Human Anatomy Structures, Systems, and Motions

What is Anatomy?

Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body—what it’s made of, where things are, and how they’re arranged.

Physiology is the study of function—how those structures work and what they do.

Example: Anatomy tells you what the heart looks like and where it’s located; physiology tells you how it pumps blood.

🧪 Levels of Organization

Biological organization spans from atoms to organ systems.

🧠 11 Systems of the Body

Respiratory

Digestive

Urinary

Reproductive

Endocrine

Lymphatic/Immune

Integumentary

Skeletal

Muscular

Cardiovascular Nervous

Systems marked with * are the focus of Kines 202.

🫁 Body Cavities

The image presents a detailed illustration of the human body's internal cavities, displayed from two distinct perspectives: lateral (side) view and anterior (front) view. The lateral view on the left and the anterior view on the right provide a comprehensive understanding of the body's internal structure. The image highlights various cavities, including the cranial, vertebral, thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities, as well as the dorsal and ventral body cavities. Notably, the ventral body cavity is further divided into the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities, with the latter comprising the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

1.  Dorsal (posterior)

Cranial

Spinal/Vertebral

2.  Ventral (anterior)

Thoracic Pleural

Pericardial

Abdominopelvic

Abdominal

Pelvic

Diaphragm: A dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

🧭 Abdominopelvic Regions

         The abdominal cavity is divided into 9 regions, each containing specific organs.

📦 Abdominopelvic Quadrants

🧍 Anatomical Position

1.  Standing upright

2.  Facing straight

3.  Feet parallel and close

4.  Palms facing forward

🧭 Directional Terms

🦴 Varus vs. Valgus

Varus: Distal segment deviates toward the midline

Valgus: Distal segment deviates away from the midline

🧭 Planes and Axes of Motion

Movements occur within a plane about an axis.

The axis runs perpendicular to the plane of motion.

Sagittal Plane | Mediolateral Axis

Divides body into left and right halves

Movements: Flexion, Extension, Dorsiflexion, Plantarflexion

Frontal Plane | Anteroposterior Axis

Divides body into front and back halves

Movements: Abduction/Adduction, Elevation/Depression,

Inversion/Eversion

Transverse Plane | Longitudinal Axis

Divides body into top and bottom halves

Movements: Rotation, Pronation/Supination, Horizontal

Abduction/Adduction

 Real-World Movement Examples

Most human movements are multi-joint, whole-body and involve multiple planes and axes.

🧩 Joint Actions Summary

Circumduction combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction in a circular motion.