Anatomy for Physical Therapy - Lecture 1

Initial lecture notes for PT 6058 covering anatomical terminology, osteology of the upper extremity, medical imaging basics, and scapulothoracic musculature.

Osteology

The anatomical study of bone.

X-ray (radiograph)

A medical image used to create visualizations of bone structure.

Radiolucent

An image showing increased radiographic density, typically appearing dark, such as air ($1$) or fat ($2$).

Radiopaque

An image showing decreased radiographic density, typically appearing light, such as bone ($4$) or metal ($5$).

Projection

The path the x-ray beam travels in a straight line from its source to the image receptor (film).

Rostral (cephalad)

Anatomical term of reference meaning toward the head or snout.

Caudal

Anatomical term of reference meaning toward the tail or inferior end.

Ventral

Term of reference synonymous with anterior, referring to the front side of the body.

Dorsal

Term of reference synonymous with posterior, referring to the back side of the body.

Manubrium

The superior portion of the sternum that features the jugular notch and articulates with the clavicles.

Sternal angle

The anatomical junction between the manubrium and the body of the sternum.

Xiphoid process

The small, cartilaginous process forming the lowest part of the sternum.

Conoid tubercle

A bony prominence on the inferior surface of the lateral clavicle serving as an attachment point for the conoid part of the coracoclavicular ligament.

Trapezoid line

A ridge on the inferior surface of the lateral clavicle for the attachment of the trapezoid part of the coracoclavicular ligament.

Glenoid

A shallow depression on the lateral scapula that articulates with the head of the humerus.

Coracoid process

A small hook-like structure on the lateral edge of the superior anterior portion of the scapula.

Anatomical neck

The narrowing of the humerus located just distal to the head and proximal to the tubercles.

Surgical neck

The constricted region of the humerus distal to the tubercles, frequently the site of fractures.

Intertubercular (bicipital) groove

A prominent furrow on the proximal humerus between the greater and lesser tubercles that houses the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii.

Capitulum

A rounded eminence on the lateral distal humerus that articulates with the head of the radius.

Trochlea

A pulley-shaped mechanical structure on the medial distal humerus that articulates with the trochlear notch of the ulna.

ORIF

Stands for Open Reduction Internal Fixation, a two-part surgical procedure where the bone is first reduced (aligned) and then an internal fixation device is applied.

Colle’s Fracture

A common distal radius fracture pattern first described in $1814$ by an Irish surgeon.

Boxer’s fracture

A break of a metacarpal bone, most commonly the $5^{th}$ metacarpal, typically caused by punching an immovable object.

Scaphoid

A proximal row carpal bone with a tubercle, noted for being a common site of fracture at its "waist."

Hamate

A distal row carpal bone characterized by a hook-like process.

Trapezius

A scapulothoracic muscle innervated by the Spinal Accessory Nerve ($CN\,XI$) that performs retraction and upward rotation of the scapula.

Levator Scapulae

A muscle originating from the transverse processes of $C1-4$ that performs elevation and downward rotation of the scapula.

Serratus Anterior

A muscle originating from the lateral aspect of the upper $8$ or $9$ ribs, innervated by the Long thoracic nerve, and responsible for protraction and upward rotation of the scapula.

Long Thoracic Nerve Palsy

A clinical condition often resulting in "winging" of the scapula due to weakness or paralysis of the serratus anterior muscle.