Concept A: Anatomy and Anatomical Terminology

toolbox for further units

☆ De nition of Anatomy
Anatomy: The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.
How cells relate to each other and form tissue. How organs relate to one another. Relating blood vessels to muscles, nerves to
blood vessels, etc.

☆ Types of Anatomical Study

Microscopic Anatomy: (Needs a microscope) Examines/Visualizes the body structures that cannot be observed by the naked/
unaided eye.
Cytology: Study of single body cells and their internal structures (Study of cells)
Histology: Study of tissues examining how groups of specialized cells and their products function for a common
purpose (Study of tissues - group of cells)

Gross Anatomy (“Macroscopic Anatomy”): examines the structures and relationships of large body parts visible to the naked
eye. “Large Scale Anatomy” Key: organ systems/structures you can see with the naked eye
1. Developmental Anatomy & Embryology
Developmental Anatomy: Examines changes in structure within an individual from conception to adolescence
to maturity
Embryology: Examines developmental changes occurring prior to birth
2. Surface Anatomy
Examines both super cial anatomical body markings and internal body structures as they relate to the skin
covering them. Used as reference points in health care elds (also useful to review structures learned in BIO
2300).
Radial Artery (pulse point at wrist) is a surface/super cial anatomical feature, pulse can be felt through
the artery itself. Surface anatomy can help us identify the Radial Artery location AND can allow us to
relate structures to other structures.
We can always feel bones super cially.
Surface Anatomy (or super cial anatomy) assumes that the skin is still on and they’re usually palpating
structures deep to it.
3. Systemic Anatomy
Investigates the gross (macroscopic; large scale) anatomy of each organ system in the body.
Systemic Anatomy takes a look at the gross/large scale anatomy of a speci c organ system.
ORGAN SYSTEMS
1. Integumentary system (Skin plus another layer)
2. Skeletal system
3. Muscular system
4. Nervous system
5. Cardiovascular system (Blood Vessels, Arteries, Veins)
6. Lymphatic system
7. Endocrine system
8. Respiratory system
9. Digestive system
10. Urinary system
11. Reproductive system (male of female)
Every unit will refer to bones, muscles, and nerves
4. Regional Anatomy
Examines the relationships of all structures in a particular region of the body as one complete unit.
Ex., Upper limb has bones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Studying them together will help us visualize
them more e ectively as opposed to separately.
Visualize things together; Put together
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 Body Regions: (Latin/Greek and English/Laymen)
Cephalic (head) Axillary (armpit) Deltoid (shoulder) Patellar (kneecap)

Frontal (forehead) Brachial (arm) Lumbar (lower back) Crural (leg)

Orbital (eye) Antecubital (front of elbow) Vertebral (spinal column) Tarsal (ankle)

Buccal (cheek) Antebrachial (forearm) Olecranal (elbow) Dorsum of the foot

Mental (chin) Carpal (wrist) Dorsum of the hand Digital (toe)

Nasal (nose) Abdominal (abdomen) Pelvic Sacral

Oral (mouth) Palmar (palm) Inguinal (groin) Gluteal (buttock)

Cervical (neck) Digital (Finger) Coxal (hip) Femoral (thigh)

Sternal (sternum) - thoracic Occipital (back of head) Pubic Perineal

Pectoral (chest) - thoracic Auricular (ear) Femoral (thigh) Popliteal (back of knee)

Crural (calf) Calcaneal (heel) Plantar (sole of foot) -

☆ Anatomical Terminology (Focal Point of Concept A)

Anatomical Position (universal reference point); ALWAYS INFERRED

- Body erect
- Face/eyes forward
- Upper limbs at side
- Palms forward/Anterior
- Lower limbs parallel
- Feet/toes forward

Cadaver (or patient) Positions

Prone: Position of body lying face DOWN
Supine: Position of body lying face UP

Body Planes and Sections

Sagittal Plane: ANY vertical plane cutting the body into left & right. Can be anywhere on the body, but will cut the body
into left and right segments.
Median/Midsagittal Line: A vertical plane that passes through the MIDLINE of the body, dividing it into
EQUAL left and right halves.
Frontal/Coronal Plane: Divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions
Transverse/Horizontal Plane (Trans meaning across): Divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions
If a pane of glass was passing through the body, it would divide the body into upper/lower (superior/inferior) portions

Terms for Referencing Sides of Body

Bilateral
- Refers to both right and left sides (both sides of midline)
- Bi meaning two
- Ultimately used to refer to something somewhat similar on both sides of the body, like organs (kidneys, lungs, eyes)
Unilateral
- Occurring only on one side of body (one side of midline)
- Liver/Spleen are unilateral organs
- Uni meaning ONE
Ipsilateral
- Found on same side of body (same side comparison)
 - Usually relating two di erent things that happen to be on the same side of the body (two di erent incisions, fractures,
organs, ngers/toes)
- Ipsi means same; S in Ipsi can refer to SAME
Contralateral
- Structures on opposite sides of body (opposite side comparison)
- Left/Right side of midline

Terms of Anatomical Direction

• RELATIVE TO FRONT OR BACK OF BODY (Always assume upright; even when lying down)
Anterior - towards front/belly of the body
Posterior - towards the back of the body

• RELATIVE TO HEAD (Always uses the head as a focal point)

Inferior - farther from the head; closer to the feet
Superior - closer to the head; farther from the feet

• RELATIVE TO MIDLINE OF BODY

Lateral - farther from the midline
Medial - near the midline
We can say the rst digit (thumb) is lateral to the fth digit (pinkie) because it’s farther from the midline
Ears are lateral to the eyeballs
Eyeballs are medial to the ears
If I am comparing two structures (organs, any feature), use these terms

• RELATIVE TO CENTER OF BODY (Used commonly when looking at muscle)

Deep - further from surface
Example: Bone is a deep structure
Super cial - Closer to surface (Near to surface)
Example: Skin is the most super cial organ
Super cial layer of muscle, going further into the body is “deep”

• RELATIVE TO POINT OF ATTACHMENT OF APPENDAGES (Can also be used to designate attachments)

Proximal - Closer to beginning of limb or chosen point of reference
closer to beginning of lower limb would be hip
closer to beginning of upper limb would be shoulder
Distal - farther away from the beginning of limb or chosen point of reference
most distal feature of upper limb would be ngers/digits
Most distal feature of lower limb would be toes
Example: Comparing the ELBOW to the WRIST
The wrist would be distal to the elbow
The elbow is proximal to the wrist
“Beginning of limb”
Lower Limb — hip
Upper Limb — shoulder
Can also be used with skeletal muscle/actions; can be used to designate attachments
Muscle in arm called Biceps Brachii with a proximal/distal attachment

Remember anatomy stresses the RELATIONSHIPS among the parts of the body!!
Be sure to nd connections and see the big picture
“Landmark” or “focal points” — something to focus on and see what’s around it; it will stand out; it’s a way to orient yourself to
cadaver or bone.
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 Concept A Outline Worksheet

1. Describe anatomical position and explain its signi cance.

- Body erect, Face/Eyes forward, Upper limbs at side, Palms forward/Anterior, Lower limbs parallel, feet/toes forward.
- Important because it provides a universal reference point for all anatomical terms

2. Compare and contrast prone and supine.

- Both terms denote cadaver/patient positions; “Prone” means that the patient is lying down, “Supine” means that the patient
is lying face up

3. Describe the anatomical planes of section.

- The sagittal plane splits the body into left & right sections
- The midsagittal/median line splits the body into equal left & right sections
- The frontal/coronal plane splits the body into anterior and posterior sections
- The Transverse/Horizontal plane splits the body into superior and inferior sections

4. Compare and contrast bilateral and unilateral.

- The terms “bilateral” and “unilateral” both refer to sides of the body. The term “Bilateral” (bi meaning two) refers to both
left & right sides of the body. On the contrary, “Unilateral” (uni meaning one) refers to only one side of the body.

5. Compare and contrast ipsilateral and contralateral.

- The terms “ipsilateral” and “contralateral” are both used to refer to the position of structures relative to the sides of the
body. The phrase “Ipsilateral” (Ipsi meaning same) denotes structures found on the same side of the body. The phrase
“Contralateral” refers to structures found on opposite sides of the body.

6. De ne the terms that describe the location of a body structure relative to the front or back of body.
- Anterior - towards front/belly of the body
- Posterior - towards the back of the body

7. De ne the terms that describe the location of a body structure relative to the head.
- Inferior - farther from the head; closer to the feet
- Superior - closer to the head; farther from the feet

8. De ne the terms that describe the location of a body structure relative to the midline of the body.
- Lateral - farther from the midline
- Medial - near the midline

9. De ne the terms that describe the location of a body structure relative to the body surface.
- Deep - further from surface
- Super cial - Closer to surface (Near to surface)

10. De ne the terms that describe the location of a body structure relative to the beginning of a limb
- Proximal - Closer to beginning of limb or chosen point of reference
- Distal - farther away from the beginning of limb or chosen point of reference
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