ANTH 176 Anatomical Terminology

Anatomical Position

• Standing erect, facing observer

• Legs together

• Feet flat and forward

• Head is level and eyes looking forward

• Hands at side with palms facing forward

Supine

Lying face (or ventral) side up

Prone

Lying face down (or dorsal side up)

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Anterior

Front

Posterior

Back

Medial

Towards midline

Lateral

Away from midline

Siding

Right/left is always relative to subject

Proximal

Toward girdle

Distal

Toward digits

Dorsal

Back side

Ventral

Belly side

Cranial

Toward head

Caudal

Toward tail

Superficial

Toward surface

Deep

Internal from surface

Anatomical directions not dependent on anatomical position

• Proximal

• Distal

• Dorsal

• Ventral

• Cranial

• Caudal

• Superficial

• Deep

Sagittal

Divides body into left and right

Coronal (frontal)

Divides body into anterior and posterior

Transverse (cross section)

Divides body into superior and inferior

Oblique

Not perpendicular to other planes

Components of the skeletal system

• Bones

• Cartilage

• Ligaments

• Teeth

Axial skeleton

Head and trunk

Appendicular skeleton

Limbs (including girdles)

Cranial skeleton

Head

Postcranial skeleton

Everything other than head

Functions of the Skeleton

• Support structure

• Mineral storage

• Hematopoiesis

• Protection of internal organs

• Provide leverage for muscles

Organic composition of bone

• Cells (osteocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts)

• Collagen fibers

• Ground substance

Inorganic composition of bone

• 65% of mass

• Hydroxyapatite Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂

Types of bone

• Compact/cortical

• Spongy/trabecular

• Articular/subchondral

Diaphysis (shaft)

• Thick collar of compact bone

• Medullary cavity

• Yellow and red marrow

Epiphysis

• End of the bones

• Compact and articular bone encapsulating spongy

• Hematopoieses

Periosteum

• Covers outer surface

• Continuous with collagen in bone

Endosteum

Covers inner surface

Articular cartilage

• Covers joint surfaces where bones meet

• Replaces periosteum

Bone structure

• Diaphysis

• Epiphysis

• Endosteum

• Periosteum

• Articular cartilage

Long bones: shaft with 2 ends

• Primarily compact bone

• Limbs (except patella and wrist)

Short bones: cube like bones

• Mostly spongy

• Patella, carpals, tarsals

Flat bones

• Thin, flattened, usually curved

• Parallel layers of compact bone with spongy between

• Sternum, ribs, skull

Irregular

• Mainly spongy with two layers of compact

• Vertebrae, skull, hips

Classes of bones

• Long

• Short

• Flat

• Irregular