Anatomical Terminology

 LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

MAIN BRANCHES OF ANATOMY

● Gross anatomy :study of mature human body organs.(after birth)
● Embryology : Study of human growth and development.(before birth)
● Histology : Microscopic Anatomy.

● Neuroanatomy : study of the function and morphology of the nervous system.

APPROACHES FOR STUDYING GROSS ANATOMY

● Regional.

● Systemic.

● Clinical (surgical).

● Imaging. Using X-rays - CT scan - MRI

Anatomical Position

● Head and eyes forward

● Arms adjacent to the sides with the palms facing anteriorly

● Legs parallel, feets together

Anatomical Planes

● Median plane (mid sagittal)
● Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane)
● Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane)
● Transverse Plane

median plane

•vertical plane passing longitudinally through the body

•divides the body into right and left halves

Sagittal Planes

● are vertical planes passing through the body parallel to the median plane

● Divides the body or any of its parts into right and left parts

Coronal Plane

● Vertical plane running from side to side
● Divides the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions

Transverse Plane

● Horizontal plane

● Divides the body or any of its parts into upper and lower parts

TERMS RELATED TO POSITION

TERMS RELATED TO POSITION

● Anterior : In front Of
● Posterior : Behind
● Superior : Above
● Inferior : Below
● Lateral : Away Form The Midline
● Medial : Close To The Midline
● Median : Axis (At The Midline)
● Proximal : Near
● Distal : Away
● Dorsal :Back Side
● Ventral : Face Side

Ipsilateral/Contralateral

● Ipsilateral—on the same side as another structure
● i.e. the left arm is ipsilateral to the left leg.
● Contralateral—on the opposite from another structure
● i.e. the left arm is contralateral to the right arm, or the right leg.

TERMS RELATED TO MOVEMENTS

● Flexion
● Extension
● Adduction
● Abduction
● Circumduction
● ROTATION (Lateral & Medial)
● Pronation
● Supination
● Opposition

Flexion/Extension

•Flexion bending or decreasing the angle between the bones or parts of the body.
•Extension straightening or increasing the angle between the bones or parts of the body.

Abduction/Adduction

● Abduction—moving a body part away from midline
● Adduction—moving a body part toward the midline

Circumduction

a circular movement that is a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction

Rotation

● Internal (medial) rotation—rotation towards the center of the body.
● External(lateral) rotation—rotation away the center of the body.

Internal/External Rotation

Supination/Pronation

● Supination—the palm of the hand faces anteriorly
● Pronation—the palm faces posteriorly

Plantar Flexion/Dorsiflexion

Dorsiflexion— describes flexion at the ankle joint
Plantarflexion— turns the foot or toes toward the plantar surface

Inversion/Eversion

•Inversion—moves the sole of the foot toward the median plane
•Eversion—moves the sole of the foot away from the median plane