Anatomical Position and Skeletal Differences

• The human skeleton has an axial and an appendicular component, each with distinct primary functions.
• Positional terminology describes the relative positions of body parts.

Positional Terms

• Superior: Above or nearer to the head.
• Inferior: Below or further from the head.
• Anterior: In front of or nearer to the front.
• Posterior: Behind or nearer to the back.
• Medial: Closer to the midline of the body.
• Lateral: Further from the midline of the body.
• Proximal: Nearer to where a limb attaches to the body.
• Distal: Further from where a limb attaches to the body.
• Posture affects the position of structures.

Biological Sex Differences

• Bones of the biologically male skeleton are typically larger and heavier.
• Muscles in the biologically male skeleton are bigger, muscles exert more pull on the bones.
• This results in larger, more prominent ridges and bumps for muscle attachment.
• The pelvis is wider and shallower in the biologically female skeleton.

Reference Positions

• Reference positions clarify an individual's starting posture.
• They aid in describing and demonstrating joint movements.
• The anatomical body position involves standing upright, facing forward, feet parallel and close, with palms facing forward.

Skeletal System

• Consists of bones, cartilage, ligaments and joints
• Accounts for about 20% of body weight.
• Determines the body's shape and size, influenced by nutrition, physical activity, and posture.
• The skeleton consists of 206 bones.
• The axial component includes 80 bones (skull, ribs, sternum, vertebral column).
• The appendicular component includes 126 bones (pectoral/shoulder girdle, pelvic/hip girdle, bones of upper and lower extremities/limbs).
• Pectoral and pelvic girdles attach the upper and lower extremities to the axial skeleton.
• The pectoral girdle is made up of the scapula and clavicle.
• The upper extremity bones: humerus, ulna, radius, carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges.
• The lower extremity bones: femur, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges.

Axial Skeleton

• The axial skeleton's bones (skull, sternum, ribs, and vertebral column) protect important body structures.

Learn about anatomical position, directional terminology and skeletal differences. Explore terms like superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, proximal, and distal that describe the relative positions of body parts. Also, understand the skeletal differences between biological sexes.