Anatomy and Anatomical Study

Chapter 1: Objectives

  • Define anatomy and approaches to anatomical study
  • Discuss the levels (or hierarchy) of materials that make up our bodies
  • Briefly list the organ systems of the body
  • Briefly describe medical techniques used to view anatomy
  • Learn basic anatomical terminology

Definitions of the Field

Anatomy

  • Definition: The study of the STRUCTURE of the body.
  • Key components of anatomy:
    • Naming parts and pieces.
    • Identifying interrelationships among parts (e.g., Muscle X is attached to bone Y at a specific spot called Z).
    • Overall organization of the body's components.

Physiology

  • Definition: The study of the FUNCTION of the body and its individual parts.
  • Key aspects of physiology:
    • Describing how each part works (e.g., How do muscle cells of the heart contract?).
    • Understanding how parts work together to accomplish common tasks (e.g., How do muscle cells and electrical cells work together to pump blood?).

Anatomy Disciplines

Microscopic Anatomy

  • Cytology: Study of cells.
  • Histology: Study of tissues.

Macroscopic Anatomy

  • Various subtypes include:
    • Developmental Anatomy
    • Regional Anatomy
    • Surface Anatomy
    • Systemic Anatomy
    • Comparative Anatomy
  • Subspecialties:
    • Pathology
    • Radiology/Medical Imaging
    • Surgical Anatomy

Body Systems Overview

Focus on Body Systems

  • Important components to learn for this course include:
    • Names of all 11 body systems.
    • Main components of each system.
    • Basic functions of each system.

Organ Systems Descriptions

The Integumentary System

  • Major Organs:
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Sweat glands
    • Nails
  • Functions:
    • Protects against environmental hazards.
    • Helps regulate body temperature.
    • Provides sensory information.

The Muscular System

  • Major Organs:
    • Skeletal muscles and associated tendons.
  • Functions:
    • Provides movement.
    • Provides protection and support for other tissues.
    • Generates heat that maintains body temperature.

The Skeletal System

  • Major Organs:
    • Bones
    • Cartilages
    • Associated ligaments
    • Bone marrow
  • Functions:
    • Provides support and protection for other tissues.
    • Stores calcium and other minerals.
    • Forms blood cells.

The Nervous System

  • Major Organs:
    • Brain
    • Spinal cord
    • Peripheral nerves
    • Sense organs
  • Functions:
    • Directs immediate responses to stimuli.
    • Coordinates or moderates activities of other organ systems.
    • Provides and interprets sensory information about external conditions.

The Lymphatic System

  • Major Organs:
    • Spleen
    • Thymus
    • Lymphatic vessels
    • Lymph nodes
    • Tonsils
  • Functions:
    • Defends against infection and disease.
    • Returns tissue fluids to the bloodstream.

The Digestive System

  • Major Organs:
    • Teeth
    • Tongue
    • Pharynx
    • Esophagus
    • Stomach
    • Small intestine
    • Large intestine
    • Liver
    • Gallbladder
    • Pancreas
  • Functions:
    • Processes and digests food.
    • Absorbs and conserves water.
    • Absorbs nutrients (ions, water, and the breakdown products of dietary sugars, proteins, and fats).
    • Stores energy reserves.

The Respiratory System

  • Major Organs:
    • Nasal cavities
    • Sinuses
    • Larynx
    • Trachea
    • Bronchi
    • Lungs
    • Alveoli
  • Functions:
    • Delivers air to alveoli (sites in lungs for gas exchange).
    • Provides oxygen to the bloodstream.
    • Removes carbon dioxide from the bloodstream.
    • Produces sounds for communication.

The Urinary System

  • Major Organs:
    • Kidneys
    • Ureters
    • Urinary bladder
    • Urethra
  • Functions:
    • Excretes waste products from the blood.
    • Controls water balance by regulating volume of urine produced.
    • Stores urine prior to voluntary elimination.
    • Regulates blood ion concentrations and pH.

The Male Reproductive System

  • Major Organs:
    • Testes
    • Epididymis
    • Ductus deferens
    • Seminal vesicles
    • Prostate gland
    • Penis
    • Scrotum
  • Functions:
    • Produces male sex cells (sperm) and hormones.

The Endocrine System

  • Major Organs:
    • Pituitary gland
    • Thyroid gland
    • Pancreas
    • Adrenal glands
    • Gonads (testes and ovaries)
    • Endocrine tissues in other systems
  • Functions:
    • Directs long-term changes in the activities of other organ systems.
    • Adjusts metabolic activity and energy use by the body.
    • Controls many structural and functional changes during development.

The Female Reproductive System

  • Major Organs:
    • Ovaries
    • Uterine tubes
    • Uterus
    • Vagina
  • Functions:
    • Produces female sex cells (oocytes) and hormones.
    • Supports developing embryo from conception to delivery.
    • Provides milk to nourish newborn infant.

The Cardiovascular System

  • Major Organs:
    • Heart
    • Blood
    • Blood vessels
  • Functions:
    • Distributes blood cells, water, and dissolved materials, including nutrients, waste products, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
    • Distributes heat and assists in the control of body temperature.

Body Spaces / Cavities

Internal Cavities

  • Four significant spaces within the body.
  • See Table 1.3 in the textbook for details.

Other Spaces besides Main Cavities

  • Orbit
  • Nasal cavity
  • Oral cavity (mouth)
  • Middle ear cavity

Subdivisions of Thoracic Cavity

  • Pleural cavities surround lungs.
  • Mediastinum: space between lungs.
  • Pericardial cavity (within mediastinum) surrounds heart.

Subdivisions of Abdominopelvic Cavity

  • Diaphragm divides into two divisions (upper vs lower).
  • The upper cavity is referred to as the abdominal cavity, and the lower is referred to as the pelvic cavity.

Four Divisions (Quadrants)

  • Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
  • Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
  • Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
  • Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
  • See Table 1.3 in your textbook for further details.

Viewing the Insides

Common Imaging Technologies

  • Radiography:
    • X-Rays
    • CT Scans
  • Angiography: Visualizes arteries (e.g., coronary arteries of the heart, arteries of the brain).
  • Sonography: Employs ultrasound technology (read more in the textbook).
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images (details in textbook).
  • Nuclear Medical Imaging (such as PET scans): (read about these in your textbook).

Talking the Talk

Anatomy Vocabulary

  • Most anatomical vocabulary has origins in Latin or Greek.
  • It is standardized to create uniformity across the global medical community.
  • Students must learn and observe this language through memorization.
  • Key points to understand:
    • Standard Anatomical Position (also understanding left vs right).
    • Names body planes/sections.
    • Terms of relative location.
    • Anatomical names of areas/regions of the human body.

Dividing the Body Up

Body Planes

General Concept

  • A PLANE is defined as a hypothetical or imaginary flat surface that passes through the body.
    • Median (midsagittal) plane
    • Frontal plane
    • Transverse plane

Transverse or Horizontal Plane

  • Definition: This plane divides the body into a top (superior) and bottom (inferior) portion.
  • The prefix "trans" implies "across"; e.g., transatlantic flights travel across the Atlantic.

Frontal or Coronal Plane

  • Definition: A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.
  • It is literally a plane that leaves a "front" and a back section.

Sagittal Plane

  • If a sagittal plane runs directly down the midline, it is called a MIDSAGITTAL or MEDIAN plane.

Oblique Plane

  • Definition: Any plane at an angle other than horizontal or vertical.
  • The term "oblique" refers to angles that are not in parallel or at right angles.

Sectioning the Body

  • It refers to a SECTION, or slice parallel to an axis (can be any of frontal, sagittal, or transverse).
    • Frontal plane: Cuts across body to show anterior and posterior aspects.
    • Sagittal plane: Divides body into right and left sections.
    • Oblique sectioning: Can be used for complex organs like the heart.

Directional Terminology

  • Purpose: To describe the location of one body part in relation to another.
  • Important terms include (also see Table 1.1 and Figure 1.7 in the textbook):
    • Rostral vs. Caudal
    • Ipsilateral vs. Contralateral
    • Superficial vs. Deep

Body Areas/Regions

Superficial Landmarks for Naming or Describing

  • Keys to Success:
    1. Some terms may already be familiar.
    2. Make associations with functions (e.g., manual labor involves hands).
    3. Utilize a memorization technique that suits you!
  • Learn the anatomic name for each region alongside the common name provided in parentheses (See Table 1.2 and Figure 1.8 in your textbook).