4. Planes of the Body
Three planes through the body are used to
describe the position and orientation of parts of
the body. These are:
•Median or Sagittal plane - This plane runs
through the body from the head (cephalic end) to
the feet (plantar end). A cut on the sagittal plane
of humans creates a right and left bilaterally
symmetrical half. Any plane parallel to this
through the body is known as a para-sagittal
plane.
•Coronal plane/lateral/frontal - This plane runs
through the body, also from the head to the feet,
and divides the body into front and rear
halves.
•Transverse plane - This is any plane that runs
left to right through the body and divides it into
upper and lower sections.
•Oblique plane - Any plane through the body
that is not parallel to one of the former three.
5.
6.
7. Anatomical Terms
When discussing anatomy, the following terms are used to describe
the relative positions of the parts of the body. When using these
terms, it is assumed that the body is in the anatomical position.
•Lateral - More distant to the body midline. In the anatomical position,
the radius is lateral to the ulna. A simpler example is the "thumb" is
lateral to the "pinky."
•Medial - Closer to the midline; on the inner side. The sternum (breast
plate) is medial to the clavcle (shoulder bone).
•Superior - Above, towards the cephalic (head) end. The cranial
cavity (head cavity) is superior to the scapula (shoulder blade).
•Inferior - Below, towards the plantar (foot) end. The patella (knee
cap) is inferior to the femur (thigh bone).
•Anterior - Towards the front of the body. The sternum is anterior to
the spine. Also known as ventral, but this term is not as common in
human anatomy.
•Posterior - Towards the rear/backside of the body. The fibula is
posterior to the tibia. Also known as dorsal, but this term is not as
common.
•Superficial - Closer to the skin, nearer the body surface. Skin is
superficial to the organs.
•Deep - Further from the body surface.
In the limbs, the following terms are also used:
•Distal - Further form the limb's attachment to the trunk (where
'trunk' refers to the 'torso' of the body: the body minus the head,
kneck, and limbs).
•proximal - Nearer to the limb's attachment to the trunk. The
humerous is proximal to the radius.
8.
9.
10.
11. Movement terms
All acts of movement are considered to be a mixture or a single contribution of the
following movement terms:
•Flexion - where there is a reduction in the angle between bones or parts of the
body. This term applies only to movement along the sagittal or median plane. An
example of arms flexing is lifting a dinner plate. When applied to the trunk of the
body, this term means bowing forwards.
•Adduction - where there is a reduction in the angle between bones or parts of the
body. This only applies to movement along the coronal plane.
•Abduction - the exact opposite, with an increase in the angle. Also only applies to
movement along the coronal plane.An example of this is where extending arms
outwards as if to fly.
•Rotation - is rotation of an entire limb laterally (away from the body) or medially
(towards the midline of the body).
•Pronation - this is the rotation of the hand so that the palm faces posteriorly. This is
not medial rotation as this must be performed when the arm is half flexed. Prone
means the hand is facing posteriorly.
•Supination - the rotation of the hand so that the palm faces anteriorly. The hand is
supine (facing anteriorly) in the anatomical position.
•Protrusion - is the anterior movement of an object. This term is often applied to the
jaw.
•Retrusion - the opposite of protrusion.
•Elevation - superior movement. This term is often applied to the shoulders (eg
shrugging shoulders is elevation)
•Depression - inferior movement, opposite of elevation.
•Circumduction - is a special case of movement involving adduction, flexion,
extension and abduction. The resulting movement creates a circular path of
movement. Circumduction can be done in the hip, shoulder, thumb and fingers.
•Extension - is the opposite of flexion, and there is an increase in the angle. This
term applies only to movement along the sagittal or median plane. With the trunk of
the body, this movement is bowing backwards.
12.
13.
14. Terms Definitions
Tissue
Group of cells with common
function
Basic Tissue Types
-Epithelial (covers body surfaces,
lines cavities, forms glands)
-Connective (supporting tissue)
-Muscle (contracts to produce
movement)
-Nervous (integrates and
coordinates body activities)
Types of connective tissue
-Mesenchyme
-CT Proper
-Cartilage
-Bone
-Blood
Functions of connective tissue
-Binding and support
-Protection
-Insulation
-Transportation
All connective tissues originate
from _______________
Mesenchyme
15. What are the 3 types of cartilage?
-Hyaline (most abundant in body)
-Elastic cartilage
-Fibrocartilage
Locations of hyaline cartilage
-Respiratory passages: larynx,
trachea, bronchi
-Ends of ribs (costal cartilage)
-At joint surfaces (articular cartilage)
-Nasal septum
-Epiphyseal (growth) plate
-Embryonic skeleton
Locations of elastic cartilage
-External ear
-Epiglottis
Locations of fibrocartilage
-Intervertebral discs
-Manubriosternal joint
-Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
-Meniscus of knee
16. Functions of bone
-Protects vital organs
-Support/framework
of body;shocl
absorption
-Provides
movement/muscle
attachment site
-Stores calcium and
other minerals
-Provides cavities for
fat storage
-Hematopoiesis
17. Facts about joints
-Articulations: junctions
between two or more
bones
-Structural types:
fibrous, cartilaginous,
synovial
What are the types of
fibrous joints?
-Suture
-Syndesmosis (ex.
syndesmotic screw-->
ankle)
-Gomphosis
Suture Seam of CT that joints
bones of the skull
18. •
Suture Seam of CT that joins bones of
the skull
Syndesmosis Sheet of fibrous tissue that joins
bones together
19.
20.
21. Gomphosis
-Peg-in-socket joint
-Tooth in alveolar socket held on
place with periodontal ligament
What are the types of cartilaginous
joints?
-Primary (synchondrosis)
-Secondary (symphysis)
Primary cartilaginous joint
-Bar or plate of hyaline cartilage holds
bones together
-Ex: epiphyseal plate
Secondary cartilaginous joint
-Bones united by fibrocartilage
-Ex: joints of vertebral bodies
22. Types of synovial joints
-Plane
-Hingle
-Saddle
-Condyloid
-Ball and socket
-Pivot
24. Fibrous (synarthrodial): This type of joint is held
together by only a ligament. Examples are where
the teeth are held to their bony sockets and at both
the radioulnar and tibiofibular joints.
29. Plane (planar) synovial joint
-Gliding, sliding
-Ex: AC joint
Hinge synovial joint
-Flexion/extension
-Ex: elbow
Pivot synovial joint
-Round bony process fits into
bony-ligamentous socket for
rotation
-Ex: atlantoaxial joint (C1=
atlas/holds up the world; C2 =
axis?)
Saddle synovial joint
-Concave and convex parts
-Ex: 1st CMP joint
Ball and socket synovial joint
-Rounded head fits into a
cavity
-Ex: Shoulder and hip joints
Conydloid synovial joint
-Oval shape fits into concavity
-Ex: MCP joint
30. What are the 3 types of
muscle?
-Skeletal
-Cardiac
-Smooth
Elements of skeletal
muscle
-Direct
-Indirect: tendon; aponeurosis;
raphe
-Origin
-Insertion
