General Anatomy PDF

# A Guide to General Anatomy ## By: Prof. NAHED KOURA ### I- Anatomical Terms and Terminology 1. Median plane is a vertical plane passing through the middle of the body, dividing it into right and left halves. 2. Medial is a structure situated nearer to the median plane. 3. A structure lies away...

# A Guide to General Anatomy ## By: Prof. NAHED KOURA ### I- Anatomical Terms and Terminology 1. Median plane is a vertical plane passing through the middle of the body, dividing it into right and left halves. 2. Medial is a structure situated nearer to the median plane. 3. A structure lies away from the median plane is said to be lateral. *By Paramedian Plane* 4. Coronal plane divides the body into anterior and posterior halves. 5. The transverse plane is an imaginary plane that divides the body or the part into upper (superior) and lower (inferior). 6. Sometimes the term ventral is used instead of front and the word dorsal instead of back. 7. The terms proximal and distal describe the relative distances from the roots of the limbs to the trunk. 8. The term ipsilateral refers to the same side of the body. 9. The term contralateral refers to the opposite side of the body. 10. The supine position of the body is said when the body is lying on the back while the prone position of the body is said when the body is lying on the face. ### II- BONES 11. The process of formation of bones is called ossification. 12. The developing long bone is divided into a middle part called diaphysis and two ends are termed epiphyses. 13. The epiphyseal plate is the only place where the growth in length of the bone can take place. 14. The cavity in the middle of the diaphysis is termed medullary cavity. 15. The outer fibrous tissue membrane investing the bone is called periosteum. 16. The bone growth in width occurs by the periosteum on its outer surface. 17. The intramembranous ossification means that the membrane of the mesenchyme directly ossifies into bone. 18. The endochondral ossification occurs when the cartilage models ossify into bones. 19. The vertebrae are examples of irregular type of bones. 20. The bones of the skull cap are an example of flat bone. 21. The humerus is considered a long bone while carpus are short bones. 22. Depressed area on a bone is called fossa. 23. The projection of a bone is called a process. 24. The thorn-like process is termed a spine. 25. The small raised eminence is called tubercle. ### III- Muscles 26. The three types of muscles are skeletal, smooth and cardiac. 27. The origin of a muscle is the attachment that moves the least. 28. The insertion of a muscle the attachment that moves the most. 29. The fleshy part of the muscle is called belly while its fibrous ends attached to the bones are called tendons. 30. The flattened muscles are attached by sheets of fibrous tissue called aponeurosis (flat tendon). 31. Flexion means approximation of two surfaces by making an angle. 32. Extension means straightening. 33. Abduction is a movement of a limb away from the midline of the body. 34. Adduction is a movement of a limb towards the midline of the body. 35. Medial rotation is the rotation towards the median plane. 36. Lateral rotation is the rotation away from the median plane. 37. Protraction is to move forward. 38. Retraction is to move backwards. 39. The chief muscle of a particular movement is called the prime mover. 40. The muscle opposes the action of the chief mover is called antagonist. 41. The muscle that stabilizes the origin of the prime mover is called fixator. 42. The muscle that prevents movements of the joints crossed by the prime mover is called synergist. 43. The skeletal muscles are called voluntary striated while the smooth muscles are involuntary because we can't control its action. 44. The action made by smooth muscles of the intestine to propel lumen contents is called peristalsis. 45. The smooth muscles consist of spindle shaped cells. 46. The smooth and cardiac muscles are supplied by the autonomic nervous system. 47. Cardiac muscles consist of striated muscle fibres that branch and unite with each other. 48. The cardiac muscles form the myocardium of the heart. 49. The specialized cardiac muscle fibers form the conductive system of the heart. 50. Superficial fascia is a subcutaneous tissue where glandular tissue of mammary gland develops in it. 51. Deep fascia is a membranous layer forming intermuscular septa, retinacula and aponeuroses.