anatomical terms and planes

What is anatomy?

Anatomy is the science that deals with the structure of the human body

Why is anatomy important in medicine?

It forms the foundation of medicine and introduces medical terminology

What language does medicine speak according to the notes?

Medicine speaks in the language of anatomy

Where does the word anatomy come from?

It comes from the Greek word anatome

What does ana mean in the word anatome?

Up

What does tome mean in the word anatome?

Cut

What does anatome mean?

Cutting up

What is gross or cadaveric anatomy?

The study of body structures on embalmed dead bodies

What does embalmed mean?

Preserved to prevent the body from rapidly decomposing

What are the two main ways gross anatomy can be studied?

Regional anatomy and systemic anatomy

What is regional anatomy?

Studying anatomy according to specific regions or parts of the body

What are examples of regions studied in regional anatomy?

Upper limb and lower limb and thorax and abdomen and head and neck and brain

What is systemic anatomy?

Studying anatomy system by system throughout the body

What is osteology?

The study of the skeletal system

What is myology?

The study of the muscular system

What is neurology in systemic anatomy?

The study of the nervous system

What is angiology?

The study of the vascular system ( blood vessels )

What is arthrology?

The study of the articulatory system or joints

What is splanchnology?

The study of systems such as the respiratory and digestive systems

What is the main difference between regional and systemic anatomy?

Regional anatomy studies everything in one body region while systemic anatomy studies one system throughout the body

What is living anatomy?

The study of anatomy in living human beings

What is inspection?

Studying a patient by looking at the body

What is palpation?

Studying body structures by feeling them with the hands

What is auscultation?

Listening to sounds produced inside the body

What instrument can be used for auscultation of the heartbeat?

A stethoscope

What is endoscopy?

Using an instrument to look inside the body

What is bronchoscopy?

Endoscopic examination of the airways

What is gastroscopy?

Endoscopic examination of the stomach or upper digestive tract

What is sigmoidoscopy?

Endoscopic examination of part of the large intestine

What does ECG record?

The electrical activity of the heart

What is applied or clinical anatomy?

The application of anatomical knowledge in medical and surgical practice

Why is basic anatomical knowledge important clinically?

It is needed for the clinical practice of medicine

What is histology?

The study of body tissues with the aid of a microscope

What is another name for histology?

Microscopic anatomy

What happens to a biopsy or tissue sample before microscopic examination?

It is cut into thin sections and stained

What is the routine stain used in histology according to the notes?

H&E

What does H&E stand for?

Haematoxylin and Eosin

Why are tissue sections stained?

To make tissue structures easier to see under a microscope

What is embryology?

The study of the growth and development of the fetus inside the uterus

What is another name for embryology?

Developmental anatomy

What does prenatal mean?

Before birth

What does embryology study in relation to prenatal development?

Changes that occur during growth and development before birth

What is neuroanatomy?

The study of the structure and organization of the nervous system

What is topographic anatomy?

The study of deeper body structures in relation to the skin surface ( feeling the surface to see whats under )

What is another name for topographic anatomy?

Surface anatomy

Why is surface anatomy useful?

It is helpful in clinical practice and surgical operations

What is radiographic and imaging anatomy?

The study of deeper body structures using radiographic and imaging techniques

What imaging techniques are mentioned in the notes?

Plain radiography and contrast radiography and CT scans

What is the anatomical position?

The standard body position used when describing anatomy

How is a person standing in the anatomical position?

The person stands straight with the eyes looking directly forward

Where are the arms in anatomical position?

At the sides of the body

Which direction do the palms face in anatomical position?

Forward

How are the feet positioned in the anatomical position according to the notes?

Together

Why is the anatomical position important?

It provides one standard position for describing where body structures are located

What is the supine position?

Lying down with the face directed upward

Where are the arms in the supine position according to the notes?

By the sides of the body

Which direction do the palms face in the supine position?

Upward

What is an easy way to remember supine?

Supine means face up

What is the prone position?

Lying down with the face directed downward

What is an easy way to remember prone?

Prone means face down

What is the lithotomy position?

A position where a person lies supine with the hips and knees flexed and the feet supported in straps

What is a body plane?

A flat surface along which the body can be divided into sections

What is the median or midsagittal plane?

A plane passing through the center of the body and dividing it into equal right and left halves

What does the midsagittal plane divide the body into?

Equal right and left halves

What is a sagittal plane?

A plane parallel to the median plane

What does a sagittal plane divide the body into?

Right and left parts

What is the difference between a midsagittal plane and a sagittal plane?

The midsagittal plane creates equal right and left halves while a sagittal plane does not have to create equal halves

What is the coronal plane?

A plane at a right angle to the sagittal or median plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

What is another name for the coronal plane?

Frontal plane

What does the coronal plane divide the body into?

Anterior or front and posterior or back parts

What is the transverse plane?

A plane at a right angle to the sagittal and coronal planes that divides the body into upper and lower parts

What does the transverse plane divide the body into?

Superior and inferior parts

What is an oblique plane?

Any plane other than the main anatomical planes

Which plane divides the body into equal right and left halves?

Median or midsagittal plane

Which plane divides the body into right and left parts?

Sagittal plane

Which plane divides the body into front and back parts?

Coronal plane

Which plane divides the body into upper and lower parts?

Transverse plane

What does anterior mean?

In front or nearer to the front surface of the body

What is another term for anterior?

Ventral

What does posterior mean?

Behind or nearer to the back surface of the body

What is another term for posterior?

Dorsal

What does superior mean?

Toward or nearer to the head

What are other terms for superior?

Cranial or cephalic

What does inferior mean?

Nearer to the feet

What is another term for inferior?

Caudal

What does medial mean?

Nearer to the median plane

What is an example of a medial relationship from the notes?

The heart is medial to the humerus

What does lateral mean?

Away from the median plane

What is an example of a lateral relationship from the notes?

The humerus is lateral to the heart

What is the relationship between anterior and posterior?

Anterior means toward the front while posterior means toward the back

What is the relationship between superior and inferior?

Superior means toward the head while inferior means toward the feet

What is the relationship between medial and lateral?

Medial means toward the midline while lateral means away from the midline

What term replaces posterior when describing the hand?

Dorsal

What term replaces anterior when describing the hand?

Palmar

What does palmar refer to?

The palm side of the hand

What does dorsal refer to on the hand?

The back of the hand

What is the superior surface of the foot called?

The dorsum of the foot

What term describes the inferior surface of the foot?

Plantar

What does plantar refer to?

The sole or inferior surface of the foot

What does proximal mean?

Nearer to the trunk or point of origin