Introduction of Anatomy

Dr. Komal Iftikhar

DPT, MS-PM*

Definition

• Anatomy is the branch of science that deals with the study of the structure of the plants and animals.
• Human anatomy is the study of the structure of different parts and organs of the human body and also the inter-relation of various structures that constitute these parts and organs.

Branches of anatomy

• Gross anatomy: also called macroscopic anatomy. Study of those structures of the body that can be distinguished with the naked eye without the help of any visual aid.
• Histology: called as microscopic anatomy. It is the study of the finer details of the body structures with the help of microscope.

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Branches of anatomy

• Embryology: called as developmental anatomy. It is the study of human development before birth.

Anatomical position

• The body is regarded as standing erect, eyes looking forwards to the horizon, the upper limbs hanging by the sides with the palms of the hands directed forwards and the feet are together with toes pointing forwards.
• Purpose: terms of reference to the human body are standardized to refer to a universally accepted anatomical position.

Anatomical position

• Standing erect with eyes looking forward

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• Arms by the side of body and palm facing forward

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• Feet together

Planes of the body

• Purpose: to facilitate the description of the relations various imaginary planes have been proposed.
• It refers to the human body as a whole, a specific region of the body or an individual organ.
• Body should be in the anatomical position
• Median plane
• Sagittal plane
• Coronal plane
• Transverse plane

Median plane

• A vertical plane that divides the right and left sides of the body lengthwise along the midline into externally symmetrical sections.
• Also called mid-sagittal plane.
• Edges of this plane on front and back of the body are known as anterior and posterior median lines, respectively.

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Sagittal plane

• Any plane parallel to the mid-sagittal plane
• It separates the body into asymmetrical right and left sections

Coronal plane

• Any vertical side to side plane at right angles to the median plane is called coronal or frontal plane

Transverse plane

• If the body is divided horizontally into upper and lower sections we get a transverse or horizontal plane.
• It is at right angles to the mid-sagittal, sagittal and coronal planes.

Anatomic terminology

• The language of the anatomy
• To provide effective communication among the anatomists all over the world, anatomical terms are standardized.
• E.g cardium=heart
• myo=muscle
• So, myocardium=muscles of heart

Descriptive terms

• Two types:
• terms of position
• terms of movement

Terms of position

• The terms used to describe the position or relationship of a structure.
• These are relative as they describe the relation of a structure in relationship to other structures of the body.

Terms of position

Terms of position

Some exceptions

• In the head, neck and trunk alternative terms are used.
• Anterior ventral
• Posterior dorsal
• Superior cranial or cephalic
• Inferior caudal(toward the tail)

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Ventral-dorsal

Cranial-caudal

Terms of movement

• Movements at the joint
• Flexion: a bending movement in which angle between two bones is decreased
• Extension: a straightening position in which the angle between two bones is increased. opposite to flexion
• Abduction: moving the limb away from the median plane of the body
• Adduction: reverse of abduction. It is the movement of the limb toward the median plane of the body

Exception in hand and foot

• Median line of hand passes through middle finger
• Median line of foot passes through second toe

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• ABDUCTION IN HAND AND FOOT:
• Spreading of fingers and toes
• ADDUCTION IN HAND AND FOOT:
• bringing together of fingers and toes

Terms of movement

• Rotation: movement of a body part along its own long axis.
• Medial rotation: when the anterior surface moves medially
• Lateral rotation: when the anterior surface moves laterally

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Terms of movement

• Circumduction: combination movement.
• In this movement a part is moved successively through flexion, abduction, extension and adduction.

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Terms of movement

• Pronation and supination: movements limited to the forearm and hand
• In anatomical position forearm and hand are supinated
• Pronation: when the dorsum of the hand is turned forward without rotation of upper arm.
• Supination: turning the hand back to the anatomical position so that the palm face forwards
• Supinated hand: palm faces ceiling
• In pronated hand: palm faces downwards

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Terms of movement

• Inversion and eversion: movement limited to foot
• Inversion: is the movement that turns the sole of the foot inward or medially (as in standing on the lateral border of the foot)
• Eversion: turning the sole outward or laterally as happens when a person tries to stand on the medial border of his foot..

Terms of movement

• Plantar flexion and dorsiflexion: limited to foot

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• Protraction: forward movement
• Retraction : backward movement

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Opposition and reposition

• During opposition thumb is brought to touch and to oppose a finger pad of the extended fingers.
• Reposition is the reverse movement that returns the thumb to anatomical position

Terms of laterality

• Bilateral
• Unilateral
• Ipsilateral
• Contralateral

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