows
bones
to
slide
on
one
another
(sternoclavicular)
e.PIVOT-pivot is surrounded by a bonyligamentous ring; allows rotation
f.BALL AND SOCKET-ball shaped head of one
bone fits into another ones socket concavity;
allows free movement
g.CONDYLOID-two distinct convex fit into two
distinct concaves; allows FEAA w/small rotation
(metacarpophaleangeal joint/knuckle joint)
STABILITY OF JOINTS DEPEND ON:
Muscle tone
Articular surface(shape size and arrangement)Ligaments*fibrous-prevent excessive movement in a joint

*elastic-return
to
normal
stretched(auditory ossicles)

after

being

NERVE SUPPLY TO JOINTS

HILTONs LAW- a sensory nerve supplying a
joint also supplies for the prime mover and the
overlying skin
E.LIGAMENTS
-cord/band of connective tissue uniting two
structures
Types:
a.collagenous
b.elastic
F.BURSAE
-lubricating closed fibrous sac lined with
smooth membrane
-found where the skin rubs with underlying
bony structures, where tendons rub against
bones/ligaments/other tendons
G.SYNOVIAL SHEATH
-tubular bursa that suspends a tendon within
itself via mesotendon or vincula(narrow thread
form of mesotendon where ROM is extensive
such asflexor tendons of fingers and toes) that
allows blood vessels to reach a tendon
-fx to reduce friction bet. Tendon and
surrounding structures
H. BLOOD VESSELS
1. arteries-transport blood away from the heart
and do not have valves
*areterioles-smalles arteries
*anastomosis-joining of branches of blood
vessels
1.a. anatomic end arteries-no anastomosis with
adjacent arteries
1.b. functional end arteries-anastomose with
adjacent arteries
2.VEINS-transport blood towards the heart, has
valves

*venules-smallest veins
*tributaries-smaller veins that join together to
form venous plexuses
*venae comitantes- two veins that accompany
medium-sized deep arteries
*portal vein-converging veins from the GI tract
that enter the liver
*sinusoids-capillary-like vessels in the liver w/c
the portal veins join with
-resemble capillaries but are wider and have
irregular cross diameter (found in marrow,
spleen, live, endo. Glands)
*portal system-system of vessels interposed
bet. 2 capillary beds.
3. CAPILLARIES-microscopic vessels in the form
of a network between arterioles and the
venules
*arteriovenous anastomoses-direct connection
bet. Veins and arteries w/o capillaries ( e.g. in
fingers and toes)

I. LYPATHIC SYSTEM
A. Lympathic tissues-connective tissue that
contains large amounts of lymphocytes and
makes up:
a.1. Thymus
a.2. Lymph nodes
a.3. Spleen
a.4. Lympathic nodules
B. Lympathic vessels-assist CVS in removing
tissue fluid from the interstitial spaces return it
to the blood
-serve as drainage and found all over except
CNS, internal ear, eyeball, tendons, ligaments
and epidermis
*Lymph-fluid
inside
lymphatic
vessels.................. ROUTE:
LYMPH-LYMPHATIC
CAPILLARIES-AFFERENT
LYMPHATIC VESSELS-LYMPH NODE-EFFERENT

LYMPHATIC
VESSELS-RIGHT
LYMPHATIC
DUCT/THORACIC DUCT-BLOODSTREAM
J. NERVOUS SYSTEM
A. CNS-brain and spinal cord
*neuroglia-support neurons
a.1.Gray matter-nerve cells embedded in
neuroglia
a.2.White matter-nerve fibers(axons) in
neuroglia
B. PNS-12 pairs of cranial nerves
and 31
pairs of spinal nerves
SPINAL NERVES- 8 cervical,12 thoracic,5
lumbar,5 sacral,1 coccygeal
*cauda equina-nerves of the lumbar and sacral
region
a.anterior root/efferent nerves/motor fibers
b.posterior root/afferent nerves/sensory fibers
*posterior root ganglion-where the cell bodies
are located
Spinal nerve divides into :
a.anterior ramus-supplies muscles and skin of
the back
b.posterior ramus-supplies muscles and skin
over anterolateral body wall and limbs
*meningeal branch-supply the meninges and
vertebrae
PLEXUS-anterior
rami
fused
together
(cervical,brachial,lumbar,sacral PLEXUS)
C. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
-innervates involuntary structures and is
divided into :
a. sympathetic-fight or flight
b. parasympathetic-conserving and restoring
energy
K. MUCOUS MEMBRANES
-lining of organs consisting of epithelial layer
supported by connective tissue, the lamina

propria.
Muscularis
mucosa
muscle) is sometimes present
connective tissue

(smooth
in the

L. SEROUS MEMBRANES
-line the cavities of the trunk consisting of a
layer of mesothelium supported by a thin layer
f connective tissue
*parietal layer-lines the cavity walls
*visceral layer-covers the viscera
*serous exudate-serous liquid found between
pleural,pericardial,peritoneal cavities (cavities
bet. Parietal and visceral layer)
M. BONES
-protective
structure
that
encases
organs/cavities, houses bone marrow and
stores calcium salts and has 2 forms:
a.compact-solid mass
b.cancellous-branching network of trabeculae
*periosteum-thick layer of fibrous tissue that
covers all bone surface (except articulating
surface)
CLASSIFIED ACC. TO
a.regionsb.shapes-long, short, flat, irregular and
sesamoid
b.1.Long-found in limbs, and have a tubular
shaft (diaphysis) and an epiphysis on each end
and is separated by epiphyseal plate/cartilage
during the growing stage. Part of the diaphysis
that lies adjacent to the plate is called
metaphysic. Long bones contain bone marrow
in the marrow cavity and its outer layer is
covered by a connective tissue sheath called
periosteum.
b.2.short-found in hands and feet, cuboidal in
shape and is cancellous. Also covered by
periosteum
b.3.flat-found in the vault of the skull
composed of tables(thin inner and outer layer)

separated by the diploe(layer of cancellous

bone) and includes the scapula
b.4.irregular-bones of the vertebrae, pelvic
bones composed of an outer compact bone and
an inner cancellous bone
b.5.sesamoid-small nodule of bones found in
tendons covered with cartilage (e.g. patella)
and functions to reduce friction
BONE MARROW-gradually replaced by yellow
marrow (starting 7 y.o) until it is restricted to
the skull, thoracic cage, vertebrae, girdle
bones, head of humerus and femur by
adulthood
BONE DEVELOPMENT
a.membraneous-develpoed directly from a
connective tissue membrane
b.endochondral-makes us of a cartilaginous
model later replaced by bone
CARTILAGE
-connective tissue that embeds cells and fibers
in a gel-like matrix
*perichondrium-covers cartilage
THREE TYPES:
A.hyaline-makes up the epiphyseal plate
therefore playing an important role in growth
and length of bones
B.fibrocartilage-contains many collagen fibers
and is found in discs within joints and on
articular surface of mandible and clavicle
C.elastic cartilage-contains large amounts of
elastic fibers and is flexible (pinnae, epiglottis)