Unit 1: Introduction to anatomical terms
organization of the human body
a) Anatomical terms
b) Systems and cavities of the human body
What is anatomy?
The study of the structure of the body that can be seen
without using a microscope.
Anatomy forms the basis for the practice of medicine.
Gross anatomy can be studied following either a regional or
a systemic approach.
Regional approach
Each region of the body is studied separately and all aspects of
that region are studied at the same time.
Systemic approach
Each system of the body is studied and followed through out
entire body.
Regional anatomy
Head and neck
Limb
Upper limb
Lower limb
Trunk
Thorax and back
Abdomen
Perineum
Systemic anatomy
Skeletal system
Articular system (deals with joints of the body and
the surrounding tissues)
Muscular system
Nervous system
Circular system
Gastrointestinal system
Respiratory system
Urinary system
Integumentary system
ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY
Positions:
Anatomical position: When a
person is standing straight with
eyes looking forwards, both
arms by the side of the body,
palms facing forwards, and
both feet together, the position
is the anatomical position
CONT…
Supine position: When a
person is lying on her/his
back, arms by the side, palms
facing upwards, and feet put
together, the position is
supine position
Prone position: Person lying
on his/her face, chest, and
abdomen is said to be in a
prone position.
CONT…
Lithotomy position: Person lying on her back with
legs up and feet supported in straps. This position
is mostly used during delivery of the baby.
ANATOMICAL PLANS
A plane passing through the
center of the body dividing it into
two equal right and left halves, is
the median or midsagittal plane.
Plane parallel to median or
midsagittal plane is the sagittal
plane.
A plane at right angles to sagittal
or median plane which divides
the body into anterior and
posterior halves is called a
coronal plane
CONT…
A plane at right angles to
both sagittal and coronal
planes which divides the
body into upper and
lower parts is called a
transverse
horizontal plane
CONT…
Oblique plane: Any other plane
other than coronal, transverse
and midsagittal is called an
oblique plane.
TERMS RELATED TO BODY MOVEMENTS
Movements in general at synovial
joints are divided into four main
categories.
1. Gliding movement: Relatively flat
surfaces move back and forth and
from side to side with respect to one
another. The angle between
articulating bones does not change
significantly.
3. Angular movements: The angle between articulating bones
decreases or increases.
• In flexion there is a decrease in the angle between articulating
bones
• In extension, there is an increase in the angle between
articulating bones.
• Lateral flexion is a movement of the trunk sideways to the right
or left at the waist.
• Adduction is a movement of the bone toward the midline
whereas abduction is a movement of bone away from the
midline.
3. Special movements: These occur only at certain joints, e.g.
inversion, eversion, protraction, retraction, elevation, depression,
dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, supination, pronation, and opposition.
4. Rotation: A bone revolves around
its own longitudinal axis.
In medial rotation anterior surface
of a bone of a limb is turned toward
the midline.
In lateral rotation anterior surface
of a bone of a limb is turned away
from the midline.
Terms use in upper limb
Flexion: When two flexor surfaces are brought close to each other,
e.g. in the elbow joint when front of arm and forearm move close to
each other.
Extension: When extensor or dorsal surfaces are brought in as much
approximation as possible, e.g. straighten the forearm at the elbow
joint.
Abduction of shoulder:
When a limb is taken away
from the body.
Adduction of shoulder:
When a limb is brought
close to the body.
Flexion of
shoulder. If an
arm is taken
towards the
front of the
chest wall.
Extension: Arm
is taken
backward and
laterally
Circumduction: It is a
movement of the distal end of
a part of the body in a circle.
A combination of extension,
abduction, flexion, and
adduction in a sequence is
called circumduction as in
bowling.
Supination: When the palm is
facing forwards or upwards, as in
putting food in the mouth.
Pronation: When the palm faces
backwards or downwards, as in
picking food with fingers from the
plate.
Adduction of digits/fingers:
When all the fingers get
together.
Abduction: When all fingers
separate. The axis of
movement of fingers is the
line passing through thecentre
of the middle finger
Opposition of thumb: When tip
of the thumb touches the tips of
any of the fingers.
Circumduction of thumb:
Movement of extension,
abduction, flexion, and
adduction in sequence.
Flexion of thumb: When the
thumb is taken across the palm.
Extension of thumb: When the
thumb is taken backward in the
plane of the palm
Abduction of thumb: When the
thumb is put vertically at right angles
to the plane of the palm.
Adduction of thumb: When the
thumb is in close contact with the
lateral side of index finger.
Flexion of wrist: When palm comes
closer to the front of forearm.
Extension of wrist: When the dorsum
of hand comes closer to back of the
forearm.
Flexion of metacarpophalangeal and
interphalangeal joints: When attempting to
make a fist.
Extension of metacarpophalangeal and
interphalangeal joints: When opening the fist.
In Lower Limb
Flexion of thigh: When the front of
thigh comes close to or in contact
with front of the abdomen
Extension of thigh: When a person
stands erect.
Abduction: When the thigh is taken
away from the median plane.
Adduction: When the thigh is
brought close to the median plane.
Flexion of knee: When the back of thigh and back of
the leg come close to or are in opposition
Extension of the knee: When thigh and leg are in a
straight line as in standing.
Dorsiflexion of foot: When dorsum of the
foot is brought close to front of the leg and
sole faces forward.
Plantar flexion of foot: When the sole of
foot or plantar aspect of foot faces
backward.
Inversion of foot: When the medial border
of the foot is raised from the ground.
Eversion of foot: When the lateral border
of the foot is raised from the ground
In the Neck
Flexion: When face comes closer to
chest.
Extension: When face is taken away
from the chest.
Lateral flexion: When ear is brought
close to shoulder.
Rotation: When neck rotates so that the
chin goes to the opposite side.
Opening the mouth: When lower jaw is
lowered to open the mouth
Closure of the mouth: When the lower jaw is opposed to
the upper jaw, closing the mouth.
Protraction: When the lower jaw slides forward in its
socket in the temporal bone of the skull.
Retraction: When the lower jaw slides backward in its
socket in the temporal bone of the skull