1. Human Anatomy
Chapter 2
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2. Table of Contents Introduction Terms and Concepts Worth Knowing
The Musculoskeletal System
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3. Introduction: What is the Structure of My Body?
Human Anatomy: The study of the structures that make up the human body and how those structures relate to each other.
Structure determines function: The structures of the human body are well-designed for efficient movement.
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4. Terms and Concepts Worth Knowing
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5. Anatomical Position
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6. Description The starting reference point for describing the human body
Standing erect
Facing forward
Arms hanging at the sides
Palms facing forward and the thumbs outward
Legs straight
Heels, feet and great toes parallel to each other
The starting reference point for describing the human body
It is universally accepted
It is used in all anatomical descriptions
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7. Directional Terms
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8. Reminder:
All directional terms are based on the assumption that the body is in the anatomical position.
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9. Lateral-Medial Lateral – Away from the midline of the body
– Medial – Toward the midline
– E.g., Your ears are lateral to your
cheeks and your cheeks are medial to
your ears
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10. Distal-Proximal Distal – Further from some specified region
Proximal – Closer to some specified region
E.g., With respect to the trunk, the hands are distal to the arms and the arms are proximal to the hands.
E.g., With respect to nerves and blood vessels, proximal also means "toward the origin" and distal means "away from the origin"
E.g., The colon is the distal portion and stomach is the proximal portion of the digestive tract
Thigh is proximal to the leg
Leg is distal to the thigh
Leg is proximal to the foot
Foot is distal to the leg
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11. Anterior-Posterior Anterior – In front of or front of your body
Anterior Skeleton
Posterior Skeleton
– Posterior – Behind or
back of your body
– E.g., Your lips are anterior
to your teeth and your
teeth are posterior to your
lips
– E.g., In the anatomical
position, your palms are
facing anteriorly
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12. Superior-Inferior Superior – Above Inferior – Below
The collar bone is superior to the rib cage
Inferior – Below
The hip bone is
inferior to the rib
cage
– E.g., Your lips are superior to your chin and your chin is inferior to your lips
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