INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMY

AND HISTOLOGY

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 HISTORY OF ANATOMY

• The word anatomy was derived from the

Greek term “anatome” consisting of two
words
Ana = apart and
Tome = cutting.
• Therefore anatomy means to
Cut apart,
Divide or
Dissect.
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 Cont…
• It also refers to the study of normal structures of
the body and their interrelationship.

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 DIVISION OF ANATOMY
1. General anatomy – the study of gross &
microscopic structures as well as the
composition of the body, its tissues & fluids.
2. Special anatomy – is the anatomy of certain
definite organs or groups of organs involved
in the performance of special function.
3. Gross ( macroscopic) anatomy –is the study
of the human body or its parts without the
help of a microscope.
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 DIVISION OF ANATOMY cont..
4. Microscopic anatomy – the study of cells, tissues
& organs of the body by the help of using the
microscope.
5. Regional or Topographic anatomy- is the
anatomy of certain related parts or divisions of
the body.
6. Systemic anatomy - the anatomy of the different
systems of the body.
7. Descriptive anatomy - deals with the description
of the physical structure of man.
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 DIVISION OF ANATOMY cont..
8. Comparative anatomy – is the comparative
study of structures with regard to
homologous organs or parts.
9. Applied anatomy – the practical application
of anatomical knowledge to the diagnosis &
treatment of disease.
10. Ultrastructural anatomy – the
ultramicroscopic study of structures too
small to be seen with light microscope.
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 DIVISION OF ANATOMY cont..
11. Developmental anatomy – anatomy of the
structural changes of an individual from
fertilization to adulthood.
12. Pathological anatomy: it is the study of
structural changes caused by diseases.
13. Radiological anatomy – the study of the
body by the help of radiographs.

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 DIVISION OF ANATOMY cont..
14. Surgical anatomy – applied anatomy in
reference to surgical diagnosis & treatment.
15. Physiological (functional) anatomy –
anatomy studied in relation to function.

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Anatomical position, terms, planes and movements

• The Anatomical Position

• is a position used as a reference when
describing parts of the body in relation to
each other.
• Used in conjunction with
©Terms of relationship,
©Terms of comparison and
©Terms of movement

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 Cont…
• A person in the anatomical position is
standing erect with the head, eyes and toes
pointing forward, feet together with arms by
the side.
• The palms of the hands are also point
forward.
• See the diagram below

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 Cont…
Note
• If palm of the hands or the subject are facing
upwards- supination
• If palm of the hands or the subject are facing
downwards- pronation

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 BASIC ANATOMIC TERMS and PLANES
• There is a "language" used by medical
practitioners of all kinds (chiropractors
(system of healing), orthopedic, surgeons,
nurses, etc.).
• Medical professionals often refer to sections
of the body in terms of anatomical planes
(flat surfaces).
• These planes are imaginary lines – vertical or
horizontal – drawn through an upright body.
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 Planes cont..
Anatomical Planes Descriptions

Divides a body into anterior &posterior

Coronal Plane or Frontal Plane or ventral & dorsal, via coronal suture

Divides a body into right and left or

Sagittal Plane or Lateral Plane medial & lateral, via sagittal suture

Divides a body into top and bottom or

Axial Plane or Transverse Plane superior and inferior

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 Anatomical Terms Direction

Medial Toward the midline of the body

Lateral Away from the midline of the body

Toward a reference point (extremity)or
Proximal
toward trunk of a body
Away from a reference point (extremity)
Distal
or away from trunk of a body
Inferior Lower or below a reference point

superior Upper or above a reference point

Cephal or Cranial nearer the Head

Caudal or Caudad away from head, tail end

Anterior(ventral) Toward the front

Posterior(dorsal) Toward the back

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 Anatomical Terms Direction

internal (deep) away from surface of the body

toward surface of the body

external (superficial)

Related to internal organs or

visceral
viscera

located on the same side of a

ipsilateral
body
located on the opposite side of a
contra lateral
body

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 1. Cranial toward the head
2. Caudal - toward the feet
3. Medial - toward the middle
4. Lateral - toward/from the side
5. Proximal - toward the attachment of a
limb
6. Distal - toward the finger/toes
7. Superior - above
8. Inferior - below
9. Anterior - toward/from the front
10. Posterior - toward/from the back
11. Peripheral - toward the surface
12. Palmar - toward/on the palm of the
hand
13. Plantar - toward/on the sole of the foot

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 ANATOMICAL MOVEMENTS

• ☞anatomical movements which take place at

joints are of angular, circular or special types

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 DESCRIPTION OF BODY MOV’TS
The description of body movements are based
on the following:
Along Longitudinal ( vertical) axis
Rotation – movement of a part of the body
along its long axis.
Medial rotation – the movement that results in
the anterior surface of the part facing medially.
Lateral rotation – the movement that results in
the anterior surface of the part facing laterally.
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 Pronation of the forearm
- Medial rotation of the forearm in such a
manner that the palm of the hand faces
posteriorly.
Supination of the forearm
- Lateral rotation of the forearm from the
pronated position. So that the hand comes to
face anteriorly.

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Along transverse axis
 Flexion – flexion of the elbow joint
approximates the anterior surface of the
forearm to the arm.
 Extension – means straightening the joint .

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– Along sagittal plane(axis) Anterior
posterior axis
Abduction – movement away from the
midline of the body in the coronal plane.
Adduction – movement toward the body in
the coronal plane.
Lateral flexion – movement of the trunk in the
coronal plane.
Circumduction – combined movement of
flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

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1. Lateral rotation
2. medial rotation
3. Supination
4. Pronation
5. Eversion
6. Inversion
7. Adduction
8. Abduction

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 Extension
Flexion

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 Special Movements
Unique to only one or two joints
Types
Elevation and Depression
Protraction and Retraction
Inversion or eversion

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 Flexion Extension

1. Lateral rotation
2. medial rotation
3. Supination
4. Pronation
5. Eversion
6. Inversion
7. Adduction
8. Abduction

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 Body Cavities and Membranes

• During embryonic development, the body is

first divided into two internal cavities:
The posterior (dorsal) body cavity and
The anterior (ventral) body cavity.

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The two major body cavities and their subdivisions. a. Left lateral view b. Frontal view.

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 Body Cavities cont…
• Posterior (Dorsal) Body Cavity
• The posterior body cavity is subdivided into
two parts:
– (1)The cranial cavity, enclosed by the bony
cranium, contains the brain.
– (2) The vertebral canal, enclosed by vertebrae,
contains the spinal cord
• The posterior body cavity is lined by three
membranous layers called the meninges.
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 Body Cavities cont…
• Anterior (Ventral) Body Cavity
• The large anterior body cavity is
subdivided into the
Superior thoracic cavity and

The inferior abdomino-pelvic cavity

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 Body Cavities cont…
• Thoracic Cavity
• The thoracic cavity is enclosed by the rib
cage, and has three portions:
The left,
The right, and
The medial portions.
• The medial portion, called the mediastinum,
contains the heart, thymus gland, trachea,
esophagus, and other structures
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• The right and left portions of the thoracic
cavity contain the lungs.

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 Clinical subdivisions of the abdomen into quadrants.

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