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ANA 211 1ST CLASS

The document provides an overview of human anatomy, detailing its branches: Gross Anatomy, Microscopic Anatomy, and Developmental Anatomy. It explains the anatomical position, planes of the body, directional terms, and levels of organization from cells to the human being. The information is essential for understanding the structure and function of the human body in a healthcare context.

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23 views4 pages

ANA 211 1ST CLASS

The document provides an overview of human anatomy, detailing its branches: Gross Anatomy, Microscopic Anatomy, and Developmental Anatomy. It explains the anatomical position, planes of the body, directional terms, and levels of organization from cells to the human being. The information is essential for understanding the structure and function of the human body in a healthcare context.

Uploaded by

techymichael27
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Course Code: ANA 211

Course Title: Anatomy of Upper and Lower Limbs


Date: 7th Feb, 2025

What is Human Anatomy?


Human anatomy is a branch of science that deals with the study
of the structures of the human body.
The discipline of human anatomy involves the identification and
description of the structures within the human body.

In general, anatomy can be divided into Gross Anatomy,


Microscopic Anatomy and Developmental anatomy..

A. Gross Anatomy
In the health care filed, gross anatomy (macroscopic anatomy)
refers to the study of structures that can be seen with the naked
eye, such as most bones and muscles. Gross anatomy may
involve dissection or noninvasive methods in order to examine
regions; the objective is to gain insight about the larger
structures of organs and organ systems and how they are
interconnected.
There are 2 main approaches to studying gross anatomy, they
are:
1. Regional approach:A regional approach to studying gross
anatomy involves dividing the body into specific regions or
areas, such as the upper limb, lower limb, thorax, abdomen, and
head and neck. Each region is then studied in detail, including
the bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and other structures
that comprise it. This approach allows students to focus on one
area at a time, learning the relationships between different
structures and how they function together. For example, when
studying the upper limb, students would learn about the bones of
the arm, forearm, and hand, as well as the muscles, nerves, and
blood vessels that control movement and sensation.
2. Systematic approach: A systematic approach to studying gross
anatomy involves organizing the study of the body's structures
around specific systems, such as the skeletal system, muscular
system, nervous system, and circulatory system. This approach
allows students to learn about the different components of each
system and how they work together to maintain overall health
and function.

B. Microscopic Anatomy
Microscopic anatomy is the study of tissues (Histology) and
cells (cytology) that are too small to been seen with the naked
eye, and therefore require the use of various microscopes.

C. Developmental Anatomy
Developmental anatomy is the study of the structural changes
that occur during the development of an organism from
fertilization to adulthood. It encompasses the study of
embryology, which examines the formation and development of
the embryo during the prenatal period, as well as the study of
postnatal development, which explores the growth and
maturation of the individual after birth.

Anatomical Position
The anatomical position is a very useful way to create a standard
frame of reference for the body. This position is used when
describing a person’s anatomy in order to maintain a standard
frame of reference for body orientation
The anatomical position or standard anatomical position, is
standing upright, feet together, facing forward, arms at your
sides with palms facing forward (anterior).Again, the anatomical
position is used as a universal frame of reference for body
orientation in the health care field.
Here is an example of where it is very useful. If a person were to
ask: Is the stomach inferior to the diaphragm? The answer will
not depend on whether someone is standing on their head or
bent over, etc. We can safely assume the description is with
reference to the anatomical position

Planes of the Body


1. Frontal (coronal) plane: Divides body into front and back
portions.

2. Transverse (cross, horizontal) plane: Divides body into


superior and inferior portions.

3. Sagittal (mid and parasagittal) plane: Divides body into left


and right portions. Mid-sagittal means equal left and right
portions whereas para-sagittal means unequal left and right
portions.
Directional terms in Anatomy

1. Proximal: Closer to the center of the body or point of


attachment.
2. Distal: Farther from the center of the body or point of
attachment.
3. Superior: Above or higher than another structure.
4. Inferior: Below or lower than another structure.
5. Anterior: Front or ventral side of the body.
6. Posterior: Back or dorsal side of the body.
7. Medial: Closer to the midline of the body.
8. Lateral: Farther from the midline of the body.
9. Deep: Further from the surface of the body.
10.Superficial: Closer to the surface of the body.
11. Dorsal: Toward the back.
12.Ventral: Toward the front.

Levels of Organization of the human body


This describes examining things from the fundamental building
blocks and ascending to more complex and larger structures.
Below are the levels of organization for human anatomy listed
from simplest to most complex.
A. Cells
B. Tissues
C. Organs
D. Organ systems
E. Human Being

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