• The term anatomy is derived from Greek

• “Anatomia’’ means cutting up (cut open)

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• The study of:
– The internal & external body structures
– The physical relationships between the body parts
• Complementary with physiology
• Two types:
1. Gross anatomy
– Macroscopic anatomy
2. Microscopic anatomy
– Histology
– Cytology 2
1. Microscopic anatomy:
• Also called fine anatomy

• Considers structures that cannot be seen without

magnification

• Subdivided into specialties that consider features

within a characteristic range of sizes

– Cytology: analyzes the internal structure of cells

– Histology: takes a broader perspective and

examines tissues 3
2. Macroscopic anatomy:

• Also called gross anatomy

• Considers relatively large structures and features

visible to the unaided eye

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• Can be studied through different approaches
– Surface anatomy: the study of general form, or
morphology, and superficial anatomical markings
– Regional anatomy: study one region of the body at a
time
– Systemic anatomy: study one body system at a time
– Clinical anatomy the practical application of
anatomic knowledge to clinical problem-solving

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• Head and neck
• Trunk
– Thorax and back
– Abdomen
– Pelvis and perineum

• Limbs
– Upper limb
– Lower limb

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• Regional distinctions are used to describe

• The location & orientation of internal organs

• The abdominopelvic region for example can be divided

in to:

– Four quadrants

• Using two lines

– Nine regions

• Using four lines

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• The abdomen is split into nine regions
– For describing the location of pain, location of
viscera & describing surgical procedures
– Formed by two horizontal and two vertical
planes:
Horizontal planes:
1. Transpyloric plane:
• Passes halfway between the xiphoid process and
the umbilicus (pylorus of stomach)
2. Intertubercular plane:
• Joins the superior aspect of the iliac tubercles
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Vertical planes:

• Run from the middle of the clavicle to the mid-

inguinal point (halfway between the anterior
superior iliac spine & the pubic symphysis)

• These planes are called mid-clavicular lines

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• The abdomen is also divided in to four quadrants
by a vertical and horizontal planes through the
umbilicus

– Right and left upper quadrants

– Right and left lower quadrants

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• The human body is organized in different levels

• Begins from chemical (molecular) level

• Our body consists of different elements

– Hydrogen

– Oxygen

– Carbon

– Nitrogen

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• At the chemical level, atoms interact to form three-
dimensional compounds with distinctive properties
– Form molecules and then macromolecules
• From the chemical level, the organelles are made
• The different organelles give cells
• The cells are connected & organized to form tissue
• The tissues are connected to form organ
• The different organs are organized to form a system
• Different systems are organized to form an organism

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• A standard body position
– Standing upright
– The feet slightly apart
• Parallel to each other
• Flat on the floor
• Toes pointing forward
– The head is level
– The eyes look forward
– The arms are at either side
of the body
• The palms facing forward
• The thumbs pointing
away from the body

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 Anterior = In front
of; toward the front
surface
 Posterior = In back
of; toward the back
surface
 Dorsal =At the back
side of the human
body
 Ventral = At the belly
side of the human
body

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 Superior = Toward
the head or above
 Inferior = Toward
feet not head
 Caudal = At the rear
or tail end
 Cranial = At the head
end
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 Medial = Toward the
midline of the body
 Lateral = Away from
the midline of the
body
 Deep = On the inside,
underneath another
structure
 Superficial = On the
outside

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 Proximal = Closest to
point of attachment to
trunk

 Distal = Furthest
from point of
attachment to trunk

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• The body is often sectioned along planes
– Section is cut
– Plane is imaginary surface that slice the body
• Four frequently used planes:
– Median
– Sagittal
– Coronal
– Axial

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I. Median plane
– Vertical plane passing
longitudinally
– Through the midline
of the body
– Divides the body in to
right and left halves
– Also called mid
sagittal plane

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II. Sagittal planes
– Vertical planes
– Parallel to the median
plane
– Also called Para
median or
parasagittal planes
– Divides the body in to
right and left parts
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III. Coronal planes
– Also called frontal
planes
– Are vertical planes
– Passing perpendicular
to median plane
– Divide the body in to
anterior and posterior
parts

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IV. Axial planes
– Also called transverse
planes
– Horizontal planes
– Passing perpendicular
to the median and
coronal planes
– Divides the body in to
superior and inferior
parts

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• Flexion
– Decreases the angle of
a joint
– Brings two bones closer
together
• Extension
– Opposite of flexion
– Increases angle
between two bones
– Straightening

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• Abduction

– Movement of a limb
away from the midline

• Adduction

– Opposite of abduction

– Movement of a limb
toward the midline

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• Eversion

– Turning of the sole laterally

• Inversion

– Opposite of eversion

– Facing of the sole medially

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• Opposition:
– Moving the thumb to the other digits
• Reposition:
– Moving from opposition to anatomical position

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• Protrusion:

– Movement of body part anteriorly

• Retrusion:

– Opposite of protrusion

– Movement of body part posteriorly

• Protraction:
– Moving the shoulder region anteriorly
• Retraction:
– Moving the shoulder region posteriorly
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• Elevation:

– Moving a part superiorly

• depression:

– Opposite of elevation

– Moving a part inferiorly

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• Pronation
– Facing posteriorly

• Supination
– Facing anteriorly

– Opposite of
pronation

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• Rotation
– Movement of a bone
around its longitudinal
axis
Example: (shaking your
head “no”)
• Circumduction
– Combination of flexion,
extension, abduction,
and adduction
– Circular movement of a
limb
– Conical movement of a
body part 44
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• Internal chambers of the body
• Spaces where the vital organs are suspended in
• Protect delicate organs from accidental shocks
• Some of them are open to the outside of the body, and
some do not
• There are two groups of body cavities in humans
– Dorsal body cavity
– Ventral body cavity

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1. Ventral body cavity

• Located along the anterior aspect of the body

• Houses the internal organs (viscera)

• Divided in to two smaller cavities

– Thoracic cavity

– Abdominopelvic cavity

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Thoracic cavity

• Also called chest cavity

• Surrounded by the ribcage

• Subdivided in to different smaller cavities

– Pleural cavity

– Mediastinum

– Pericardial cavity

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• Pleural cavity:

– A potential space between the visceral and

parietal layers of the pleura

– Contains no organ in side it but lubricating

fluid

– Surrounds the lungs on each side

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• Mediastinum:
– An area found at the midline of the thoracic cavity
– Divides the thoracic cavity in to two parts
– Surrounded by:
• Right & left pleural sacs laterally
• Diaphragm inferiorly
• Superior thoracic aperture superiorly
– Is divided in to two parts by the sternal plane (imaginary)
• Superior mediastinum
• Inferior mediastinum

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• Superior mediastinum:
– Bounded by:
• Sternal plane (from sternal angle to T4-T5)
inferiorly
• Manubrium part of the sternum anteriorly
• Vertebral bodies (T1-T4) posteriorly
• Oblique plane (jugular notch to T1) superiorly
• Mediastinal surfaces of the parietal pleura
laterally
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• Inferior mediastinum:
– Extends from the inferior border of the superior
mediastinum to the diaphragm
– Further divided in to three parts anterioposteriorly
• Anterior mediastinum
• Middle mediastinum
• Posterior mediastinum
– Every compartment contains many vital organs, vascular &
neural structures

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• Pericardial cavity:

– A potential space between the visceral and

parietal layers of the pericardium

– Contains no organ in side it but lubricating

fluid

– Surrounds the heart

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Abdominopelvic cavity
• Separated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm
• Composed of two subdivisions
– Abdominal cavity
• Bounded by the abdominal muscles
• Contains the abdominal viscera
– Pelvic cavity
• Enclosed with in the bones of the pelvis
• Contains the bladder, reproductive organs & rectum

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• There are also other cavities in the body

– Oral cavity: contains the mouth vestibule & oral

cavity proper

– Nasal cavity: the inside of the nose

– Orbital cavity: eye sockets

– Tympanic cavity: middle ear cavity

– Synovial cavity: space with in articular capsule

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2. Dorsal body cavity
• Located on the posterior aspect of the body
• Contains two parts
– Cranial cavity
• Also called calvaria
• Houses the brain
– Spinal cavity
• Also called vertebral cavity
• Houses the spinal cord

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