Human Anatomy Quiz

Course Outline

• The course will cover the definition of anatomy and its subdivisions
• The course will cover the level of structural organization of the human body
• The anatomical position of the human body, body planes and sections
• Directional terms in anatomy (terminologies)
• Regional names in the human body
• Body cavities and membranes

Introduction to Human Anatomy

• The word "anatomy" is derived from the Greek word "anatome," which means "to cut open."
• "Anatomy" means cutting up or taking apart.
• The Latin word "dissect" has a similar meaning, meaning "to cut apart or separate."
• Human anatomy is a branch of medical science that deals with the form and structure of the human body, as well as the relationships between different body parts
• Anatomy is one of the oldest basic medical sciences
• Early anatomical study took place in Egypt around 500 BCE.
• Early anatomical descriptions were written on papyrus between 3000 and 2500 BCE.

Subdivisions of Human Anatomy

• Gross Anatomy (macroscopic): Study of visible body structures. Learning through dissection of the cadaver is a standard practice.
• Microscopic Anatomy:
  • Cellular Anatomy: Study of the structure of individual cells.
  • Histology: Study of the microscopic structure of tissues.
• Developmental Anatomy: Study of structural changes from conception to old age.
• Embryology: Focuses on the developmental changes that happen before birth.

Approaches to Studying Anatomy

• Regional Anatomy: Focus on the structures within a specific region of the body, studying their relationships.
• Systemic Anatomy: Study of body systems (e.g., cardiovascular, nervous) and their individual functions.
• Clinical (applied) Anatomy: Emphasizes the structural and functional aspects of the body systems relevant to medicine, dentistry, and related fields. It blends regional and systemic approaches with clinical context.

Regional Approach

• Major parts of the body, such as head, neck, thorax, back, abdomen, pelvis/perineum, lower limb, and upper limb, are studied.

Levels of Structural Organization

• Biochemical (atoms, molecules): Atoms combine to form molecules needed for life; includes atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium, potassium, and sodium.
• Cellular: Cells are the basic and fundamental structural and functional units of life.
• Tissue: Tissues are groups of similar cells functioning together. Include connective tissue, nervous tissue, epithelial tissue, and muscle tissue.
• Organ: Organs are composed of different tissue types working together to perform a specific function.
• Organ System: Organ systems consist of organs actively working together for a common goal.
• Organism: Entire living organism with all of its systems functioning together.

Chemical Level

• Atoms and molecules are essential for life.
• Molecules include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, water and much more.

Organ Level

• An organ is a structure composed of two or more tissue types and performing a specific function.

Systemic Level

• A system composed of multiple organs working in concert to perform a common function. example: digestive system, nervous system, etc

Organismic Level

• The complete living organism, encompassing all the organ systems operating coordinately.

Anatomical Position

• A standard frame of reference for describing human body position used in anatomical studies.
• The body is upright, standing erect, facing forward, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing forward (or anterior), with lower limbs parallel and feet directed anteriorly.

Anatomical Terms

• Anatomical terms are mainly relative.
• Most terms originate from either Latin or Greek.
• Terms are divided into terms of position and terms of movement.
• They facilitate clear communication within healthcare.

Terms of Position/Relationship

• Anterior/Posterior: Front and back.
• Medial/Lateral/Intermediate: Positions relative to the midline.
• Superior/Inferior: Above and below.
• Proximal/Distal: Closer or farther to the point of origin of a limb
• Superficial/Deep: Nearings or Farther from body surface
• Internal/External: Inside or outside.
• Ipsilateral/Contralateral: Same side or opposite side.
• Supination/Pronation: Rotation of the forearm.

Directional Terms

• Superior (Cranial): Toward the head or upper part of a body structure.
• Inferior (Caudal): Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure.
• Anterior (Ventral): Toward the front of the body.
• Posterior (Dorsal): Toward the back of the body.
• Medial: Toward the midline of the body.
• Lateral: Away from the midline of the body.
• Intermediate: Between a medial and a lateral structure.
• Proximal: Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk.
• Distal: Farther from the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of the limb to the trunk.
• Superficial: Toward the body surface.
• Deep: Away from the body surface; more internal.

Terms of Movement

• Flexion: Bending or decreasing the angle between bones.
• Extension: Straightening or increasing the angle between bones.
• Dorsiflexion: Flexion at the ankle joint (e.g., as occurs when walking uphill or lifting the toes off the ground).
• Plantar flexion: Turns the foot or toes toward the plantar surface (e.g., when standing on your toes).
• Abduction: Moving away from the median plane.
• Adduction: Moving towards the median plane
• Circumduction: Circular movement; combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.
• Rotation: Turning movement around an axis.

Anatomical Planes

• Median plane: Divides the body into right and left halves.
• Coronal (Frontal) plane: Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.
• Sagittal plane: Parallel to the median plane, dividing the body into left and right portions (can be offset).
• Transverse plane: Divides the body into superior and inferior portions (aka horizontal plane).
• Oblique plane: Cuts made diagonally across the body.

Sections of the Limbs

• Longitudinal section: A cut along the length of the limb (or body).
• Transverse section: A cut perpendicular to the length.
• Oblique section: An angled cut across the limb.

Anatomical Variation

• Human anatomical diversity exists.
• Books describe common patterns.
• Variations in size, shape, attachments of muscles and bones, and blood vessel pathways may exist between individuals impacting diagnoses.
• Individual variation must be considered in physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment.

Body Cavities

• Internal compartments of the body filled with organs to hold them in place, and to allow for changes in size and shape.
• Dorsal body cavities: Include the cranial cavity (housing the brain) and vertebral canal (enclosing the spinal cord).
• Ventral body cavities: Include the thoracic cavity (containing the heart and lungs, separated by the diaphragm) and the abdominopelvic cavity (containing abdominal and pelvic organs further divided by the diaphragm)

Thoracic Cavity

• Houses the lungs in the pleural cavities
• Houses the heart in the pericardial cavity
• Divided by the mediastinum

Abdominopelvic Cavity

• Contains the abdominal cavity (stomach, intestines, liver) and pelvic cavity (bladder, reproductive organs).

Abdominal Cavity Subdivisions (Regions and Quadrants)

• Regions and quadrants provide clinical terminology for locating organs in this area

Body System Overview

• The complete list of body systems from the introductory document is presented in the list of page 13

Body Cavities and Membranes

• Descriptions of the body cavities and membranes that line them appear in pages 44-50