AAOS Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured Eleventh Edition - Chapter 6 The Human Body

topographic anatomy

The superficial landmarks of the body that serve as guides to the structures that lie beneath them.

anatomic position

This is a position of reference in which the patient stands facing you, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands forward.

coronal plane

An imaginary plane where the body is divided into front and back parts.

transverse (axial) plane

top and bottom

sagittal (lateral) plane

left and right

midsagittal plane (midline)

left and right equal halves

anterior (ventral)

The front surface of the body

posterior (dorsal)

The back surface of the body

right and left

refer to the patient's right and left

superior

closest to the head

inferior

closest to the feet

proximal

closest to the point of attachment

distal

farthest from the point of attachment

medial (inner)

closest to the midline

lateral (outer)

farthest from the midline

superficial

closest to the surface of the skin

deep

farthest from the surface of the skin

palmar

the front region of the hand

plantar

the bottom of the foot

apex (plural apices)

tip of a structure, pointed extremity of a conical structure

flexion

bending of a joint

extension

straightening of a joint

adduction

motion toward the midline

abduction

motion away from the midline

bilateral

A body part that appears on both sides of the midline.

quadrants

RUQ = right upper quadrant

LUQ = left upper quadrant

RLQ = right lower quadrant

LLQ = left lower quadrant

prone and supine

terms that describe body position, the body is in prone position when lying face down, the body is in supine position when lying face up

Fowler's position

semi-reclining position with the head elevated to allow patient to breathe easier, knees bent

Trendelenburg's Position

supine position on an incline with feet elevated 6 " - 12" above head to keep blood in the core of the body

shock position

modified Trendelenburg's position, the head and torso are supine and lower extremities are elevated to help increase blood flow to the brain

skeleton

The framework that gives the body its recognizable form, also designed to allow motion fothe body and protection of vital organs. 206 bones

ligaments

connect bones to bones

tendons

connect muscles to bones

cartilage

soft, semiflexible material found within the joints

axial skeleton

forms the foundation on which the arms and legs are hung, skull, face, thoracic cage, and vertebral column

appendicular skeleton

arms, legs, pelvis and shoulder girdle

thoracic cage

chest or rib cage

thorax

contains the heart, lungs and great vessels

part of the torso

cranium

part of the skull composed of four major bones that fuse together to form a shell above the eyes and ears

foramen magnum

large opening at the base of the skull where the spinal cord connects to the brain

occiput

the most posterior part of the cranium

temporal bone

the lateral portions on each side of the cranium

parietal bones

The bones that lie between the temporal and occipital regions of the cranium

frontal bone

frontal region of the cranium

face

composed of 14 bones

maxillae

the upper, non-moveable jawbones

zygomas

cheekbones

mandible

lower moveable portion of the jaw

orbit (eye socket)

made up of two facial bones, the maxilla and the zygoma, and the frontal bone of the cranium

spinal column

composed of 33 bones called vertebrae

vertebrae

named according the section (5) of the spine and numbered from top to bottom

cervical spine

The first seven vertebrae (C1-C7) in the neck. The atlas is the first cervical vertebra on which the skull rests

thoracic spine

The second 12 vertebrae. One pair of ribs is attached to each of the thoracic vertebrae

lumbar spine

the lower part of the back, formed by the lowest five nonfused veterbrae, also called the dorsal spine

sacrum

the five sacral vertebrae are fused together to form one bone joined to the iliac bones of the pelvis at the sacroiliac joints to form the pelvis

coccyx

the last three or four vertebrae of the spine, the tail bone

thoracic cavity (chest)

contains the heart, lungs, esophagus and great vessels (aorta and two venae cavae)

sternum

the midline of the chest

three components: manubrium, body and xiphoid process

manubrium

upper section of the sternum

xiphoid process

the cartilaginous tip of the sternum

shoulder girdle

where the clavicle, scapula and humerus come together allowing the arm to be moved

clavicle (collarbone)

overlies the superior boundaries of the thorax in front and articulates (joins) posteriorly with the scapula

scapula (shoulder blade)

lies in the muscular tissue of the posterior thoracic wall

diaphragm

A muscular dome that forms the under surface of the thorax separating the chest from the abdominal cavity. Contraction of this brings air into the lungs. Relaxation allows air to be expelled from the lungs.

humerus

supporting bone of the arm

ulna

larger in the proximal forearm, medial side

radius

larger in the distal forearm, lateral side

wrist

modified ball and socket joint formed by the ends of the radius and ulna and eight carpal bones

metacarpals

five bones extending from the carpal bones serve as a base for each finger

phalanges

bones that make up the fingers

pelvic bones

formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium and pubis

ilium

one of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring

ischium

one of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring

pubis

one of three bones that fuse to form the pelvic ring

pubic symphysis

anterior side of the pelvis where the left pubis and right pubis are joined, has cartilage

acetabulum (pelvic girdle)

the depression on the lateral pelvis where its three component bones join, socket in which the ball of the femur fits

femur (thigh bone)

the longest and one of the strongest bones in the body

femoral head

ball-like structure at the superior end of the femur where the femur connects to the acetabulum

greater trochanter

a bony prominence on the proximal lateral side of the thigh just below the hip line

lesser trochanter

the projection on the medial/superior portion of the femur

patella (kneecap)

anterior knee bone

tibia (shin bone)

larger of the lower leg bones, anterior of the leg

fibula

lower leg bone, lies on the lateral side of the leg

foot

contains seven tarsal bones, talus (ankle), calcaneus (heel), five metatarsal and 14 phalanges (two in the big toe and three in each of the smaller toes)

joint articulation

wherever two long bones come in contact

symphysis

a joint with limited motion in which teh bone ends are held together by fibrous tissue

joint capsule

fibrous sac that holds the bone ends of a joint together, composed of ligaments

sacroiliac joint

joint at the back of the pelvis, surrounded by tough, thick ligaments and has little motion

synovial membrane

tissue on the inner lining of the joint capsule, responsible for making synovial fluid

synovial fluid

allows the ends of the bones to glide over each other

ball-and-socket joint

allows rotation and bending (shoulder)

hinge joints

motion is restricted to one plane (fingers, elbow, knee)

flex and extend

bend and straighten

musculoskeletal system

refers to the bones and voluntary muscles of the body, shapes form and posture, allows movement and protects internal organs, contains over 600 skeletal muscles

smooth muscle

found within blood vessels and intestines

cardiac muscles

found only in the heart

skeletal muscle

muscle that is attached to bones and usually crosses at least one joint; striated or voluntary muscle.

biceps

located on the anterior aspect of the humerus, moves the lower part of the arm toward the head

triceps

three bundles of muscle that join together at the elbow, works opposite the bicep

respiratory system

all the structures of the body that contribute to respiration, includes nose, mouth, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, lungs, diaphram