‫السالم عليكم و رحمة هللا وبركاته‬

Congratulation for all of you

For joining college of
basic medical science
I wish you a very fruitful year
Introduction
By
Dr. Elsayed Salem
Professor and HOD
of Human Anatomy
Nile University of Nigeria
 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you are expected to:
1- Know the definitions related to anatomy.
2- Know the anatomical position and other positions
of the body.
3- Know the anatomical planes.
4- Know the anatomical terms:
- Directional (positional) terms.
- Terms related to movements.
Finally, you will know

“ How anatomy is described”

 ?What is anatomy (or dissection)
Anatomy is the science dealing with description of
- the different structures of the body
- and relationships between these structures.
• Anatomy is a Greek term composed of two parts:
ANA- (means part)
+ TOME- (means cutting)
= to separate parts.
• The Latin equivalent of anatomy is

dissecare from which the word

dissection is derived.
 Definitions
 Gross anatomy (macroscopic anatomy):
It is the study of anatomy using the naked eye.
 Microscopic anatomy (Histology) :
Is the study of the fine structure of different parts
of the body using microscopes.
 Radiological anatomy:
Is the study of anatomy by using different
radiological methods as plain X-Ray,
CT scans (compurarized axia topography),
MRI (magnetic resonance image)
and ultrasonography.
 Definitions (continued)
Surface anatomy: Is the study
of
the surface landmarks of
important anatomic structures
and their projections on
the surface of the body.
 Definitions (continued)
 Basic anatomy:
is the study of the minimal amount of anatomy
consistent with understanding of the overall
structure and function of the body.
 Clinical anatomy:
Is the study of anatomy as it relates to the practice of
medicine and other health sciences.

 Surgical anatomy:
Is the study of anatomy as it
relates to
the practice of surgery.
How anatomy
?is described
 Anatomical position
It is the position of the
body according to which
anatomy is described.
In this position,
The body is standing erect
with the arms and hands
by the sides, the palms of
the hands facing
forwards with the thumbs
turned outward, and the
feet together.
 Other body positions
• The supine position:
The body is lying on the back
(face is directed upward).

• The prone position:

The body is lying on the face
(face is directed downward).
Supine position
.)face is directed upward(

Dr. Elsayed Salem

The body is lying on the back

Prone position

Dr. Elsayed Salem

The body is lying on the face

(face is directed downward).

Anatomical planes

Of the body
Right half
Planes of the body
Median plane-1
It divides the body into

equal halves 2
Dr. Elsayed Salem

left half
Right part Planes of the body
Paramedian plane -2

It divides the body into

Dr. Elsayed Salem

unequal parts 2

left part
 Transverse plane-3

Dr. Elsayed Salem It divides the body into

& Upper part

Lower part

Planes of the body

 Coronal plane -4 It divides the body into

Posterior part Anterior part

Dr. Elsayed Salem

Planes of the body

 Planes of the body
 Sagittal plane (sagitta = an arrow):
It divides the body into right and left parts.

1 - Median sagittal plane:

It divides the body into two equal halves (right and
left).

2- Paramedian sagittal:
It divides the body into two unequal parts (right and left
parts).
3- Transverse plane:
It is the plane which divides the body into upper and
lower parts.
4- Coronal plane (corona = crown):
It divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.
Anatomical
terms
Terms of anatomy
 These are the words
used to describe anatomy.
 Most of these terms are
Greek or Latin words (i.e.: not English).
• To understand anatomy,
you must know the meaning of
each anatomic term.
- These terms are relative (not absolute)
Describe one part of the body in relation to
another part.
Terms of anatomy (continued)
I- Directional terms
1- Anterior and posterior:
- Anterior:
= ventral (toward the abdomen)
= Palmar (in the hand)
= Planter (in the foot).
- Posterior:
= Dorsal (toward the back).
Dr. Elsayed Salem

Anterior = Ventral
= Palmar In the hand
= Planter In the foot

Anterior and posterior

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posterior = Dorsal
= Dorsal In the hand
= Dorsal In the foot

Anterior and posterior

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Upper = Superior
= Cephalic towards the head
Lower = Inferior
= Caudal towards the tail

Upper and lower

Directional terms (continued)

2- Upper and lower:

- Upper:
= superior
= cranial (upper part of the head)
= cephalic (the head).
- Lower:
= inferior
= caudal (toward the tail).
 Midline
Inner = Internal
= Medial
This word means
towards the midline
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Outer = External
= Lateral
This word means

Away from the midline

Medial and lateral

 In the forearm

Medial = Ulnar
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Lateral =Radial

Medial and lateral

 In the leg

Medial = Tibial
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Lateral = Fibular

Medial and lateral

 Directional terms (continued)

3- Medial and lateral

- Medial:
Is nearer to
the median plane of the body.
- Lateral:
Is away from

the median plane of the body.

 Directional terms (continued)

Medial and lateral:

• In the forearm:
Medial = ulnar and
Lateral = radial .
• In the leg:
Medial = tibial and
Lateral = fibular .
 In the limbs

Proximal means
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Nearer to the trunk

Distal means
Away from the trunk

Proximal and distal

 Directional terms (continued)

4- Proximal and distal

(used in the limbs):
- Proximal: nearer to
the origin of the limb from the trunk.
- Distal: away from
the origin of the limb from the trunk.
 the surface of the body
Superficial = External
Which means
. Elsayed Salem Nearer to the surface

Deep = Internal
Which means
Away from the surface

Superficial and deep Or (external and internal)

 the surface of the body
Superficial = External
Which means
. Elsayed Salem Nearer to the surface

Deep = Internal
Which means
Away from the surface

Superficial and deep Or (external and internal)

 Directional terms (continued)
5- Superficial and Deep
(External and internal)
- Superficial = External:
Toward the surface of the body or an organ.

- Deep = Internal:
Away from the surface of
the body or an organ.
 Midline Ipsilateral
refers to structures
Elsayed Salem
in the same side of the body

Contralateral
refers to structures
in opposite sides of the body

Ipsilateral and Contralateral -6

 Directional terms (continued)
6- Ipsilateral and Contralateral

- Ipsilateral:
refers to structures
in the same side of the body.
- Contralateral:
refers to structures
on different sides of the body.
II- Terms related to movements
• How can you name movements?

- The movements occur in joints

by movements of a part of the body
proximal or distal to the joint.

- Each movement is named either

by the joint occurring in it or
by the part of the body distal to this joint.
 Extension Flexion

Is the movement of Is the movement of

Dr. Elsayed Salem
a part of the body a part of the body

Postariorly Antariorly

Flexion and Extension

Terms related to movements
 Laterally
in the coronal plane

the trunk or the head

Dr. Elsayed Salem
It is the movement of
Lateral flexion

Lateral flexion
)in the head and trunk(
Lateral flexion
of the head
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Lateral flexion
of the trunk
 Terms related to movements
1- Flexion and extension
These are movement occurring in the sagittal plane of the body.
- Flexion:
It is anterior movement of any part of the body except the leg
(anterior movement of the leg leads to extension of the knee).

- Extension:
It is posterior movement of any part of body except the leg.
(posterior movement of the leg leads to flexion of the knee).

- Lateral flexion:
It is the movement of the trunk or the head in the coronal plane.
 Abduction

Dr. Elsayed Salem

Adduction

Abduction and adduction

Terms related to movements
 Abduction
Is the movement of a part of the body
away from .the midline of the body

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Is the movement of a part of the body

Adduction
towards .the midline of the body

Abduction and adduction

Terms related to movements
 Terms related to movements

Abduction and adduction

Abduction:
Is the movement of a part of the body
away from the midline of the body.
Adduction:
Is the movement of a part of the body
toward the midline of the body.
Abduction and adduction In the hand
Axis of the hand
Adduction of the fingers

Is the movement of the fingers

towards the axis of the hand
Dr. Elsayed Salem
Abduction of the fingers

Is the movement of the fingers

Away from the axis of the hand

Terms related to movements

 Terms related to movements
- Abduction and adduction of the fingers :
are the movements of the fingers
away from or toward the axis of the hand
(the middle finger).
- Abduction and adduction of the toes:
are the movements of the toes
away from or toward the axis of the foot
(the second toe).
 Lateral rotation
Is the movement which turns
The anterior surface of the body
Laterally Dr. Elsayed Salem

Medial rotation

Is the movement which turns

The anterior surface of the body Medially

Lateral rotation and Medial rotation

Terms related to movements
 Terms related to movements

Medial rotation and lateral rotation

Is the movement of a part of the body around its axis.

Medial rotation:
Is the movement which turns the
anterior surface of a part of a limb medially.

Lateral rotation:
Is the movement which turns the
anterior surface of a part of a limb laterally.
 Dr. Elsayed Salem

Supination Pronation
Is the medial rotation of the forearm so that the palm of the hand faces posteriorly

Is the lateral rotation of the forearm so that the palm of the hand faces anteriorly
 Terms related to movements
Pronation and Supination
(of the forearm)

Pronation:
Is the medial rotation of the forearm so that
the palm of the hand faces posteriorly.
Supination:
Is the lateral rotation of the forearm so that
the palm of the hand faces anteriorly.
 Dr. Elsayed Salem

Inversion Eversion

Is the movement of the foot so Is the movement of the foot so

that that
the sole of the foot faces medially the sole of the foot faces laterally

Eversion and inversion of the foot

 Terms related to movements
Inversion and Eversion of the foot
Inversion:
Is the movement which directs
the sole of the foot medially.

Eversion:
Is the movement which directs
the sole of the foot laterally.
Circumduction

Dr. Elsayed Salem

 Circumduction
Is the combination in sequence
of the movements of
- flexion,
- abduction,
- extension and
- adduction.
Thank you