Human Body Orientation and Organization

What is gross anatomy?

Large structures that are easy observable

What is the study of anatomy?

Study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts. Observation is used to see the sizes and relationships of parts.

Major regions of the body (8)

Head

Neck

Thorax

Abdomen

Back

Pelvis/perineum

Upper extremities

Lower extremities

Systemic Anatomy

Organized by organ systems to carry out complex functions.

Body Systems (9)

Integumentary

Skeletal

Articular

Muscular

Nervous

Digestive/Alimentary

Urinary

Reproductive

Endocrine

Clinical Anatomy

Especially important for medicine, dentistry, and allied health sciences.

Regional and systematic study of anatomy and stresses clinical application.

Anatomical position

The standard position of the body used as a reference in anatomy, where the body is standing upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

Superior (cranial or cephalic)

Toward the head or upper part of a structure or the body; ABOVE

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; BELOW

Anterior (ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body; IN FRONT OF

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward or at the backside of the body; behind

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; ON THE INNER SIDE OF

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; ON THE OUTER SIDE OF

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure

Proximal

Close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment to a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface; more internal

Sagittal place

Divides into left and right

Median, or midsagittal section dives the body into equal left and right.

Frontal (coronal) section

Divides into anterior and posterior parts

Transverse (cross) plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior sections.

Dorsal body cavity

The cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord, providing protection and support.

1. Cranial: Protected by skull

2. Spinal: Protected by vertebrae

Ventral body cavity

The cavity that houses the thoracic and abdominopelvic organs, providing a space for their function and protection.

Separated by the diaphragm

1. Thoracic cavity

2. Abdominopelvic cavity

Thoracic cavity

Superior to the diaphragm

Houses heart, lungs, and organs

Mediastinum, the central region, houses heart, trachea, and other organs.

Protected by the rib cage

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Cavity inferior to the diaphragm

Superior abdominal cavity: liver, stomach, protected only by trunk muscles

Inferior pelvic cavity: reproductive organs, bladder, rectum. Protected somewhat by bony pelvis

Axial Skeleton (4)

Bones from skull, laryngeal skeleton, vertebral column, rib cage.

Appendicular skeleton

Bones from the upper and lower extremities, shoulder girdle, and pelvis

Sagittal plane movements

Flexion and extension

Frontal plane movements

Abduction and adduction

Transverse plane movements

Internal and external rotation