This document provides an overview of human anatomy for health science students. It defines anatomy as the study of body structure and outlines its three main disciplines: gross anatomy, histology, and embryology. The document also describes the main approaches used to study anatomy, such as systemic, regional, and clinical anatomy. Key anatomical terms are defined, including directions, planes, and types of body movement. Diagrams are included to illustrate the major body cavities and regions.

1. Handout for Health Science Students
Prepared by: Zerihun Kindie (M.Sc. in Anatomy)

2.  Anatomy is the field of science that studies
body’s structure
 Ana = “apart” and tomy = “to cut” to cut
apart Dissecting body to study body’s
structure
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4.  Anatomy can be divided into three disciplines:
1. Gross (macroscopic) anatomy
2. Histology (microscopic anatomy)
3. Embryology (developmental anatomy)
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5.  Anatomy is the setting in which the events of life
occur
 Three main approaches to study anatomy are:
◦ Systemic anatomy
◦ Regional anatomy
◦ Clinical/applied anatomy
◦ Surface anatomy
◦ Radiological anatomy
◦ Pathological anatomy 5
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6.  The study of the body's organ systems that
work together to carry out complex functions.
 The basic systems and the field of study or
treatment of each are:
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8.  Considers the organization of the human body as major
parts or segments
A main body, consisting of
 Head and Neck,
 Trunk
 upper limbs & lower limbs
 Trunk subdivides into:
◦ Thorax
◦ Abdomen
◦ Back
◦ Pelvis and perineum
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9.  Body erect
 feet slightly apart
 palms facing forward
 thumbs point away from
body
Figure 1.7a

10.  The terms that are formed to be used in the
study of anatomy, by FICAT in 1998
 The use of anatomical terminology should
conform to the new Terminologia Anatomica
◦ Pharyngotympanic tube (auditory /eustachian tube)
◦ Internal thoracic artery (internal mammary artery)
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11.  Many terms provide information about structure's:
◦ Shape- Piriformis muscle, is pear shaped
◦ Palmaris longus—long
◦ Location - Temporal muscle
◦ Function - Levator scapulae elevates the scapula
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12.  Sagittal – divides the
body into right and left
parts
 Midsagittal or medial –
sagittal plane that lies
on the midline
 Frontal or coronal –
divides the body into
anterior and posterior
parts
 Transverse or
horizontal (cross
section) – divides the
body into superior and
inferior parts
 Oblique section – cuts
made diagonally

13.  Superior = nearer to the vertex, the topmost point
of the cranium
 Inferior = nearer to the sole of the foot
 Caudal = toward the tail region, represented in
humans by the coccyx
 Posterior (dorsal) = back surface of the body or
nearer to the back
 Anterior (ventral) = front surface of the body
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15.  Medial = nearer to the median plane of the body
 Lateral =farther away from the median plane
 Dorsum = Superior aspect of any part that
protrudes anteriorly from the body
 Inferomedial = nearer to the feet and median plane
 Superolateral = nearer to the head and farther
from the median plane
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16.  Superficial = nearer to the body’s surface
 Intermediate = average between superficial and deep
 Deep = farther from the body’s surface
 External = outside of or farther from the center of an
organ or cavity
 Internal = inside or closer to the center, independent
of direction
 Proximal = nearer to the attachments of the limbs to
the trunk
 Distal = farther from the attachments of the limbs to
the trunk
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17.  Bilateral = paired structures having right and left
members (e.g., kidneys)
 Unilateral = structure occurring on one side only
(e.g., spleen)
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18.  Flexion = Indicates bending or decreasing the angle
between the bones or parts of the body
 Extension = Indicates straightening or increasing the
angle between the bones or parts of the body
 Dorsiflexion = flexion at the ankle joint
 Plantarflexion = bends the foot and toes toward the
ground, as when standing on your toes
 Hyperextension = extension of a limb or part beyond
the normal limit
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20.  Abduction= Moving away from the median plane
 Adduction = Moving toward median plane, except for digits
 Circumduction
◦ It is a circular movement that involves sequential
flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction
◦ In this movement distal end of part moves in a circle
◦ It can occur at any joint at which all the above-
mentioned movements are possible
 E.g., the shoulder and hip joints
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21. Table 1.1a

22. Table 1.1b

23. Figure 1.9a
Cranial cavity
(contains brain)
Diaphragm
Abdominal cavity
(contains digestive
viscera)
Pelvic cavity
(contains bladder,
reproductive organs,
and rectum)
Vertebral cavity
(contains spinal
cord)
Key:
Dorsal body cavity
Ventral body cavity
Thoracic
cavity
(contains
heart
and lungs)
(a) Lateral view
Dorsal
body
cavity
Ventral
body cavity
(thoracic
and
abdomino-
pelvic
cavities)

24.  Thoracic cavity is subdivided into two pleural
cavities, the mediastinum, and the pericardial
cavity
◦ Pleural cavities – each houses a lung
◦ Mediastinum – contains the pericardial cavity;
surrounds the remaining thoracic organs
◦ Pericardial cavity – encloses the heart

25. Figure 1.9b
(b) Anterior view
Superior
mediastinum
Pleural
cavity
Cranial
cavity
Vertebral
cavity
Pericardial
cavity within
the mediastinum
Thoracic
cavity
(contains
heart
and lungs)
Key:
Dorsal body cavity
Ventral body cavity

26. Figure 1.9b
Abdomino-
pelvic
cavity
Cranial
cavity
Vertebral
cavity
Diaphragm
Abdominal cavity
(contains digestive
viscera)
Pelvic cavity
(contains bladder,
reproductive organs,
and rectum)
(b) Anterior view
Key:
Dorsal body cavity
Ventral body cavity

27. Figure 1.11b

28.  Right upper
 Left upper
 Right lower
 Left lower
Figure 1.12

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