Introduction to

Human Anatomy
EXSS 175 - Human Anatomy

Definition of Human
Anatomy

A & P provides foundation for

understanding body parts and
function
Anatomy defined:
The process of cutting up
The science of body structures and the

relationships among them

Physiology defined:

Science of body functions

Types of Anatomy

Gross Anatomy
Study of structures that can be examined without

a microscope (i.e. dissection)

Clinically Oriented Anatomy

Emphasizes structure and function
Relates to medicine and other health sciences

Surface Anatomy
Visualization in the minds eye of structures

that lie beneath the skin

Surface Anatomy

Principal Systems of the

Body

Skeletal
Articular
Reproductive
Urinary/Renal
Muscular

Nervous
Digestive
Endocrine
Respiratory
Cardiovascular
Lymphatic
Integumentary

Skeletal System

Components:
All bones (associated cartilages and joints)

Functions:
Supports and protects body
Provides surface area for muscle

attachments
Assists in body movements
Bone cells store and create blood cells

Articular System

Components:
The joints of the body
Basically combined with skeletal system

Reproductive System

Components:
Gonads: Testes and Ovaries
Associated organs
Internal vs External

Functions:
Produce reproductive cells (sperm & ova)
Transportation and storage of reproductive cells
Release of regulatory hormones

Urinary System

Renal
Components:
Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra

Functions:
Produce, store and eliminate urine (waste)
Regulates volume & chemical composition of

blood
Regulates fluid & electrolyte balance

Muscular System

Components:
Skeletal muscle tissue
Smooth muscle tissue (visceral)
Cardiac muscle tissue

Functions:
Produces movement
Maintain posture
Production of heat

Nervous System

Components:
Brain, spinal cord, nerves, special sense organs

(i.e. eyes and ears)

Central and Peripheral

Functions:
Regulates body activities (nerve impulses)
Detects changes in int/ext environment

(interprets)
Muscle contraction and glandular secretions
Most important system for sustaining life

Endocrine System

Components:
All hormone-producing glands (pituitary,

thyroid, hypotalamus, pancreas, etc)

Hormone-producing cells in other organs

Functions:
Regulates body activities through hormones
Works hand-in-hand with the nervous system
Transports chemicals in the blood to various

target organs of the body

Digestive System

Components:
Gastrointestinal (GI) tract

and associated organs

(salivary glands, liver,
gallbladder, pancreas)

Functions:
Achieves physical and

chemical breakdown of
food
Absorbs nutrients
Eliminates solid wastes

Respiratory System

Components:
Lungs and series of associated passageways

(pharynx, larynx, trachea)

Functions:
Transfers O2 from inhaled air to blood
Transfers CO2 from blood to exhaled air
Regulates acidbase balance of body fluids
Air flowing out of lungs through vocal cords

produces sounds

Cardiovascular System

Often referred to as the circulatory

system
Components:
Blood, heart, and blood vessels

Functions:

Blood carries O2 and nutrients to cells

Carries CO2 and wastes from cells
Regulates acidbase balance, temperature, &

H2O content of body fluids

Help defend against disease and mend
damaged blood vessels

Lymphatic System

Components:
Lymphatic fluid/vessels, spleen, tonsils, etc

Functions:
Returns proteins and plasma to CV system
Carries lipids from GI tract to blood
Protect against disease-causing microbes

Integumentary System

Components:
Skin and structures derived from it such as:
hair, nails, sweat and oil glands

Functions:

Protects the body

Helps regulate body temperature
Eliminates some waste
Detects sensations such as touch, pain,
warmth, and cold

Anatomical Terminology

Allows us to
communicate
clearly
Learn the
language of
anatomy!
Need to understand

the fundamentals

Anatomical Position

Always referenced to
this position!!!
Anatomical Position:
Standing Upright
Arms at sides
Head facing forward
Feet flat on floor, facing
forward
Palms facing forward

Anatomical Position

Body lying face

down
Prone

Body lying face up

Supine

Regional Names

Head: Skull and face

Neck: Supports the head and attaches it to trunk
Trunk: Chest, abdomen, and pelvis
Upper limbs/extremity: shoulder, armpit, arm,

forearm, wrist, hand, and finger

Lower limbs/extremity: buttock, thigh, leg,
ankle, foot, and toes

Descriptors usually derived from Greek or

Latin
Armpit Axilla (i.e. axillary nerve)

Directional Terms

Used by anatomists to locate

structures
Words that describe the position of
one body part relative to another
Mostly grouped into pairs (i.e.
anterior/posterior, superior/inferior,
etc.)

Directional Terms (contd)

Superior

(caudal)
Away from head or lower
part of structure

(cranial or cephalic)
Towards the head or
upper part of structure

Anterior

Medial
Nearer to the midline

Posterior
(dorsal or back)
Nearer to back of the body

(ventral or belly side)

Nearer to front of the
body

Inferior

Lateral
Farther from the midline

Directional Terms (Contd)

Proximal

Nearer to point of

Farther from point of

attachment of a limb
to the trunk; nearer to
origination of a
structure

Superficial
Toward or on surface

of body

Distal
attachment of a limb
to the trunk; farther
from origination of a
structure

Deep
Away from surface of

body

Directional Terms (Contd)

Internal (central)

Toward or in interior

Ipsilateral

Toward or on exterior

On same side of body

outer wall of body

cavity

Contralateral
On opposite side of

body

Parietal
Pertaining to forming

External (peripheral)

Visceral
Pertaining to covering

of organ in ventral
cavity

Body Cavities

Spaces that contain internal organs

Function:
Help to protect, separate and support

organs

Principal Body Cavities

Cranial cavity
Vertebral cavity
Thoracic cavity
Abdominopelvic cavity

Cranial & Vertebral Cavity

Cranial cavity:
Formed by the cranial bones
Contains the brain

Vertebral cavity:
Formed by the vertebral column
Contains the spinal cord

Both cavities are lined with 3 layers of

protective (meninges) tissue

Thoracic (Chest) Cavity

Formed by the ribs, chest muscles (diaphragm),

sternum, thoracic portion of vertebral column (V.C.)
3 compartments:
Pericardial cavity: fluid-filled space that surrounds the heart
Pleural cavities (2): Each pleural cavity surrounds one lung

and contains a small amount of fluid

Mediastinum: Region between the lungs, extending from the
sternum to the V.C. and from neck to the diaphragm
Contains all the thoracic organs except the lungs themselves
Heart, esophagus, trachea, thymus, and several large blood vessels

Separated from abdominopelvic cavity by diaphragm

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Extends from diaphragm to groin

Enclosed by abdominal wall and pelvic
bones/muscles
2 compartments:

Abdominal cavity: Contains the stomach, spleen,

liver, gall-bladder, small intestine and most of

large intestine
Pelvic cavity: Contains the urinary bladder,
portions of large intestine, and internal he
reproductive organs

Organs inside the thoracic and

abdominopelvic cavity are called viscera

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Clinically divided
into 4 parts
(quadrants)
Right Upper (RUQ)
Left Upper (LUQ)
Right Lower (RLQ)
Left Lower (LLQ)

A 9-region division
more widely used for
anatomical studies

4 Abdominopelvic Quadrants
LUQ

RUQ

Liver, Gall
bladder,
Ascending Colon,
Right Kidney

Spleen, Body of
Stomach, Descending
Colon, Left Kidney,
Pancreas

LLQ

RLQ

Cecum, Appendix

Navel
(umbilicus)

Sigmoid Colon

Body CavitiesSummary
Anterior
Thoracic (3) Abdominopelvic
(superior)
(inferior)

Abdominal
Pleural
Pelvic
Pericardial
Mediastinum

Posterior
Cranial

Vertebral

Cranial bones
Brain

Spine
Spinal cord
Nerves