Anatomy

1. ANATOMY
By Dr Alpha K. Sheriff
School of Clinical
Sciences

2. Definition
• Anatomy: is the branch of biology concerned
with the study of the structure of organisms
and their parts.
• It is a term derived from the Greek word- “
teminein” meaning to cut, hence it study has
been linked at its origin – to DISSECTION.

3. IMPORTANCE OF ANATOMY
• ANATOMY forms the basis for the practice of
medicine.
• It leads physicians towards an understanding
of a patient’s disease whether he or she is
carrying out physical examinations or using
the most advance imaging techniques.
• It is also important for Dentists, Radiologist,
physiotherapists and all other clinicians.

4. • ANATOMY can be studied following either a
REGIONAL or a SYSTEMIC approach.
REGIONAL APPROACH: - Each region of the human
body is studied separately and all aspect of that
region is studied at the same time. Ex Study of the
Thorax- includes all of its structures are examined
including its “vasculature, the nerves, the bones,
the muscles and all other structures and organs.
The same is applied to other regions like Abdomen,
Pelvis, Upper limb, Lower Limb, Back, and Head and
Neck.

5. Cont’
SYSTEMIC APPROACH: - Each system is studied and
followed throughout the entire body. Ex Studying
the:
• Cardiovascular system looks at the Heart and all
of the Blood Vessels in the body
• Nervous System Comprises of the Brain, Spinal
Cord and all the nerves
• Other systems include RESPIRATORY,
GASTROINTESTINAL, SKELETAL, LYMPHATIC AND
RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEMS.

6. IMPORTANT ANATOMICAL TERMS
• Three major groups of planes pass through the
body in the anatomical position.
• Coronal Planes: are oriented vertically and divide
the body into anterior and posterior.
• Sagittal Planes: are oriented vertically but are at
right angle to the coronal planes and divide the
body into right and left parts. The plane that
passes through the center of the body dividing it
into equal right and left halves are termed the
median sagittal plane.
• Transverse, Horizontal or Axial Planes: Divide
the body into superior and inferior parts.

9. TERMS TO DESCRIBE LOCATION
• Three major pairs of terms are used to
describe the location of structures relative to
the body as a whole or to other structures.
• Anterior (Ventral) and Posterior (Dorsal):
They describe the position of structures
relative to the front body as a
• Superior and Inferior: Describe structures in
reference to the vertical axis of the body. For
example, the head is superior to the shoulders
and the ankle joint is inferior to the knee joint.

10. Other trems
• Cranial (towards the head) and Caudal
(towards the tail) are sometimes used instead
of superior and inferior respectively.
• Rostral is used particularly in the head, to
describe the position of a structure with
reference to the nose. Ex the forehead is
rostral to the hindbrain.

11. Medial and Lateral
• Medial and Lateral describe the position of
structures relative to the median sagittal
plane and the sides of the body. Ex
• The thumb is lateral to the little finger.
• The nose is in the median sagittal plane and is
medial to the eyes, which in turn medial to
the ears.

13. PROXIMAL and DISTAL, CRANIAL and
CAUDAL , ROSTRAL
• Proximal and Distal are used with reference to
being closer or further from a structure’s origin,
particularly in the limbs. For example, the hand is
distal to the elbow joint. The glenohumerus joint
is proximal to the elbow joint.
• These terms are also used to describe the relative
positions of branches along the course of linear
structures, such as airways, vessels, and nerves.

14. Cont’
• For example, distal branches occur further
away towards the ends of the system whereas
proximal branches occur closer and towards
the origin of the system.

16. Superficial and Deep
• Superficial and Deep: These terms are used to
describe the relative positions of two
structures with respect to the surface of the
body.
• The skin is superficial to the facia layer, whiles
the muscle is deeper to the facia layer