Human Anatomy Module 1

The Skeletal System

Regional Approach

studying one region or part at a time

Systemic Approach

studying one system at a time

Anatomical Position

• Standing upright with feet together

• Hands by the side

• Face looking forward. 

• The mouth is closed and the facial expression is neutral. 

• The rim of bone under the eyes is in the same horizontal plane as the top of the opening to the ear. 

• The eyes are open and focused on something in the distance. 

• The palms of the hands face forward with the fingers straight 

• The toes point forward.

Coronal planes

vertically divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

Sagittal planes

vertically divides the body into right and left parts

Median sagittal plane

divides the body into equal right and left parts

Transverse, horizontal, or axial plane

horizontally divides the body into superior and inferior parts

Anterior or Ventral

to the front

Posterior or Dorsal

to the back

Medial

closer to the midline

Lateral

further from the midline

Superior

closer to the top

Inferior

further from the top

Proximal

closer to attachment

Distal

further from the top

Cranial

toward the head

Caudal

toward the tail

Superficial

closer to the surface

Deep

further from the surface

Right hypochondriac region

Top left square in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Epigastric region

Center top square in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Left Hypochondriac region

Top right square in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Right Lateral Region

Left square of the middle row in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Umbilical Region

Center square in the middle row in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Left Lateral Region

Right square in the middle row in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Right inguinal region

Bottom left square in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Pubic region

Bottom center square in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Left Inguinal Region

Bottom right square in the 3×3 grid of the abdomin

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Top left square in the 2×2 grid of the abdomin

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Top right square in the 2×2 grid of the abdomin

Right lower quadrant (RLQ)

Bottom Left square in the 2×2 grid of the abdomin

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Bottom Right square in the 2×2 grid of the abdomin

X-ray (Plain Radiography)

X-rays pass through the body, and are attenuated (reduced in energy) by tissue

• Air attenuates x-rays a little

• Fat attenuates more than air

• Bone attenuates the most

X-ray with Contrast

IV iodine is given to the patient before x-rays are taken in order to see parts of the body more clearly

Ultrasound (US)

a very-high-frequency sound wave interpreted by a powerful computer, and a real-time image is produced on the display panel

Doppler ultrasound

uses the doppler effect to determine flow and direction (usually used on blood vessels)

Computed Tomography (CT)

obtains a series of images of the body (slices) in the transverse plane

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

uses a strong magnetic field that is reflected by the hydrogen ions found in the water of our cells

Axial portion

The head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular Portion

The upper and lower limbs

Cranial cavity

Houses the brain

Vertebral canal (Spinal Cavity)

Contains the spinal cord

Thoracic cavity

houses the lungs and thoracic viscera

Abdominopelvic cavity

contains abdominal and pelvic viscera

Serous membrane

a double layered membrane that secretes serous fluid (slippery fluid that prevents friction between layers) found in the tharacic and abdominopelvic cavities

Visceral layer

the inner layer of the serous membrane, which covers an organ

Parietal layer

the outer layer of the serous membrane, which lines the wall of the the cavity