ANATOMY

ANATOMICAL POSITION
All descriptions in human anatomy are expressed in relation to the anatomical position. Always describe the body as if it were in the anatomical position, otherwise confusion as to the meaning of your description may exist and serious consequences could result.

A person in the anatomical position is:

1.Standing erect 2.Head, eyes and toes directed anteriorly (forward) 3.Upper limbs by the side with the palms facing anteriorly 4.Lower limbs together with the feet directed anteriorly

ANATOMICAL PLANES
Imaginary planes that pass through the body in the anatomical position A.Median Plane B. Sagittal Planes C. Coronal Planes D.Horizontal (Transverse) Planes

A.Median Plane vertical plane passing longitudinally through the body divides the body into right and left halves B. Sagittal Planes vertical planes passing longitudinally through the body parallel to the median plane

C. Coronal Planes vertical planes passing through the body at right angles to the median plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions D. Horizontal (Transverse) Planes planes passing through the body at right angles to the median and coronal planes divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts

TERMS OF RELATIONSHIP AND COMPARISON

Anterior Posterior Superior Inferior Medial Lateral Proximal Distal Superficial Deep External Internal

 Anterior (ventral) nearer to the front, e.g., the sternum is the anterior to the heart Posterior (dorsal) nearer to the back, e.g., the kidneys are posterior to the intestine in the hands, the terms palmar and dorsal surfaces are used in place of anterior and posterior

 Superior (cranial, cephalic) nearer to the head, e.g., the heart is superior to the stomach Inferior (caudal) nearer to the feet, e.g., the stomach is inferior to the heart in the foot, the terms plantar and dorsal surfaces are used in place of superior and inferior

 Medial - nearer to the median plane, e.g., the 5th digit ( little finger) is on the medial side of the hand Lateral farther away from the median plane, e.g., the 1st digit (thumb) is on the lateral side of the hand

 Proximal nearer to the trunk or point of origin, e.g., the elbow is proximal to the wrist; the proximal part of an artery is its beginning Distal farther from the trunk or point of origin, e.g., the wrist is distal to the elbow; the distal part of the limb is the foot

 Superficial nearer to or on the surface, e.g., the arm muscle are superficial to the humerus Deep farther from the surface, e.g., the humerus is deep to the arm muscles

 External toward or on the exterior of an organ or cavity, e.g., the auricle or pinna is external to the middle ear; the external surface of the urinary bladder is the exterior of the organ Internal toward or in the interior of an organ or cavity, e.g., the inner ear is internal to the middle ear; the internal surface of the urinary bladder of the organ

TERMS OF LATERALITY
Ipsilateral on the same side of the body, e.g., the right thumb and the right big toe are ipsilateral Contralateral on the opposite side of the body, e.g., the right hand and the left hand are contralateral

TERMS OF MOVEMENT
Movements take place in joints where two or more bones meet or articulate with one another Flexion bending or decreasing the angle between bones or parts of the body, e.g., flexion of the elbow joint dorsiflexion flexion of the ankle joint, as occurs when lifting the toes off the ground plantarflexion flexion of the ankle joint, as occurs when standing on your toes collision

Flexion

Dorsi and plantar flexion

 Extension straightening or increasing the angle between bones or part of the body, e.g., extending the knee joint hyperextension extension of a limb or body part beyond the normal limit

 Abduction moving away from the median plane in the coronal plane, e.g., abducting the upper limb abduction of the digits spreading the fingers away from the middle (3rd) digit or the toes away from the 2nd digit

 Adduction moving toward the median plane in the coronal plane, e.g., adducting the lower limb adduction of the digits movement of the fingers toward the 3rd digit or the toes toward the 2nd digit

 Rotation involves turning or revolving a part of the body around its longitudinal axis, e.g., turning ones head to the side medial (internal) rotation brings the anterior surface of a limb closer to the median plane, e.g., medial rotation of the shoulder joint lateral (external) rotation takes the anterior surface away from the median plane, e.g., lateral rotation of the hip joint

 Opposition movement by which the 1st digit (thumb) pad is brought to another digit (finger) pad, e.g., when holding a pen, pinching something, or lifting a teacup by the handle Reposition movement of the 1st digit from position of opposition back to anatomical position

 Circumduction circular movement combining flexion, extension, abduction and adduction occurring in such a way that the distal end of the part moves in a circle, e.g., circumduction of the shoulder joint

 Eversion moving the sole of the foot away from the median plane or turning the sole of the foot laterally
when foot is fully everted it is also dorsiflexed

Inversion moving the sole of the foot toward the median plane or sole of foot faces medially --when foot is fully inverted it is also plantarflexed

 Supination movement of the forearm and hand that rotates the radius laterally around its longitudinal axis so that the dorsum of the hand faces posteriorly and the palm faces anteriorly when elbow joint flexed moves hand so that palm faces superiorly when applied to foot results in raising the medial margin of foot

 Pronation movement of the forearm and hand that rotates the radius medially around its longitudinal axis so that the palm of the hand faces posteriorly and its dorsum faces anteriorly when elbow joint flexed moves hand so that palm faces inferiorly when applied to foot results in lowering the medial margin of foot

 Protrusion moving anteriorly, e.g., sticking the chin out protraction anterior movement of the shoulders Retrusion moving posteriorly, e.g., tucking the chin in retraction posterior movements of the shoulders

 Elevation raising or moving a part superiorly, e.g., as occurs when shrugging the shoulders Depression lowering or moving a body part inferiorly, e.g., as occurs in depressing the shoulders when standing at ease

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