HUMAN

ANATOMY
INTRODUCTION TO
HUMAN ANATOMY

By: Agumas Sh. (BSc, MSc. in Anatomy)

 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY
ANATOMY- is the science of the body structures and the
relationships among them.
• The word anatomy is derived from Greek (Ana- up/body; Tom-
process of cutting) and means “to cut up” or “to cut open.”
• It was first studied by Dissection (Dis- apart, Section- act of
cutting) the careful cutting apart of body structures to study their
relationships.
• PHYSIOLOGY (Physio- nature, logy-study) is the science of 2

body functions- how the body parts work together.

 Classification of anatomy approaches to study

Three main approaches to study human gross anatomy: regional,

systemic, and clinical (applied).

1. Regional anatomy is based on the organization of the body into parts:

– Head
– Neck
– Trunk (thorax, abdomen, pelvis/perineum, and back)
– Upper and lower limbs/extremities.

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 BODY REGIONS

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2. Systemic anatomy is an approach to anatomical study organized by
organ systems that work together to carry out complex functions:
1. Skeletal system
2. Muscular system 7. Urinary system

3. Respiratory system 8. Reproductive system

4. Cardiovascular system 9. Nervous system

5. Lymphatic system 10. Endocrine system

6. Digestive system 11. Integumentary system

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3. Clinical (applied) anatomy:

– Emphasizes aspects of the structure and function of

the body important in the practice of medicine,
dentistry, and other health sciences.

– It deals both the regional and the systemic

approaches to studying anatomy and stresses clinical
application.
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 Levels of Organization of the Body

The human body is the sum of its parts and these parts can be studied at a variety of
levels of organization.
1. Chemicals
 Atoms- are the simplest level.
 Molecules- are two or more atoms that formed.
 Macromolecules- are large, biologically important molecules inside cells.
2. Organelles- are groups of macro-molecules used to carry out a specific function in the
cell.
3. Cells- are the basic units of structure and function for living things.
4. Tissues- are groups of cells functioning together.
5. Organs- are groups of tissues that have specialized functions.
6. Organs system- are groups of organs function together.
7. Organism- is the 11 body (organ) systems functioning together.
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Level of structural organization in the human body

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 Anatomical Terminology
Anatomical position - refers to
body position as if the person
were standing upright with the:
Head, eyes, and toes directed
anteriorly (forward).
Arms adjacent to the sides
with the palms facing
anteriorly, and
Lower limbs close together
with the feet parallel.
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 Planes and sections of the body
Median plane is the vertical
plane passing longitudinally
through the center of the body,
dividing it into right and left
halves.
Sagittal planes are vertical
planes passing through the body
parallel to the median plane.

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Frontal (coronal) planes are vertical
planes passing through the body at right
angles to the median plane.
– Dividing it into anterior (front) and
posterior (back) portions.
Transverse planes are planes passing
through the body at right angles to the
median and frontal (coronal) planes.
– A transverse plane divides the body
into superior (upper) and inferior
(lower) parts.
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 Directional Terms

Superior refers to a structure that is nearer the vertex, the

top most point of the cranium.
Inferior refers to a structure that is situated nearer the sole of
the foot.
Cranial relates to the cranium and is a useful directional
term, meaning toward the head or cranium.
Caudal means toward the feet or tail region, represented in
humans by coccyx.

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 Directional Terms
Posterior (dorsal) denotes the back surface of the body or nearer to
the back.
Anterior (ventral) denotes the front surface of the body.
Medial is used to indicate that a structure is nearer to the median
plane of the body.
Lateral indicates that a structure is farther away from the median
plane.
– For example, the 5th digit of the hand (little finger) is medial to
the other digits.
– The 1st digit of the hand (thumb) is lateral to the other digits.
 Directional Terms
Proximal means that a body part is closer to the point of
attachment or closer to the trunk. The elbow is proximal to the
hand.
Distal means that a body part is farther from the point of
attachment or farther from the trunk or torso. The hand is distal
to the elbow.
Superficial & deep describe the position of structures relative to
the surface of the body or the relationship of one structure to
another underlying or overlying structure.

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Directional Terms

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 Terms of Laterality
Bilateral- paired structures having right and left members
(e.g., kidneys, lungs)
Unilateral those occurring on one side only (e.g., the
spleen).
Ipsilateral- Something occurring on the same side of body as
another structure.
–E.g., the right thumb and right great toe are ipsilateral.
Contralateral means occurring on the opposite side of the
body relative to another structure.
–E.g., the left biceps brachii muscle and the right rectus
femoris muscle are contralateral 16
 Body Cavities
A body cavity is a space created in an organism which houses
of organs.
It is lined with a layer of cells and is filled with fluid, to protect
the organs from damage as the organism moves around.
Body cavities form during development, as solid masses of
tissue fold inward on themselves, creating pockets in which the
organs develop.

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 Body cavities
 Dorsal cavity protects the nervous system, and is divided
into two subdivisions
1. Cranial cavity is within the skull and encloses the brain
2. Vertebral cavity runs within the vertebral column and
encloses spinal cord
 Ventral cavity houses the internal organs (viscera), and is
divided into two subdivisions: - Thoracic and Abdomeno-
pelvic cavity.

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Thoracic cavity is subdivided into pleural cavities, the
mediastinum, and the pericardial cavity
1. Pleural cavities – each houses a lung.
2. Mediastinum – contains the pericardial cavity, and
surrounds the remaining thoracic organs.
3. Pericardial cavity – encloses the heart.

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Abdominopelvic cavity is composed of two subdivisions
Abdominal cavity – contains stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, &
other organs.
Pelvic cavity – lies within the pelvis and contains bladder,
reproductive organs, and rectum.
Ventral Body Cavity Membranes
Parietal membrane - lines internal body walls
Visceral membrane - covers the internal organs
Serous fluid-separates the two membranes
- used for lubrication
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 Divisions of Abdomeno-pelvic Cavity
Used to describe the
location of abdominal
organs and the pain
associated with abdominal
problems.
The two schemes most
often used are:
1. Four-quadrant pattern
2. Nine-region
organizational
description 22
 Terms of Movement
Abduction means moving
away from the median plane.
Adduction means moving
toward median plane.
– Abduction of the digits
means spreading them apart.
– Adduction of the digits is
bringing the spread fingers
or toes together.
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Circumduction:
– Circular motion without rotation.
– Combination in sequence of the movements of flexion, extension,
abduction, and adduction.

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 Terms of Movement
Rotation
– Direction of rotation from anatomical
position
– Relative to longitudinal axis of the body
– Left or right rotation
– Medial rotation (inward rotation):
• Turning anterior surface medially
– Lateral rotation (outward rotation):
• Turning anterior surface laterally

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 Terms of Movement
Pronation is a medial rotation
of forearm and hand so that
the palm faces posteriorly.
Supination is a lateral rotation
of the forearm and hand so that
the palm faces anteriorly, as in
the anatomical position.

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 Terms of Movement
Inversion:
– Twists sole of foot medially
Eversion:
– Twists sole of foot laterally
Dorsiflexion:
– Flexion at ankle (lifting toes)
Plantarflexion:
– Extension at ankle (pointing
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toes)
 Terms of Movement
Flexion indicates bending or
decreasing the angle b/n the
bones or parts of the body.

Extension indicates
straightening or increasing the
angle b/n the bones or parts of
the body.

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 Terms of Movement
Protraction:
– Moves anteriorly
– In the horizontal plane
(pushing forward)
Retraction:
– Opposite of protraction
– Moving posteriorly (pulling back)
 Opposition:
 Thumb movement toward
fingers or palm (grasping) 29
 Terms of Movement

 Protrusion is a movement
anteriorly (forward) as in
protruding the mandible
(chin), lips, or tongue.

 Retrusion is a movement
posteriorly (backward), as
in retruding the mandible,
lips, or tongue.

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 Terms of Movement
Elevation:
– Moves in superior
direction (up)
Depression:
– Moves in inferior direction
(down)

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Thank You
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