Introduction to the basic human anatomy Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Mosaed

1. INTRODUCTION TO BASIC
HUMAN ANATOMY
Definitions and anatomical position

2. 1. DEFINITIONS
• Anatomy is the study of the structures of the body.
• The word anatomy is derived from Greek and
means “to cut up” or “to cut open.”
– Anatomists examine the relationships among parts of
the body along with the structure of individual organs.
• Embryology is the study of developmental changes
of the body before birth

3. 2. ANATOMICAL STUDIES
 Microscopic anatomy is the study of structures that cannot be
seen with the unaided eye. You need a microscope.
 Gross anatomy by systems is the study of organs that forming the
systems, such as the respiratory system or the digestive system.
 Gross anatomy by regions is the study of anatomical structures
present in each region such as the trunk, upper limbs, or lower
limbs.
 Neuroanatomy studies the nervous system.
 Functional anatomy is the study of relationships between
functions and structures.

4. 3. ORGANIZATION OF THE
HUMAN BODY
The human body is organized into cells, tissues, organs, systems, and the total
organism.
a. Cells are the smallest living units of body construction.
b. Tissue is a grouping of like cells working together. Examples are muscle
tissue and nervous tissue.
c. An organ is a structure composed of several different tissues performing a
particular function e.g. the lungs and the heart.
d. Systems are groups of organs which together perform an overall function.
Examples are the respiratory system and the digestive system.
e. The total organism is the individual human being.

6. REGIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY
• The human body is a single, total composite. Each part acts
in association with ALL other parts. The regions are:
• A. Head and Neck.
• B. Back and Trunk. The torso includes the back and trunk.
• The trunk includes: Thorax (chest), abdomen and the pelvis
at the lower end of the trunk.
• The perineum is the portion of the body forming the floor of
the pelvis.
• C. Members (limbs): two upper and two lower limbs
• (1) Each upper limb includes a shoulder, arm, forearm, wrist,
and hand.
• (2) Each lower limb includes a hip, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot.

8. THE ANATOMICAL POSITION
• The anatomical position is a posture of the human body
used as a standard reference throughout the medical
profession. We always speak of the parts of the body as if the
body were in the anatomical position.
• The anatomical position is described as follows:
• 1. The body stands erect, with heels together.
• 2. The head faces forward and the eyes looks also forward.
• 3. Upper limbs are along the sides, with the palms of the
hands facing forward and the thumb at a right angle with the
other fingers.

10. PLANES OF THE BODY
1. Median or midsagittal plane is the vertical plane in
the mid line of the body passes from front to back that
divides the body into equal right and left halves
2. Sagittal plane (paramedian) is a vertical plane that
passes through the body from front to back and divides
the body into right and left parts.
3. Horizontal (transverse) planes are parallel to the
floor. They are perpendicular to both the sagittal and
frontal planes. It divides the body into upper and lower
parts
4. Frontal (coronal) planes are vertical planes which pass
through the body from side to side. They are
perpendicular to the sagittal plane. It divides the body into
anterior and posterior parts

11. 1. Sagittal 2. Transverse 3. Cronal