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7/3/2014 Introduction

General anatomy

M Humayun jamil

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ANATOMY:- The term anatomy is derived from a Greek word 'temnein' meaning "to cut up”.

In ancient times, the word anatomize was more commonly used than the word dissect.

Human anatomy is the science concerned with the structure of the human body.

The science of physiology is concerned with the function of the body.

Anatomy and physiology are both subdivisions of the science of biology the study of living organisms

The anatomy of every structure of the body is adapted for performing a function, or perhaps

several functions.

The dissection of human cadavers has served as the basis for understanding the structure and

function of the human body for many centuries.

Human anatomy is a practical, applied science that provides the foundation for understanding physical

performance and body health

In the past, human anatomy was an academic, purely descriptive science, concerned primarily

with identifying and naming body structures. Although dissection and description form the basis

of anatomy, the importance of human anatomy today is in its functional approach and clinical

applications.

Anatomy can be studied following either a regional or a systemic approach

With a regional approach, each region of the body is studied separately and all aspects of that

region are studied at the same time.

This includes the vasculature, the nerves, the bones, the muscles and all other structures and

organs located in that region of the body. Regions of the body, Thorax, Abdomen, Pelvis, Lower Limb,

Upper Limb, Brain, and Head & Neck are studied in a similar fashion.

Most of the terms that form the language of anatomy are of Greek or Latin derivation. Latin was

the language of the Roman Empire, during which time an interest in scientific description was

cultivated. With the decline of the Roman Empire, Latin became a “dead language, ”but it

retained its value in nomenclature because it remained unchanged throughout history.

As a consequence, if one is familiar with the basic prefixes and suffixes many of the terms in the

descriptive science of anatomy can be understood.

Apart from Greeks and Romans many individuals from other cultures have also contributed to

the science of human anatomy.

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Anatomical terminologies

Anatomical planes Sagittal plane (median, wheel) — this vertical (top to bottom) plane divides the body into left and right sides; a

plane that divides the body down the middle into equal left and right sides is the Median Sagittal Plane.

Coronal (vertical, frontal, door) plane — a vertical plane that divides the body into front (anterior or ventral) and

back (posterior or dorsal)

Transverse (horizontal, table) plane — this horizontal plane is parallel to the ground and divides the body into up

+(toward the head) and down (toward the feet)

Oblique plane is not shown; it is a slanted plane (at an angle) that lies between the horizontal and vertical planes

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Directional terms Superior and Inferior. Superior means above, inferior means below. The elbow is superior (above) to the hand.

The foot is inferior (below) to the knee.

Anterior and Posterior. Anterior means toward the front (chest side) of the body, posterior means toward the

back.

Medial and Lateral. Medial means toward the midline of the body, lateral means away from the

midline. Ipsilateral means on the same side—the left arm is ipsilateral (on the same side) to the left leg.

Proximal and Distal. Proximal means closest to the point of origin or trunk of the body, distal means farthest

away. Proximal and distal are often used when describing arms and legs. If you were describing the shin bone,

the proximal end would be the end close to the knee and the distal end would be the end close to the foot. In the

fingers of the hand, a proximal joint is closest to the wrist and a distal joint is farthest from the wrist.

Superficial and Deep. Superficial means toward the body surface, deep means farthest from the body surface.

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Body regions Body regions describe areas of the body that have a special function or are supplied by specific blood vessels or

nerves

Axial region Appendicular region

Consists of head,neck and trunck Consists of upper and lower limbs

Head Neck Trunck

Thoracic region

Abdominal region

It is above the diaphgram

It is below the diaphgram

Abdominal quadrents Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) – right lobe of liver,gallbladder, part of the transverse colon, part of pylorus,

hepatic flexure, right kidney, and duodenum.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) – cecum, ascending colon, small intestine, appendix, bladder if distended, right

ureter, right spermatic duct (men), right ovary and right tube and uterus if enlarged (women).

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Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) – Left lobe of liver, stomach, small intestine, transverse colon, splenic flexure,

pancreas, left kidney and spleen.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) – small intestine, left ureter, sigmoid flexure, descending colon, bladder if distended,

left spermatic duct (men) left ovary and left tube and uterus if enlarged (women).

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Body cavities The body is internally divided into two major body cavi- ties, dorsal and ventral. The organs within them

are called the viscera

NAME OF CAVITY Associated viscera Membranous linning

Dorsal body cavity; Cranial cavity Head Meninges

Verteberal cavity Spinal cord Meninges Venteral body cavity;

Thoracic cavity

Pleural cavity Lungs Pleura Pericardial cavity Heart Pericardium

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Mediastinum Esophagus,major blood vessels and nerves

Abdominopelvic cavity

Abdominal cavity Digestive organs, sleen, kidney Peritoneum Pelvic cavity Bladder, rectum, reproductive

organs Peritoneum

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Cell Cell is a structural and functional unit of life. Each cell has distinct shape according to its

functions.

Examples – blood, nerve & muscle cells etc

Cells were first observed more than 300 years ago by the English scientist Robert Hooke . cell theory in

1838 and 1839 by two German biologists, Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann. This theory states

that all living organ- isms are composed of one or more cells and that the cell is the basic unit of

structure for all organisms.

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Tissue Tissue – group or layers of similar type of cells performing a common function.

Examples – epithelial, connective tissue

Organ an aggregate of two or more tissue types that performs a specific function. These vary in size,

shape & functions.

Examples - liver, heart, kidney & brain.

System consists of various organs that have similar or related functions. Different systems working in

collaboration forms a living organism. So each of these is essential for maintenance of life

(homeostasis).

Examples – respiratory, CVS, GIT, nervous sys