Introduction about Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and Physiology concern with the structures and functions of human body.

Anatomy: Branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts.

Physiology: Branch of biology relating to the function of organs and organ systems.

Terms used in A&P:

 Anterior: At or near the front of the body (front view).

Posterior: At or near the back of the body (back view).

Midline: An imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally (right down the middle).

Lateral: Further from midline (side view).

Medial: Nearer to midline (side view).

Superior: Toward the head/upper part of a structure (bird’s-eye view, looking down).

Inferior: Away from the head/lower part of a structure (bottom view, looking up).

Superficial: Close to the surface of the body.

Deep: Away from the surface of the body.

Proximal: Nearer to the origination of a structure.

Distal: Further from the origination of a structure.

Body Planes

A plane is an imaginary two-dimensional surface that passes through the body. There are three planes commonly referred to in anatomy-----

The sagittal plane is the plane that divides the body or an organ vertically into right and left sides. If this vertical plane runs directly down the middle of the body, it is called the midsagittal or median plane. If it divides the body into unequal right and left sides, it is called a parasagittal plane or less commonly a longitudinal section.

The frontal plane is the plane that divides the body or an organ into an anterior (front) portion and a posterior (rear) portion. The frontal plane is often referred to as a coronal plane. (“Corona” is Latin for “crown.”)

The transverse plane is the plane that divides the body or organ horizontally into upper and lower portions. Transverse planes produce images referred to as cross sections.

Anatomical terms for describing muscles:

Origin: The relatively fixed end of muscle during natural movements of the muscle

Insertion: The relatively mobile end of the muscle during natural movements of the muscle

Belly: The fat fleshy part of the muscle which is contractile in function

Tendon: The fibrous and non-contractile part of the muscle which attaches muscle to the bone.

Aponeurosis: It is a flattened tendon arising from the connective tissues around the muscle.

Anatomical terms for describing movements:

Flexion: A movement by which the angle of a joint is decreased

Extension: A movement by which the angle of a joint is increased

Adduction: Movement toward the central axis

Abduction: Movement away from the central axis

Medial rotation: Rotation toward the medial side of the body

Lateral rotation: Rotation towards the lateral side of the body

Pronation: This movement occurs in the forearm whereby the palm is turned backwards

Supination: This movement also occurs in the forearm whereby the palm is turned forwards

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