Introduction to anatomy, anatomical terms and positions

Anatomy
Study of the structure of the human body Word anatomy is derived from a Greek word anatome - cutting up Ana up or through Tome cutting

Approaches to study anatomy

Three main approaches
Regional or topographical anatomy Systemic anatomy Applied or clinical anatomy

Regional anatomy: Method of studying the bodys structure by focusing attention on a specific part of the body Study of the structures such as bones, joints, muscles, blood vessels, nerves and organs and their relationship to each other in one region of the body

 To study the anatomy the body is divided into many regions Head Neck Trunk thorax and abdomen Upper limbs Lower limbs Systemic anatomy: Study of the bodys organ systems that work together to carry out complex functions Eg. Respiratory system, cardiovascular system etc Applied or clinical anatomy: Practical application of anatomical knowledge to diagnosis and treatment

Systemic anatomy
Human body systems or organ systems: Digestive system, Urinary system Reproductive system, Endocrine system Respiratory system, Cardio-vascular system Nervous system Skeletal system, Muscular system

Integumentary system
Lymphatic system

 Tissue: Group of specialized cells that work together to perform a specialized function Organ: Group of tissues that performs a specific function or group of functions eg. Liver, Kidney Human body systems or Organ systems: A group of related organs is an organ system Eg - urinary system comprises organs that work together to produce, store, and carry urine

Circulatory system
Concerned with pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs To transport nutrients, gases (such as oxygen and CO2), hormones and wastes through the body Includes heart, blood and blood vessels (arteries and veins).

Digestive system
Concerned with digestion and processing the food To breakdown and absorb nutrients that are necessary for growth and maintenance Includes mouth (oral cavity), pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas

Endocrine system
Composed of a group of endocrine glands that integrate and control the metabolic activities of body by producing chemical regulatory substances called hormones Includes pituitary gland, pineal body or pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenal glands, pancreas, testis, ovary

Reproductive system
Organs which work together for the purpose of reproduction Includes the sex organs such as
Ovaries, fallopian tubes (oviducts), uterus, vagina, mammary glands in females Testes, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis in males

Female reproductive organs

Male reproductive organs

Bulbourethral glands

Respiratory system
To provide gas exchange between the blood and the environment Includes the organs used for breathing nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs and diaphragm.
Nose

Bronchus

Urinary system
To filter out cellular wastes, toxins and excess water or nutrients from the circulatory system Involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance and excretion of urine. Includes kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra
Kidney

Ureter

Urinary bladder

Urethra

Nervous system
To relay electrical signals through the body Directs behaviour and movement Along with the endocrine system, controls physiological processes such as digestion, circulation, etc Concerned with collecting, transferring and processing information Consists of 2 parts: Central nervous system which includes brain and spinal cord Peripheral nervous system which includes 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves

Brain

Skeletal system
To provide support, shape for the body, to protect delicate internal organs Forms joints for movements Produces blood cells in the bone marrow, stores salts like calcium Gives attachment to the muscles Includes bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.

Muscular system
Includes muscles To provide movement Contract to move limbs and provide the organism with mobility Also control the movement of materials through some organs, such as the stomach and intestine, and the heart and circulatory system

 Integumentary system: Protects the body from the outside world and its many harmful substances Regulate body temperature, serves as a minor excretory organ, and makes the inner body aware of its outer environment through sensory receptors Includes skin, hair and nails. Lymphatic system: Structures involved in the transfer of lymph between tissues and the blood stream Destroy and remove invading microbes and viruses from the body Includes lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus and spleen

Subdivisions of anatomy
Gross anatomy Microscopic anatomy cytology, histology Developmental anatomy - embryology Comparative anatomy Surface anatomy - palpation Radiographic anatomy

Anatomical position
Person standing upright with Head, eyes and toes directed forward Upper limbs adjacent to the sides with palms facing forward and thumbs pointing away from the body Lower limbs close together with the feet parallel

 Supine position: Prone position: Lithotomy position:

Anatomical planes
Plane is an imaginary flat surface that passes through the body Sagittal plane: Divides the body or an organ into right and left parts Median or midsagittal plane: Divides the body into 2 equal portions Parasagittal plane: Divides the body into 2 unequal portions

Anatomical planes
Coronal (frontal) plane: Divides the body or an organ into front and back portions Transverse (horizontal) plane: Divides the body or an organ into upper and lower portions Oblique plane: Combination of other planes

Anatomical terms
Superior (cranial) - above Toward the head or upper part of a structure Nose lies superior to mouth Inferior (caudal) below Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure Stomach lies inferior to heart Anterior (ventral) in front Toward or at the front Sternum is anterior to heart Posterior (dorsal) behind Toward or at the back Brain is posterior to forehead

Anatomical terms
Medial: toward the midline of the body
Eye lies medial to the ear

Lateral: away from the midline of the body

Ear lies lateral to the eye

Proximal: closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Knee is proximal to ankle

Distal: away from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Wrist lies distal to elbow

Anatomical terms
Superficial (external)
Toward the body surface Skin is superficial to the muscles

Deep (internal)
Away from the body surface, more internal Teeth lie deep to the lips

Ipsilateral
On the same side The right hand and right foot are ipsilateral

Contralateral
On opposite sides The right hand and left foot are contralateral

Anatomical terms related to movements

Flexion: movement by which the angle of a joint is decreased Extension: movement by which the angle of a joint is increased Lateral flexion: movement of trunk in coronal plane Adduction: movement toward the midline of the body (central axis) Abduction: movement away from the midline of the body (central axis) Medial rotation: rotation toward the medial side of the body Lateral rotation: rotation towards the lateral side of the body Circumduction: combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction movements

Anatomical terms related to movements

Pronation: movement of forearm, where the palm is turned backwards Supination: movement of forearm, where the palm is turned forwards Inversion: movement of foot, where the sole of the foot is directed medially Eversion: movement of foot, where the sole of the foot is directed laterally Protraction: to move forward Retraction: to move backward Elevation: move a part superiorly Depression: move a part inferiorly

Cavities of the body

Cranial cavity Situated in the skull Major contents: Brain, meninges, cerebro-spinal fluid Vertebral cavity or vertebral canal Situated in the vertebral column Major contents: Spinal cord, meninges, cerebro-spinal fluid Thoracic cavity

Situated in the thorax

Major contents: heart, lungs

Abdominopelvic cavity
Situated in the abdomen Has 2 parts - abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity Abdominal cavity: Major contents: stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine, liver, pancreas, spleen, suprarenal (adrenal) glands, kidneys, parts of ureters, large vessels such as abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava and portal vein

Pelvic cavity
Situated in the pelvis

Is the lower part of abdominopelvic cavity

Major contents: parts of large intestine, urinary bladder, ureters, urethra, male and female reproductive organs