Introduction to Anatomy and Kinesiology

Axial Skeleton Components:
- Head and Face: Comprising the skull and facial structure.
- Cervical Region: Referring to the neck area.
- Trunk: Includes various regions including:
- Thoracic Region: Rib area and thoracic spine.
- Abdominals: The abdominal cavity and surrounding muscles.
- Pelvis: Considered a part of the axial skeleton.
Distal Components:
- Anything below the pelvis is considered distal and is part of the appendicular skeleton, which includes:
- Thigh and Leg: The lower limbs.
- Upper and Lower Limbs: Describes the arms and legs respectively.
Terminology:
- Pedal: Refers to feet.
- Manual: Refers to hands (note that this term is less commonly used).

General Concept: To analyze body positions and movements, one must understand the different planes of motion.
Sagittal Plane:
- Definition: Divides the body into left and right halves.
- Movements in this plane: Forward and backward motions, e.g., bending a limb.
- Example of motion: Raising a hand straight in front alters along the sagittal plane.
Frontal Plane (also known as Lateral or Coronal Plane):
- Definition: Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
- Movements in this plane: Side to side motions, e.g., lateral raises, side bends.
Transverse Plane:
- Definition: Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.
- Movements in this plane: Twisting or rotational motions, e.g., neck turning side to side.
- Example: Any form of rotation occurring at a joint, such as twisting the forearm.

Movement Examples:
- Somersault: Occurs in the sagittal plane (forward roll).
- Cartwheel: Primarily lateral, starting in the sagittal plane but moving into the frontal plane.
- Hip Abduction/Adduction: Movements occurring in the lateral plane.
Axes of Motion:
- Every plane of motion possesses an axis that is perpendicular to it:
- Sagittal Plane: Governed by a lateral axis (frontal/coronal axis).
- Frontal Plane: Governed by an anterior-posterior axis.
- Transverse Plane: Governed by a vertical (longitudinal) axis.
Diagonal Planes:
- Considered a combination of all three cardinal planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse).
- Types include:
- High Diagonal: Movements in the upper limbs, generally associated with overhand actions (e.g., throwing).
- Low Diagonal: Movements in the lower limbs, commonly seen in underhand actions (e.g., kicking).
- Characteristics: The axis for a diagonal motion runs perpendicular to the diagonal plane.

Muscle Mechanics:
- The origin of muscles: Where the muscle attaches, typically the least movable part.
- The insertion of muscles: Where the muscle ends, and the most movable part during a contraction.
- Action of Muscles: Describes what the muscle does, e.g., contracting to pull.
Types of Contractions:
- Concentric Contraction: Muscle shortening under tension.
- Eccentric Contraction: Muscle lengthening while under tension.
- Isometric Contraction: Muscle maintaining length while contracting without movement.

Variability in Human Anatomy:
- There are known variations in human anatomy, such as extra or fewer bones and muscles (e.g., some individuals may have variations in vertebrae or digits).
Muscle Count:
- There are over 600 muscles in the body contributing to movement, stability, and overall function.
- Misconceptions regarding muscle count emphasize the need to understand that muscles work in groups, contrary to the perception of individual muscle action.
Study Suggestions:
- Familiarize with slides presented in class.
- Recognize key terms such as origin, insertion, action, and the differences between various types of muscle contractions as these are critical in practical applications in kinesiology and biomechanics.

Future Sessions: Upcoming discussions will delve deeper into specific movements and application of previously covered concepts, including muscle mechanics and interactions of joints during various motions.