Anatomy and Physiology

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Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy is the study of Physiology is the study of

structure. function.

 “Ana” means “apart”

 “Tom” means “cut”

Anatomical Position
Anatomical position is a stance in which a person stands erect with the feet flat on the floor and close together,
arms at the sides, and the palms, face, and eyes facing forward.
Terms to Know:
 This position provides a precise and standard frame of reference for anatomical description and  Dissection
dissection (the careful cutting separation of tissues to reveal their relationships)  Cadaver
 Forearm is said to be either supine (radius and ulna are parallel), meaning that the palm face  Palpation
up or forward, or prone (radius and ulna are crossed lateral) when they face down or rearward.  Auscultation
 Percussion
 Person stands erect
 Gross Anatomy
 Feet flat on floor  Histology
 Palms, eyes & face forward  Supine
 Standard frame of reference for anatomical descriptions & dissection  Prone
 Dorsal
 Ventral
 Anterior
 Posterior
 Axial
 Appendicular

Anatomical Planes
 Sagittal Plane passes vertically through the body or an organ divides it into right and left portions
 Median (Mid-Sagittal) Plane is the Sagittal plane that divides the body or organ into equal halves
 Frontal (Coronal) Plane extending vertically dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior
(back) portions. It is perpendicular to Sagittal
 Transverse (horizontal) plane passes across the body or an organ perpendicular to its long axis, dividing
the body into superior and inferior portions

 Planes are imaginary flat surfaces passing through the body, while sections
are anatomical views if body is cut on plane
 Mid-Sagittal plane divides body into right and left halves
 Frontal plane divides body into front & black portions
 Transverse divides the body into upper & lower portions
 Anatomy and Physiology
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Directional Terms in Human Anatomy

Term Meaning
Ventral Toward the front or belly
Dorsal Toward the back or spine
Anterior Toward the ventral side
Posterior Toward the dorsal side
Superior Above
Inferior Below
Medial Toward the midline of the body
Lateral Away from the midline of the body
Proximal Closer to the trunk or point of attachment or origin
Distal Farther from the trunk or point of attachment or origin
Superficial Closer to the body surface
Deep Farther from the body surface

Body Regions
For study the body is divided into two major regions called the axial and appendicular regions

Head
Cervical region
 Axial
Neck

Thoracic Region
Above the diaphragm
Trunk

Abdominal region
Below the diaphragm

 Appendicular

Upper limbs Lower limbs

Digits
Thigh, Crus Digits
Brachium or Brachial  (Fingers)
 (Leg)  (Toes)
Region
 (Arm)
Manus or Manual
Region
 (Hand) Pes
Ante brachium or Ante Tarsus  (Foot)
brachial Region  (ankle)
 (Forearm) Carpus
 (Wrist)