INTRODUCTION TO

HUMAN
ANATOMY
Definition
 Anatomy=the study of the
structure of the human body.

 Ana= through.
 Tom = cut or dissect.
The Anatomical
Position
 The standard reference
position
 The body stands erect in
upright position.
 The face & eyes look
forward.
 Upper limbs beside the
trunk and the thumb is
directed laterally.
 Lower limbs and the heels
beside each other.
ANATOMICAL PLANES
 ANATOMICAL PLANES
 Sagittal plane is vertical plane that passes
through the body from front to back.
 The median or midsagittal plane is the
vertical plane that divides the body into right
and left halves.
 Coronal plane is vertical plane which pass
through the body from side to side.
 transverse plane is parallel to the floor.
METHODS OF STUDYING
ANATOMY

(1) Systematic anatomy

(2) Topographical or regional

anatomy
Levels of Structural Organization

 Cellular
 Tissue
 Organ
 system
 Organism
The body regions
Sub-regions of the upper limb
 Fingers

1. Thumb
2. Index
3. Middle
4. Ring
5. Little
Sub-regions of the
lower limb
•Gluteal
•Hip
•Thigh
•Knee
•Leg
•Foot
 TERMS OF POSITION
•Superior means nearer to the head.
• Inferior means farer from head or nearer to the
feet.
•Anterior (or ventral) means nearer to front of body.
•Posterior(or dorsal) means nearer to back of body.
• Medial means toward or nearer the midline of
body.
• Lateral means faraway from the midline of body.
•Proximal means nearer to shoulder joint or hip
joint.
•Distal means away from shoulder joint or hip joint.
•Superficial means closer to the surface of body.
•Deep means toward the center of body or body
part.
Superior means nearer to the head.
Inferior means farer from the head or
nearer to the feet.
Anterior (or ventral) means nearer to
the front of the body.
Posterior (or dorsal) means nearer to
the back of the body.
 Medial means toward or nearer the midline
of the body.
 Lateral means away from the midline or
toward the side of the body.
Proximal
means nearer
to the
shoulder joint
or the hip
joint.
Distal means
further away
from the
shoulder joint
or the hip
joint.
 Superficial means closer to the surface of the
body.
 Deep means toward the center of the body or
body part.
 TERMS OF MOVEMENT
Flexion: bending anteriorly.
Extension: straightening or bending posteriorly.
Abduction: movement away from median plane.
Adduction: movement toward median plane.
Medial rotation (internal rotation): brings the
anterior surface of a limb closer to median plane.
Lateral rotation (external rotation): takes the
anterior surface away from the median plane.
Circumduction: is a circular complex movement
formed from rapid successive movements;
flexion, extension, adduction and abduction.
Flexion: bending anteriorly
Extension: straightening or bending
posteriorly
Dorsiflexion describes
flexion at the ankle joint,
as occurs when lifting the
toes off the ground.

Plantarflexion turns the

foot or toes toward the
plantar surface (e.g.,
when standing on your
toes).
lateral flexion: Movement of
the trunk in the coronal plane
• abduction: movement away from the median
plane
• Adduction: movement toward the median
plane
Circumduction: is a circular movement
Pronation: is the rotational movement of the
forearm so that the palm of the hand faces
posteriorly
Supination: is the rotational movement of the
forearm so that the palm faces anteriorly
Eversion: turning the sole laterally

Inversion: facing the sole medially

The end