Introduction to Human Anatomy

• Hipocrates-father of medicine (4th cent B.C.)-Hippocratic oath attributed

Biology Medicine Morphology

Embryology

Anatomy

Histology

Levels of Structural Organization

• Anatomy : Anatome Greek “to cut up”-cutting up-dissecting (is now a technique)

• Anatomy is a discipline, a branch of morphology

• Anatomy is the study of living human being- study on cadaver

• Anatomy primarily deals with the structure and function

• Dissecting human body and studying its structure by this method is called the gross anatomy

• Knowledge of anatomy is essential during:

• Physical examination:– Inspection, palpation,

auscultation, percussion• E.g. Chest pain,

abdominal pain

• Surgery

• As complex methods were invented to examine the human body a new disciplines arise.

– Microscopic anatomy or histology

– Pathology (name of the discipline and also a general term indicating a disease condition)

• After the discovery of the x-ray radiological anatomy developed.

– One must know the normal structures in order to diagnose the pathologic conditions.

In anatomy courses the body may be examined by regionally or systematically

Regional anatomy• Thorax

• Abdomen

• Pelvis and perineum

• Lower limb, upper limb

• Back

• Head and neck

Systematic anatomy. Integumentary system

. Skeletal system

. Articular system

. Muscular system

. Nervous system

. Circulatory system

. Digestive system

. Respiratory system

. Urinary system

. Reproductive system

. Endocrine system

Figure 1.2a

Organ System Overview

• Integumentary– Forms the external body

covering– Protects deeper tissue from

injury/elements– Synthesizes vitamin D– Location of cutaneous

nerve receptors

Organ System Overview

• Skeletal– Protects and supports

body organs– Provides muscle

attachment for movement– Site of blood cell

formation– Stores mineral

Organ System Overview

• Muscular– Allows locomotion– Maintains posture– Produces heat– Last source of energy

Figure 1.2c

Organ System Overview

• Nervous– Thinking– Fast-acting control

system– Sensory and motor input– Responds to internal and

external change– Activates muscles and

glands

Figure 1.2e

Organ System Overview

• Endocrine– Secretes regulatory

hormones• Growth

• Reproduction

• Metabolism

Organ System Overview

• Cardiovascular– Transports materials in body

via blood pumped by heart• Oxygen

• Carbon dioxide

• Nutrients

• Wastes

Organ System Overview

• Lymphatic– Returns fluids to blood

vessels– Disposes of debris– Involved in immunity

Organ System Overview

• Respiratory– Filters air impurities– Keeps blood supplied with

oxygen– Removes carbon dioxide– Regulates acid/base balance

Figure 1.2h

Organ System Overview

• Digestive– Breaks down food– Allows for nutrient

absorption into blood– Eliminates indigestible

material

Figure 1.2i

Organ System Overview

• Urinary– Eliminates nitrogenous

wastes

– Maintains acid – base balance

– Regulates water and electrolytes

Organ System Overview

• Reproductive– Production

of offspring

Homeostasis

• Maintenance of a stable internal environment = a dynamic state of equilibrium

• Homeostasis must be maintained for normal body functioning and to sustain life

• Homeostatic imbalance – a disturbance in homeostasis resulting in disease

Overview of Homeostasis

Figure 1.4

Maintaining Homeostasis

• The body communicates through neural and hormonal control systems– Receptor

• Responds to changes in the environment (stimuli)

• Sends information to control center

Maintaining Homeostasis– Control center

• Determines set point

• Analyzes information

• Determines appropriate response

– Effector• Provides a means for response to the stimulus

Orientation and Directional Terms

Table 1.1

Orientation and Directional Terms

Table 1.1 (cont)

Body Landmarks

• Anterior

Body Landmarks

• Posterior

Abdominopelvic Regions

Body Planes

Body Cavities

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Figure 1.8a

Abdominopelvic Major Organs

Figure 1.8c

Clinical anatomy

• Deals with the important clinical aspects of body regions and systems

• Most relevant for your USMLE and clinical practice as a physician.

Anatomical Position

• When describing body parts it is always assumed that the patient is in anatomical position

– Standing erect, head, eyes, toes directed forward, heels and toes together, upper limbs hanging by the sides palms facing to the front.

Planes of the body

• Transverse (horizontal, axial)

• Sagital

• Coronal

TERMINOLOGY

Terms of relationship and direction

• Anterior (front, ventral),

• posterior (behind, dorsal),

• superior (above, cranial, cephalic, rostral)

• inferior (below, caudal),

• medial,

• lateral,

• intermediate

Terms of comparison

• Proximal (close to the trunk or point of origin), Distal (away from the trunk or point of origin), superficial (surface), deep (profundus or profound),

• interior (inside, inner, internal), exterior (outside, outer, external)

• Ipsilateral (same side), contralateral (opposite side), Ambilateral (both sides of body).

• Combined terms: inferomedial, anterosuperior etc.

Terms of movement

• Flexion, extension,

• abduction, adduction,

• circumduction, rotation

• Inversion (big toe up), eversion (big toe down) (feet)

• Pronation, supination (hands)

• Protraction (fwd), retraction (pull in), elevation, depression

Anatomical variations