LECTURE: INTRODUCTORY

ANATOMY AND DESCRIPTIVE TERMS

Anatomy is the
and structure of thebranch of
biological ofscience (morphology), which deals with the form
organs and tissues principal domestic
Veterinary anatomy is the study of form and animals.
Two chief methods of
structure of principal domestic animals.
study are employed in
A. Systemic anatomy: veterinary anatomy:
here body is
apparatus which are similar in structureregarded
and are
as consisting of
systems of organs or
functioms and the structures of a associated in the
performance of certain
particular system are studied serially.
B.
Topographic (Regional) anatomy: designates the methods by
positions of various parts of the
to a definite and body are accurately determined and which the relative
limited area of surface. described in relation
Anatomy: Greek word: Ana= Apart; Tomy:
o
cutting.
Dissection: Latin word: Dis: Apart; Secare: to cut.
Branches of Anatomy:
Sub-divisons:
Gross anatomy / Macroscopic anatomy: branch of anatomy which can be studied by
eyes or without any aid. naked
Microscopic Anatomy: is the branch of anatomy which can be
microscope only and not with naked eyes (Cytology and studied with the help of aid or
Histology).
Developmental Anatomy/ Embryology: is the study of changes from
the womb during the development of an individual organism. fertilization to birth i.e. in
Applied Anatomy: directly applied to diagnosis and
treatment of disease.
Surgical Anatomy: directly applied to
treatment of surgical conditions/disease. surgical conditions of disease used in diagnosis and
Comparative Anatomy: comparison of analogous structures of different
animals.
Radiological Anatomy: study based upon the visualization of X-ray, CT scan
and MRI.
Dental Anatomy: deals with the study of structure of
tecth and related parts.

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Regional Anatomy: study of regional part or limited portion of body.
Special Anatomy: study of special (Particular)organ/parts.
Surface Anatomy: study of form and markings on the surface of the body.
Castruetural Anatomy: study of portion of cells and tissues with the aid of electron
microscope (SEM and TEM)
Cytology: study of cells and cellular oganelles
Philosophical or Transcedental Anatomy

Branches of Svstematic Anatomy:

The branches of anatomy dealing with the different systems in the animal body are as following:
Osteology: study of skeletal system (bones)
Arthrology: study ofjoints
Myology: study of muscular system (muscles)
Splanchnology: study of visceral organs (digestive, respiratory and uro-genital system)
Angiology (Cardio-vaseular system): study of circulatory system or blood vessels and heart
Neurology: study of nervous system
Aesthesiology: study of sense organs (eye, ear etc.) and common integument

Introductory Anatomical Terms: Anatomical Planes:

There are three anatomical planes of reference.

Each plane is an imaginary slice" through the body.

Median or Mid-sagittal plane: A plane that runs down the centre of the body lengthwise and
divides it intoequal left and right halves. It isalso known as mid-sagittal plane.
Plane parallel to the sagittalplane but not on the median line is called Parasagittal plane.
Transverse plane: A plane across the body that divides it into cranial (head-end) and caudal
(tail-end), those are not necessarily equal.
 Dorsal or Horizontal planc/Frontal: A plane at right angles to the sagittal and transverse
planes. It divides the body into dorsal and ventral parts that are not necessarily equal.

MEDIAL
LATERAL

. DOnSS A,

DORSAL DORSAI
ROSTRAL
CRANIAL CAUDAL
VENTRA
VENTRAL
VENTRAL

PROXIMAL

MEDIAL
DORSAL

PALMAR
oORSAL

DISTAL
DORSAL
SAGIT TAL PLANES PLANES
-MEDIAN PLANE -TRANSVERSE PLANES

Introductorv Anatomical Terms: Topographic terminology/Directional terms

the
Certain directional terms are used in anatomy for description of the various organs or parts of
is in the ordinary
body with regard to their position, direction etc. It is assumed that the animal
standing position.
Cranial and caudal refers to the ends of the animal as it stands on four legs.
o Cranial: towards head

Caudal: towards tail

Cranial, cephalicor anterior means direction towards the head.

Caudal or posterior means direction towards the tail.

especially
Rostral is aspecial term used only to describe positions or directions on the head
towards the tip of the nose.

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 animal in a standing posio
Dorsal and ventral refer to up and down" directions with the
a standing animal
Dorsal (superior) means towards the vertebral column (back) of
(ground) or towards belly of a stanaing
Ventral or inferior means towards the plane of support
animal.

Medial and lateral refers to positions relative to the median plane.

axis or midline).
Medial means towards the median plane (toward the longitudinal
Lateral means away from the longitudinal axis or median plane.
parts relative to the center or surface of
Deep and superficial refer to the position of the body
the body.
(Internal is sometimes used in place of
Deep means towards the center of the body or body part.
deep).
sometimes used in place of
Superficialmeans towards the surface of the body. (External is
superficial).
extremities, such as leg, ear and tail,
Proximal and distal are used to describe positions only on
the long axis of body.
relative to the body. Express relative distances of parts from
the body.
Proximal means towards the body and distal means away from
referred
the anterior and posterior faces are
With respect to distal parts of limbs,
of the pectoral limb and dorsal and plantar in the
as dorsal and volar respectively in the case
pelvic limb.
radial and ulnar respectively in the case of the
The medialand lateral aspects are referred as
pelvic limb.
pectoral limb and tibial and fibular in the
the structures lying towards or away from the
The terms axial and abaxial are used to denote
central axis of the limb.

Anatomical Terms:
Anterior/Cranial/Rostral: The head end of the body.

Posterior/Caudal: The tail end of the body.

Proximal: Upper or superior

 Distal: Lower or inferior
Superior: It is equivalent to upper or higher i.e.
above.
Inferior: It is equivalent to lower or under i.e.
below.
Volar: The posterior face of the distal
part of the fore limb.
Palmar: The surface of the fore linmb that
contacts the ground in standing condition.
Plantar: The contact surface of the hind limb in
standing condition.
Axial: Towards the central line of the
body or any body part.
Abaxial: Away from the axis.
Oral : The structure towards the
head/mouth.
Aboral: The structure away from the head.
Central: A part nearest the middle.
Peripheral: A part nearest the surface.
Parietal: The body wall or the wall of the
cavity.
Visceral: The viscera or organ in the cavity.
Prone: pertains to position where dorsal aspect of the
body or extremity is uppermost.
Supine: pertains to position where ventral aspect of the body is
uppermost.
Longus: long
Brevis: short

Rectus: straight
Dexter: right
Sinister: left

Actions and Directions:

Extension: Increasing the angle of a joint.
Flexion: Decreasing the angle of a joint.
Abduction: Movement away from the body.
Adduction: Movement toward the body.
medially/inward.
Pronate: Rotation of the limb to move the dorsal manus
laterally/outward.
Supinate: Rotation of the limb to move the dorsal manus