Intro to Anatomy

What is anatomy?

  • The study/discussion about

    • Internal and external structures

    • The relationship between body stucutres and body parts

    • Organization of tissue -> organs -> systems

    • Structures -> region of the body

    • The observation of the body and how to find diseases

We look at the relationship of microscopic anatomy to gross anatomy (more gross anatomy)

Microscopic anatomy - looking at stucures that require magnification to see

Cytology - the study of cells

Histology - the study of tissue

Gross anatomy - structures that we can see with a naked eye, larger strucures that make up the body both internally and externally

  • Surface anatomy - the general atomical form (the surface of the body)

    • Things visible by just looking at the body

    • Some may be palpable Ex: feeling the bumps of the spine on your back

  • Regional anatomy - structures located at a specific part of the body

    • Ex: the head is a region despite having different system in it

  • Systemic anatomy - the study of the organ systems of the body

Levels of organization (simple to complex)

  • Chemical/molecular level

    • Four elements (hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen) make up more than 99% of the body

    • Major classes of molecules include water (66%), protein (20%), lipids (10%) and carbohydrates (3%)

  • Cellular level

    • Smallest living unit in the body, contain organelles

  • Tissue level

    • 4 types: muscular, neural, connective, epithelial

  • Organ level

    • Made up of a combinations of tissue (Ex: the heart is made up of all 4)

  • Organ system level

    • 11 different systems

    • Intgumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive

  • Organism level

Homeostasis - maintaining a relatively constant internal environment suitable for the survival of cells, tissue, and organ systems

Disease - the result of the body failing to maintain homeostasis

Pathology - the study of disease

The language of anatomy

  • Used for communication purposes

  • Used to give percise information

  • Latin and greek words are the basis of numerous anatomical terms

  • Everything must be constant/universal so everyone can understand what is being said

    • Best to be objective and quantify when possible

Superficial anatomy - things that are noticeable when just looking at a person

  • Ex: skin tone, symmetry, posture, movement

    • Things that can give an indication to a person’s health (if they have a disease/infection)

Anatomical Landmarks - prominet structures and usually palpable or visible to the eye

  • Important when looking or measuring for symmetry

Anatomical position - the person is standing, feet flat on the floor with both hands hanging on their side with their palms facing (palm and face are in the same direction)

This position is the “univeral” position that is used in all other stances

Supine - the person is laying flat on their back

Prone - the person is laying face down

Anatomical Directions

The most common directional terms used are:

Superior (cranial) - towards the top of the head

Inferior (caudal) - towards the feet

Ex: the chest is superior to the hips

The feet are inferior to the hips

Anterior (ventral) - towards the front of the body

Posterior (dorsal) - towards the back of the body

Ex: the breast are anterior to the spine

Medial - closer to the midline/center of the body

Lateral - towards the side of the body

Ex: the belly button is medial to the hips

Superficial - more towards the surface of the body

Deep - deeper in the body

Ex: the skin is superficial to the bone

Proximal - closer to the attachment to the body

Distal - further from the attachment to the body

Ex: Proximal - shoulder is proximal to the elbow which is proximal to the fingers

Distal - fingers are distal to the shoulder and elbow

Sectional Anatomy

Planes and sections

  • Sagittal plane - runs down the body (superior to inferior)

    • Midsagittal - runs down the midline of the body

    • Parasagittal - runs down off centered

  • Transverse plane - divides the body horizontally creating a superior and inferior sections

  • Frontal/coronal plane - splits the body from left to right creating an anterior and posterior sections

  • Oblique plane - diagonal planes