This document provides an overview of human anatomy. It discusses that anatomy is the study of body structures and their relationships. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy (histology), developmental anatomy (embryology), and specialized branches. Gross anatomy studies body regions and systems. Developmental anatomy examines pre-birth developmental changes. Microscopic anatomy looks at cells, tissues, and sub-cellular structures. The document also covers basic anatomical terminology including positions, directions, planes, and movements.

1. HUMAN ANATOMY
Dr. Mohamed Elfiky
Professor of Anatomy and Embryology
Introduction to Anatomy

2. Definition of anatomy:
 It is a Greek word ( Ana-Tome): meaning
cutting up.
 Anatomy – the study of the structure of body
parts and their relationships to one another.

3. SUBDIVISIONS OF ANATOMY
 Gross Anatomy
 Microscopic Anatomy ( Histology )
 Developmental Anatomy ( Embryology )
 Specialized Branches of Anatomy

4. Gross Anatomy
 Regional – all structures in one part of the body (such as
the abdomen or leg)
 Systemic – gross anatomy of the body studied by system
 Surface – study of internal structures as they relate to the
overlying skin
Developmental Anatomy ( Embryology)
Embryology – study of developmental changes of the
body before birth
Microscopic Anatomy (Histology )
Cytology – study of the cell
Histology – study of tissues

5. Specialized Branches of Anatomy
 Pathological anatomy – study of
structural changes caused by disease
 Radiographic anatomy – study of internal
structures visualized by X ray
 Molecular biology – study of anatomical
structures at a sub-cellular level

6. Medical Terminology

7. Basic
Anatomical
Terminology

8. Basic
Anatomical
Terminology

9. Some Anatomical Directions
 Superior and Inferior
 Anterior and Posterior
 Dorsal and Ventral
 Proximal and Distal
 Medial and Lateral

10. Anatomical Position
 The anatomical position is a standardized
method of observing or imaging the body
that allows precise and consistent
anatomical references.
 When in the anatomical position, the subject
stands:
 standing upright
 facing the observer, head level
 eyes facing forward
 feet flat on the floor
 arms at the sides
 palms turned forward (ventral)

11. Positions and Directions
Terms of position and
direction describe the
position of one body part
relative to another.
It usually along one of
the three major body
planes

12. Positions and Directions
Superior
 Refers to a structure being
closer to the head or higher
than another structure in the
body
Inferior
 Refers to a structure being
closer to the feet or lower
than another structure in the
body

13. Positions and Directions
Anterior
 Refers to a structure being more
in front than another structure in
the body
Posterior
 Refers to a structure being more
in back than another structure in
the body

14. Positions and Directions
Medial
 Refers to a structure being
closer to the midline or median
plane of the body than another
structure of the body
Lateral
 Refers to a structure being
farther away from the midline
than another structure of the
body

15. Positions and Directions
Distal
(Reference to the extremities only)
 Refers to a structure being
further away from the root of
the limb than another structure
in the limb
Proximal
(Reference to the extremities only)
 Refers to a structure being
closer to the root of the limb
than another structure in that
limb

16. Distal / Proximal Cont.
 When you divide the
skeleton into Axial (Blue)
and Appendicular
(Yellow) you can better
understand the extremities
and their roots.
Proximal
Distal

17. Positions and Directions
Superficial
 Refers to a structure being
closer to the surface of the body
than another structure
Deep
 Refers to a structure being
closer to the core of the body
than another structure

18. Positions and Directions
Ventral
 Towards the front or belly
 You Vent out or your nose and mouth.
Dorsal
 Towards the back
 Like the Dorsal fin of a dolphin.

19. Positions and Directions
Prone
 Lying face down
 Like a Pro Baseball player sliding into Home.
Supine
 Lying face up
 Lying on your spine and you can have soup poured into your mouth.
Unilateral
 Pertaining to one side of the body
Bilateral
 Pertaining to both sides of the body

20. Basic body
planes or
sections
These terms are used
for planes or sections
that cut the body,
organs, tissues, or cells

21. Anatomical Planes
 Fixed lines of reference
along which the body is
often divided or sectioned
to facilitate viewing of its
structures
 Allow one to obtain a
three-dimensional
perspective by studying
the body from different
views

22. Anatomical Planes
Sagittal plane
 The plane dividing the
body into right and
left portions
 Midsagittal or median
are names for the
plane dividing the
body into equal right
and left halves

23. Anatomical Planes
Frontal (coronal) plane
 The plane dividing
the body into front
and back portions
 Also called the
Coronal plane

24. Anatomical Planes
Transverse plane
 The horizontal plane
dividing the body
into upper and lower
portions
 Also called the
Horizontal plane

25. Body planes and sections
- cut into sections along a flat surface called a plane
(also called XS – cross section)
(also called coronal)

26. Sectional Anatomy
 Describe three-dimensional structures.
 Sectional Planes:
 Transverse Planes- divide the body into
superior/inferior sections.
 Frontal Planes ( coronal )- divide the body
into anterior and posterior sections.
 Sagittal Planes : divide the body into left and
right sections.
 Midsagittal Section : divide the body into left
and right Exactly equal halves

27. Example of how planes
would cut the brain

28. Transverse plane

29. Frontal (Coronal) Plane

30. Sagittal Plane

31. Movements

32. Movements
Flexion
Extension
Hyperextension
Adduction
Abduction
Prontaion
Supination
Retraction
Protraction
Elevation
Depression
Rotation
Circumduction
External Rotation
Internal Rotation
Inversion
Eversion
Dorsiflexion
Plantarflexion
Radial Deviation
Ulnar Deviation
Opposition

33. Movements
Flexion
 Bending a joint or decreasing the
angle between two bones
 In the Fetal Position we are flexing our joints
Extension
 Straightening a joint or increasing the
angle between two bones
 In the Anatomical Position we are extending our joints
Hyperextension
 Excessive extension of the parts at a
joint beyond anatomical position.

34. Flexion / Extension / Hyperextension

35. Movements
Adduction
 Moving a body part
towards the midline of the
body
Abduction
 Moving a body part away
from the midline of the
body

36. Movements
Pronation
 Turning the arm or foot
downward
 (palm or sole of the foot -
down)
 Prone
Supination
 Turning the arm or foot
upward
 (palm or sole of the foot
- up)
 Supine

37. Movements
Retraction
 Moving a part backward
Protraction
 Moving a part forward
Elevation
 Raising a part
Depression
 Lowering a part

38. Movements
Rotation
 Turning on a single axis
Circumduction
 Tri-planar, circular motion
at the hip or shoulder
Internal rotation
 Rotation of the hip or
shoulder toward the
midline
External rotation
 Rotation of the hip or
shoulder away from the
midline

39. Movements
Lateral Flexion
 Side-bending left or
right

40. Movements of the Foot
Inversion
 Turning the sole of the foot
inward
Eversion
 Turning the sole of the foot
outward
Dorsiflexion
 Ankle movement bringing
the foot towards the shin
Plantarflexion
 Ankle movement pointing
the foot downward

41. Movements of the Wrist &Thumb
Radial Deviation
 Movement of the wrist towards
the radius or lateral side.
Ulnar Deviation
 Movement of the wrist towards
the ulna or medial side.
Opposition
 Movement of the thumb across
the palm of the hand.

42. Additional Range of Motion