Anatomy: The study of the body's structures and the relationship of its parts to each other.

Anatomical Position

the anatomical position is the standard reference position of the body

• the body is in an erect posture

• the face and the palms are facing forward

• the feet close to each other

• the arms are straight by the sides

Anatomical planes

1. Sagittal plane: A vertical plane divides the body into right and left parts.

   • Median sagittal plane: The plane passing through the center of the body dividing it into right & left halves

   • Parasagittal plane: Plane lying to one or the other side of the median plane & parallel to it. • It divides the body into unequal parts.

2. Coronal plane: A vertical plane divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

3. Transverse plane: A horizontal plane divides the body into upper (cranial) and lowers (caudal) parts

Anatomical terms:

- Terms related to the position

• Superior: Toward the head.

• Inferior: Toward the feet.

• Anterior: Toward the front of the body.

• Posterior: Toward the back of the body.

• Median: At the middle line of the body.

• Medial: Toward the midline of the body.

• Lateral: Toward the side of the body.

• Superficial: Toward the surface of the body.

• Deep: Away from the surface of the body.

• Proximal: Toward the root of the limb

  e.g.: the arm is proximal to the forearm.

• Distal: Away from the root of the limb
  e.g.: the hand is distal to the forearm.

• Internal: Inside an organ or cavity.

• External: Outside an organ or cavity.

- Terms related to movements

• Flexion: a bending movement around a joint that decreases the angle between the two articulating bones.

• Extension: an unbending movement around a joint that increases the angle between the two articulating bones.

• Abduction: movement away from the midline of the body.

• Adduction: movement toward the midline of the body plane.

• Elevation: movement upwards.

• Depression: movement downwards.

• Rotation: Is the movement of a part of the body around its longitudinal axis.

  • Medial rotation: rotation of a part of the body around its longitudinal axis towards the midline

  • Lateral rotation: rotation of a part of the body around its longitudinal axis away from the midline.

• Circumduction: movement of a limb or extremity so that the distal end describes a circle, it is a successive movement of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction.

• Protraction and retraction: These are mostly used to describe the forward and backward movement of the mandible at the temporal-mandibular joint.

  • Protraction: Is to move forward.

  • Retraction: Is to move backward.

Body organization

• the body of the living organism consists of many systems.

• Each system is formed of many organs.

• Each organ is formed of many tissues.

• Each tissue is formed of layers or groups of similar cells that perform a common function.

• The cell is the basic structural and functional component of the body. Each cell is composed of cytoplasm and a nucleus and is surrounded by cell membranes.

Body regions

The human body is divided into several regions that can be identified on the surface of the body. The major body regions are the head, neck, trunk, upper extremity, and lower extremity. The trunk is frequently divided into the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.

Body systems

The main systems of the human body are as follows:

• Cardiovascular / Circulatory system

  • It is responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to organs and cells and carrying their waste products away.

• Digestive system

  • It is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients and the elimination of waste from the body.

• Endocrine system

  • It provides chemical communications within the body using hormones.

• Integumentary system

  • It includes skin, and its appendages (hair, nails).

• Lymphatic system

  • It defends the body against disease-causing agents.

• Musculoskeletal (locomotor) system

  • It enables the body to move using muscles.

  • It supports the body and its organs.

• Nervous system

  • It collects information from the senses and tells the muscles to contract.

• Urinary system

  • It is the system where the kidneys filter blood.

• Reproductive system

  • It is responsible for the production of offspring.

• Respiratory system

  • It brings air into the body to oxygenate the blood.