ANATOMICAL TERMS

by Dr.Soe Lwin
 Anatomy

Anatomy
Science of structure & function of
the body
Hippocrates Aristotle
 Hippocrates (460-377 BC)
Aristotle (384-322 BC.)
• Greek physician
• First to teach Anatomy
• Greek physician &
scientist
• Founder of Science of
Anatomy,
• father of Medicine • First to use the term
Anatome
• - Cutting up
• Hippocrcratic oath • dissecare ( Latin word)
• attributed to
• Surface anatomy
• To study the structures/ organs (located deep inside the body) by
mapping out on the surface
• Visualization in ‘mind’s eye’of structures that lie beneath & hidden by
the skin

• Radiological anatomy
• - by using x-rays or Roentgenogram
• Histology
• Embryology
 Anatomy can be studied by
• Region
• Head & neck
• Thorax
• Abdomen
• Pelvis & pernium
• Upper limb
• Lower limb
• Back
 According to System
• Integumentary
• Skeletal
Musculoskeletal Articular
Muscular
Nervous
• Circulatory (Cardiovascular )
• Respiratory
• Digestive/Alimentary
Urogenital
Urinary

• Endocrine
Reproductive (genital)
 Anatomical position
• Descriptions of human anatomy are
expressed in relation to the Anatomical
position
•
• Anatomical position
• the person is standing erect
• -arms by the sides
• - face, palms & toes directed forward
 4 imaginary planes

• Median
• Divides the body to two
equal right & left halves
• Sagittal
• parallel to Median plane
• Coronal
• right angles to median plane
• Horizontal
(Transverse)
• right angles to both median
& coronal
• Terms relating to positions
Anterior (ventral) Posterior (dorsal)

Medial Lateral

Superior (cranial) Inferior (caudal

Hand
- palmar - dorsal

Foot
- planter - dorsal
Limbs
- proxima - distal

Superficial Deep

External Internal

Central Peripheral
 Terms related to movements
• Joint movements
• Flexion
• Extentension

• Adduction
• Abduction

• Rotation – medial rotation

• - lateral rotation
• Rotation of forearm-pronation
• -supination
• Jaw movements – protraction
• - retraction
• Foot movements - inversion
• - evresion
Flexion & Extension
Dorsiflexion & Planterflexion
Adduction &
Abduction
 Medial &
lateral rotation
Circumduction
Additional terms relating to
movements of certain parts
Supination & Pronation
Lateral flexion
Adduction & Abduction of fingers
Movements of the Thumb
Inversion & Eversion of foot
 Terms relating to position
• Relative distance from the center of an
organ / cavity – internal
- external
Ipsilateral
Contralateral

Supine
Prone