INTRODUCTION

TO ANATOMY

MRS BINCY VARGHESE

CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR
KGMU COLLEGE OF NURSING,KGMU, LUCKNOW
 DEFINITION OF ANATOMY

ANATOMY (ana = up; tomy = process of cutting) is the

study of the structure of an organism and the relationship
of its parts.

 Itis usually studied by dissection (careful cutting

apart) of body structures to study their relationships.
 DEFINITION OF PHYSIOLOGY

PHYSIOLOGY (physio = nature; logy = study of) is the

science of body functions i.e how the body parts works.
IMPORTANT BRANCHES/SUBDISCIPLINES OF
ANATOMY

 EMBRYOLOGY: Study of structures that emerge

from the time of the fertilized egg through the eighth
week in uterus.

 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY: Study of structures

that emerge from the time of the fertilized egg to the
adult form.
 HISTOLOGY (hist = tissue): Study of microscopic
structures of tissues.

 SURFACE ANATOMY: Study of anatomical

landmarks on the surface of body such as head or
chest
 RADIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY: Study of structures
that can be seen with x-rays.

 PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY: Study of structural

changes ( from gross to microscopic) associated with
the disease.
IMPORTANT BRANCHES/SUBDISCIPLINES OF
PHYSIOLOGY

 NEUROPHYSIOLOGY (neuro = nerve): Study of

functional properties of nerve cells.

 ENDOCRINOLOGY (endo = within; crin =

secretions): Study of hormones (chemical regulators
within the body) and how they control body functions.
 CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY (cardi = heart;
vascular = blood vessels): Study of the functions of
the heart and blood vessels.

 IMMUNOLOGY: Study of how body defends itself

against disease causing agents.
 RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY (respira = to
breathe): Study of the functions of the air passages
and lungs.

 RENAL PHYSIOLOGY (ren = kidney): Study of

functions of kidneys.
 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (path = disease): Study of
functional changes associated with disease and
aging.
LEVELS OF STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION

1. THE CHEMICAL LEVEL

2. THE CELLULAR LEVEL
3. THE TISSUE LEVEL
4. THE ORGAN LEVEL
5. THE ORGAN SYSTEM LEVEL
6. THE ORGANISMAL LEVEL
 SYSTEMS OF THE HUMAN BODY

1. INTEGUEMENTARY SYSTEM
2. SKELETAL SYSTEM
3. MUSCULAR SYSTEM
4. NERVOUS SYSTEM
5. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
6. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
7. LYMPHATIC SYSTEM AND IMMUNITY
8. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
9. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
10. URINARY SYSTEM
11. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 INTEGUEMENTARY SYSTEM

Components: Skin and its structures (hair, nails, sweat

glands and oil glands)

Functions: Protection
Regulates body temperature
Eliminates some wastes
Helps make Vit. D
Detects sensation.
 SKELETAL SYSTEM

Components: Bones, joints and their associated

cartilages.

Functions: Supports and protects

Provides attachment for muscles
Helps body movements
Houses cells that produces blood cells
Stores minerals and fats.
 MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Components: Muscles.

Functions: Produce body movements

Stabilizes body positions (postures)
Generates heat
 NERVOUS SYSTEM

Components: Brain, Spinal Cord, Nerves snd special

sense organs (Eyes and Ears).

Functions: Generates nerve impulses to regulate

body activities
Detects changes in the body’s internal
and external environment.
Interprets to changes and responds by
causing muscular contractions or
glandular secretions.
 CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Components: Blood, Heart and blood vessels

Functions: Pumps blood.

Carries oxygen and nutrients and wastes
away from cells.
Blood components helps defends
against disease and repairs damages.
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM AND IMMUNOLOGY

Components: Lymphatic fluid and vessels; spleen,

thymus, lymph nodes and tonsils.

Functions: Returns protein and fluid to the blood.

Carries lipids from G.I Tract to blood
Protects against disease causing
microbes.
 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Components: Lungs, pharynx, larynx, trachea and

bronchial tubes leading into lungs.

Functions: Transfers oxygen to blood and carbon

dioxide from blood to air.
Regulates acid base balance of body
fluids.
Helps to produce sound.
 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Components: Mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach,

small and large intestine, anus, and accessory
organs such as the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder
and pancreas.

Functions: Physical and chemical breakdown of

food.
Absorbs nutrients.
Eliminates solid wastes.
 URINARY SYSTEM

Components: Kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder and

urethra.

Functions: Produce, stores and eliminates urine.

Eliminates wastes
Helps maintain the acid base balance of
body fluids.
 REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Components: Gonads (testes/ovaries) and associated

organs (uterine tubes, uterus and vagina, epididymis,
vas deferens and penis)

Functions: Gonads produce gametes (sperm or

oocytes).
Gonads release hormones and regulates
reproduction.
Associated organs transports and store
gametes .
 ANATOMICAL
TERMINOLOGY
 BODY POSITIONS

 SUPINE POSITION
When the body is lying
face up.

 PRONE POSITION
When the body is lying
face down.
 ANATOMICAL POSITION

Body is erect/standing
with arms at sides and
palms turned forward.
 BILATERAL SYMMETRY

Right and the left

portion of the body are
equally divided
 BODY CAVITIES

Two types of body cavities:

1. Ventral Cavity: Consist of Thoracic Cavity
and Abdominopelvic cavity.

2. Dorsal Cavity: Include Cranial Cavity and

Spinal cavity.
BODY CAVITIES
 BODY CAVITIES

Thoracic Cavity:
a) Pleural cavities: Surrounds the lungs. The serous
membrane is called “Pleura” that contains “pleural
fluid”.
b) Pericardial cavity: Surrounds the Heart. The
serous membrane is “Pericardium”.
c) Mediastinum: Central portion of the thoracic cavity
between the lungs. It contains Oesophagus, Trachea,
heart and large blood vessels.
 BODY CAVITIES

Abdominopelvic cavity

 Abdominal Cavity

 Pelvic Cavity
Thin filmy membrane that covers the wall surface
is known as “Parietal layer”.

The thin membrane that covers the organ is called

as “Visceral layer”
 REGIONAL NAMES

 Abdominal: Anterior torso below diaphragm

 Acromial: Shoulder
 Antebrachial: Forearm
 Antecubital: Depressed area in front of elbow
 Axillary: Armpit
 Brachial: Arm
 Buccal: Cheek (inside)
 Calcaneal: Heel of foot
 Carpal: Wrist
 Cephalic: Head
 Cervical: Neck
 Coxal: Hip
 Cranial: skull
 Crural: Leg
 Cubital: Elbow
 Cutaneous: Skin
 Digital: Fingers or toes
 Dorsal: Back or top
 Facial: Face
 Femoral: Thigh
 Frontal: Forehead
 Gluteal: Buttock
 Hallux: Great toe
 Inguinal: Groin
 Lumbar: Lower part of back between ribs and pelvis
 Mammary: Breast
 Manual: Hand
 Mental: Chin
 Nasal: Nose
 Navel: Umblicus
 Occipital: Back of lower part of skull
 Olecranal: Back of elbow
 Oral: Mouth
 Orbital or opthalmic: Eyes
 Otic: Ear
 Palmar: Palm of hand
 Patellar: Front of knee
 Pedal: Foot
 Pelvic: Lower portion of torso
 Perineal: Area between anus and genitals
 Plantar: Sole of foot
 Pollex: Thumb
 Popliteal: Area behind the knee
 Supraclavicular: Area above clavicle
 Sural: Calf
 Tarsal: Ankle
 Temporal: Side of skull
 Thoracic: Chest
 Zygomatic: Cheek
ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS
 ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS

1. Right hypochondriac region

2. Epigastric region
3. Left hypochondriac region
4. Right lumbar region
5. Umblical region
6. Left lumbar region
7. Right inguinal/iliac region
8. Hypogastric region
9. Left inguinal/iliac region
ABDOMINOPELVIC QUADRANTS
 ABDOMINOPELVIC QUADRANTS

1. Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

2. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
3. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
4. Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
DIRECTIONAL
TERMS
It describes the position of one body part relative to
another.

Directional terms Definition

Towards the head or the upper part of a

Superior (cephalic)
structure

Inferior (caudal) Away from head or lower part

Anterior (ventral) At the front of the body

At the back of the body

Posterior (dorsal)
Directional terms Definition

Medial Nearer to the midline

Lateral Farther to the midline

Intermediate Between two structures

On the same side of the body as

Ipsilateral
another structure
Directional terms Definition

On the opposite of the body from

Contralateral
another structure

Nearer to the origination of a

Proximal
structure

Farther from the origination of the

Distal
structure

Superficial On the surface of the body

Deep Away from the surface of the body

 TERMS RELATED TO ORGANS

1. Lumen: The hollow area of the organ.

2. Central and peripheral: Central means near the center
and Peripheral means towards the boundary.
3. Medullary and Cortical: Medullary refers to inner
region of an organ; Cortical means structures found in
the outer region.
4. Basal and Apical: The pointed part is called
Apical/Apex; Basal is the base.
BODY PLANES
AND SECTIONS
 PLANES

Imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the body

parts.
 PLANES

1. Sagittal plane: Vertical plane that divides the body

surface into right and left side.

a) Midsaggital/Median plane: Passes through midline

of the body/organ and divides into right and left
sides.
b) Parasagittal plane: Does not pass through the
midline. Divides the body/organ into unequal right
and left sides.
 PLANES (contd..)
2. Frontal or Coronal Plane: It divides the body into
anterior and posterior portion.
 PLANES (contd..)

3. Transverse/Cross sectional/Horizontal Plane:

Divides the body into superior and inferior portion.
 PLANES (contd..)

4. Oblique Plane: Passes through the body or an

angle between the transverse plane/sagittal or frontal
plane.