Introduction to Human Anatomy

Introduction to Human Anatomy

• Human anatomy is the study of the structures of the human body and their relationships.
• It's the oldest medical science.
• The word "anatomy" comes from the Greek word "anatome," meaning "to cut up."
• Anatomy is the study of the visible structures of the body.

Objectives

• Understand basic anatomical terminology.
• Describe the anatomical position of the body.
• Know the different anatomical planes and terms of positions.
• Know the different anatomical planes and terms of movements.

Fields of Anatomy

• Anatomy can be studied through different subdivisions.
• Gross Anatomy involves studying visible structures.
• Surface Anatomy examines the external projections of internal body parts.
• Radiological Anatomy uses imaging techniques like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to study internal structures.
• Developmental Anatomy (Embryology) studies prenatal developmental changes within an individual.

Approaches to Study Anatomy

• Regional Approach: Studying each body region (head and neck, upper limb, etc.) in conjunction with its organs, muscles, nerves, vessels, and so on.
• Systemic Approach: Studying the body system (nervous, circulatory, etc.) across the whole body in detail.

Anatomical Positions

• Anatomical Position: Body erect, facing forward, feet slightly apart, palms facing forward, thumbs pointing away from the body, legs fully extended.
• Supine Position: Lying down with the face upward.
• Prone Position: Lying down with the face downward.
• Lateral Positions: lying on the side

Anatomical Planes and Lines

• Median (Sagittal) Plane: Divides the body into equal left and right halves.
• Parasagittal Plane: Divides the body into unequal left and right halves.
• Coronal (Frontal) Plane: Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.
• Transverse Plane: Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.
• Oblique Plane: Divides the body at an angle.

Anatomical Terms

• Directional Terms (Anterior, Posterior, Superior, Inferior, Medial, Lateral, Proximal, Distal, Superficial, Deep) describe the relative positions of structures.
• Surface/Regional Terms describe anatomical regions (e.g., Head and neck, thorax).
• Movement terms (Flexion, Extension, Abduction, Adduction, Rotation, Circumduction, Elevation, Depression) describe the movement of body parts.

Anatomical Terms of Solid Organs

• Superficial: toward the body surface.
• Deep: toward the core of the body.

Anatomical Terms of the Limbs

• Proximal: nearer to the trunk.
• Distal: farther from the trunk.
• Flexor Surface: Anterior surface of the upper limb and posterior surface of the lower limb.
• Extensor Surface: Posterior surface of the upper limb and anterior surface of the lower limb.

Terms Describing Movements (Examples)

• Flexion: Reduces the angle of a joint.
• Extension: Increases the angle of a joint.
• Abduction: Movement of a limb away from the midline.
• Adduction: Movement of a limb toward the midline.
• Pronation: Movement rotating a limb so that the palmar surface of the forearm (and hand) faces downward.
• Supination: Movement rotating a limb so that the palmar surface of the forearm (and hand) faces upward.
• Elevation/Depression: Raising (elevation)/lowering (depression) a body part.
• Protrusion/Retraction: moving a body part forward or backward

Other Movements

• Opposition: Movement that brings the thumb and a finger together.
• Reposition: Movement that brings the thumb and a finger apart.
• Inversion: Turning the sole of the foot inward.
• Eversion: Turning the sole of the foot outwards.
• Dorsiflexion: Bending the foot upward at the ankle joint.
• Plantar flexion: Bending the foot downward at the ankle joint.