UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST
Cape Coast, Ghana
Cape Coast, Ghana
Overview of Anatomy
MLS 203A: Anatomy I
Sir Aboagye
• Frederic H. Martini, Inc., Michael J. Timmons, and Robert B. Tallitsch. Human
Anatomy. Seventh edition, 2012. Published by Pearson Education, Inc.,
•Definition of Anatomy
•Human anatomy is concerned with the structural
organization of the human body
•Anatomical terminologies are principally of Greek and
Latin derivation
•Anatomy (Greek word) = “to cut up”
•Physiology (Greek word) = “the study of nature” The
“nature” of an organism is its function
Planes of Reference
Anatomical plane is imaginary line used to divide the body
into various parts
Sagittal plane extends vertically through the body dividing it
into right and left portions
Midsagittal (median) plane is a sagittal plane that passes
lengthwise through the midplane of the body, dividing it equally
into right and left halves
Coronal, or frontal, planes also pass lengthwise and divide
the body
into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions
Transverse planes, also called horizontal, or cross-
sectional, planes, divide the body into superior (upper) and
inferior (lower) portions`
Anatomical Position
All terms of direction that describe the relationship of
one body part to another are made in reference to the
anatomical position.
In the anatomical position:-
-the body is erect,
-the feet are parallel to each other
and flat on the floor,
-the eyes are directed forward, and
-the arms are at the sides of the
body with the palms of the hands
turned forward and
-the fingers pointed straight down
Terms of relationship and comparison
Term Definition
Superior (cranial, Toward the head;
cephalic) Toward the top
Inferior (caudal) Away from the head;
Toward the bottom
Anterior (ventral) Toward the front
Posterior (dorsal) Toward the back
Medial Toward the midline of the body
Terms of relationship and comparison
Term Definition
Lateral Away from the midline of the body
Internal (deep) Away from the surface of the body
External (superficial) Toward the surface of the body
Proximal Toward the trunk of the body
Distal Away from the trunk of the body
Combined terms
• Describes intermediate positional arrangements
• Inferomedial- near to the feet and median plane e.g. the anterior part of ribs run
inferomedially
• Superolateral – near to the head and farther away from the median plane e.g.
should lies superolateral
• Dorsolateral-
• Dorsomedial-
• Inferolateral-
Terms of Laterality
• Bilateral- Paired structures having left and right members e.g. kidney
• Unilateral- Structures occuring on one side of the body only e.g. spleen
• Ipsilateral- structure occuring on the same side as another e.g. right thumb and
great right toe are ipsilateral
• Contralateral- structure occuring on the opposite side as another e.g. right hand is
contraleteral to left hand
Body regions
• Head= facial and cranial regions
– Facial-the orbital (eye), nasal (nose), oral (mouth) and auricular (ear)
regions
– Cranial (underlying bones)-the frontal, temporal parietal, zygomatic, and
occipital regions
• Neck= the cervical region, supports the head and permits it to move.
• Trunk, or torso= neck and upper and lower extremities attach
– Thorax, abdomen, and pelvic region
– The thorax or thoracic region = chest
• Breast with sternal region inbetween
• The armpit/axillary fossa/axilla
• vertebral region
Body regions contd.
Abdomen
•Located below the
thorax
•The umbilicus (navel)
at the center
•Nine regions to
describe the location
of internal organs.
Body regions contd.
Location Internal Organs
Right Gallbladder; portions of liver and right kidney
hypochondriac-
Epigastric- Portions of liver, stomach, pancreas, and
duodenum
Left hypochondriac Spleen; splenic flexure of colon; portions of left
kidney and small intestine
Right lateral Right- Cecum; ascending colon; hepatic flexure;
portions of right kidney and small intestine
Umbilical- Jejunum; ileum; portions of duodenum, colon,
kidneys, and major abdominal vessels
Body regions contd.
Location Internal Organs
Left lateral Descending colon; portions of left kidney and
small intestine
Right inguinal Appendix; portions of cecum and small intestine
Pubic (hypogastric)- Urinary bladder; portions of small intestine and
sigmoid colon
Left inguinal- Portions of small intestine, descending colon,
and sigmoid colon
Body regions contd.
Pelvic Region
•The lower portion of the trunk
•Pubic area-
pubic hair in sexually mature
individuals
•The perineum-
contains the external sex organs
and the anal opening
•The sacral region-
vertebral column terminates.
•The large hip muscles form the buttock,
or gluteal region
This region is a common
injection site for hypodermic
needles.
BODY CAVITIES AND MEMBRANES
•Body cavities are confined spaces within the body
• They contain organs that are protected, compartmentalized,
and supported by associated membranes
• Two principal body cavities:
The posterior (dorsal) body cavity - contains the brain
and the spinal cord
The larger anterior (ventral) body cavity=
upper thoracic cavity and and
lower abdominopelvic cavity separated by the
muscular diaphragm
•The thoracic cavity contains
• Two pleural cavities surrounding the right and left lungs
•Pericardial cavity surrounding the heart
• The area between the two pleural cavities is known as the
mediastinum
•Within the mediastinum lie trachea, oesophagus,
ascending aorta, superior vena cava, nerves
Body Membranes
•Body membranes -thin layers of connective and epithelial tissue
that cover and support visceral organs and line body cavities
•There are two basic types:
1. Mucous membranes -secrete a thick, sticky fluid called mucus
Mucus generally lubricates or protects the associated organs
Oral and nasal cavities, respiratory, reproductive and digestive
systems
2. Serous membranes- secrete watery lubricant called serous fluid
Pleurae are serous membranes associated with the lungs
Pericardial membranes are the serous membranes covering the
heart.
Peritoneal membranes line the abdominal cavity
