BLUE SKY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE AND
THERAPEUTIC BODYWORK
Musculoskeletal Anatomy & Kinesiology I
TERMINOLOGY, STRUCTURES, & SKELETAL OVERVIEW
MSAK101-I
Session 1
Learning Objectives:
1. Define Anatomy and Kinesiology.
2. Demonstrate or describe Anatomic Position and Midline of the body.
3. Describe the 5 planes of the body.
4. Define the outlined terms of relationship and comparison.
5. Utilize the correct terms for regions of the body.
6. Describe 5 classifications of bone and list examples.
7. List the two divisions of the skeleton.
8. Place the bones of the body in the correct skeletal division.
9. Identify articulated and disarticulated bones by correct name.
10. List and define 7 terms that describe depressions and openings.
11. List and define 3 types of processes that form joints.
12. List and define 7 terms that describe landmarks on bones.
13. Define Palpation.
The following are the basics of structural anatomy, which are essential for understanding clinical anatomy.
When writing medical chart notes, you must communicate in a language common to all medical
practitioners. As a body worker, one must understand the body’s structure and how it moves. Throughout
this course, students will learn about the different movements of the body, where movements occur, and
how movement is produced.
1) BASICS OF STRUCTURAL ANATOMY
a) Terms
i) ANATOMY: the study of the structure of the body
ii) KINESIOLOGY: the study of human movement
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Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork
MSAK101-I – Session 1
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iii) Anatomical position - The most widely used of the reference positions; standing with arms at
sides; palms face forward. This is an important concept as all of the terms used in kinesiology are
defined from this position.
iv) Midline of the body – an imaginary line that runs down the middle of the body from the top of
the head to the feet while the body is facing forward.
b) PLANES OF THE BODY:
i) Movement occurs around the five planes of the body.
(1) Sagittal plane:
(2) Midsagittal (median) plane:
divides body into left and right parts
divides body into equal left and right halves
(3) Coronal (frontal) plane:
divides body into front and back parts
(4) Horizontal (transverse) plane:
divides body into upper and lower parts
(5) Oblique plane:
is a plane at an angle to any of the above
c) TERMS OF RELATIONSHIP: reference the body in relation to anatomical position.
i) anterior (ventral, front of the body)
ii) posterior (dorsal, behind)
iii) palmar (volar, towards the palm)
iv) dorsal (surface of hand)
v) plantar (sole of foot)
vi) dorsal (top surface of foot)
vii) superior (cephalic, cranial, above)
viii)
inferior (caudal, below)
ix) medial (closer to midline)
x) lateral (further away from midline)
xi) prone (laying face down)
xii) supine (laying face up)
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MSAK101-I – Session 1
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d) TERMS OF COMPARISON: compare particular part of body in relation to another part of body
i) proximal (closer to attachment point)
distal (farther from point of attachment)
ii) superficial (closer to surface)
deep (more internal, into the body)
iii) interior (inside)
exterior (outside)
iv) ipsilateral (same side)
contralateral (opposite side)
2) GENERAL ANATOMICAL DEFINITIONS: Terms used to describe certain body regions.
a) Shoulder:
Junction of arm and trunk;
Includes the proximal humerus, clavicle and
scapula.
b) Arm (brachium):
Part of the upper
extremity between the shoulder and elbow.
c) Forearm (antebrachium): Part of the upper
extremity between the elbow and wrist.
d) Wrist (carpus): Area between the forearm
and the metacarpus; Includes the 8 carpal
bones.
e) Metacarpus: The part of the hand between
the wrist and fingers.
f) Hand: Upper extremity distal to the
forearm; Consists of wrist, metacarpus, and
fingers.
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MSAK101-I – Session 1
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g) Hip:
The area of the body lateral to and including the hip joint (consists of the joint, head, neck,
and greater trochanter).
h) Thigh: Portion of lower extremity between hip and knee.
i) Leg (crus): Portion of lower extremity between knee and ankle.
j) Calf (sura): Fleshy mass on the back of leg below the knee.
k) Foot (pes): Distal portion of lower extremity; Consists of the ankle, metatarsus, and toes.
l) Ankle (tarsus): Joint between leg and metatarsus; Includes the 7 tarsal bones.
m) Metatarsus: The part of the foot between ankle and toes.
n) Finger/Toe: Digits or Phalanges (singular: Phalanx)
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MSAK101-I – Session 1
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3) BONY SKELETON OVERVIEW:
a) Classification of bones:
i) Long Bones – Long cylindrical shaft with relatively wide, protruding ends (arm, leg).
ii) Short Bones – Small, cubital shaped, solid bones (wrist, foot).
iii) Flat Bones – Thin, flat bones (shoulder blades, chest bone).
iv) Irregular Bones – Irregular shaped bones that do not really fit into any other category. They
serve a variety of purposes (spine, pelvis).
v) Sesamoid Bones – Small bones imbedded within a tendon.
b) Skeletal regions: The human skeleton is divided into two regions:
i) Axial Skeleton: These bones make up the head, neck and trunk of the body.
Skull
(22 bones)
Ear Ossicles – Middle Ear Bones
(3 per ear = 6 bones)
Hyoid Bone
(1 bone)
Vertebral (Spinal) Column (26 bones):
Cervical spine
(7 bones)
Thoracic spine
(12 bones)
Lumbar spine
(5 bones)
Sacrum and Coccyx
(2 bones)
Thoracic (Rib) Cage
(25 bones)
= 80 bones
ii) Appendicular Skeleton: These bones make up the extremities of the body.
Shoulder (Pectoral) Girdle (4 bones):
Clavicle
Scapula
Upper Extremities (Arms) (60 bones):
(2 bones)
Humerus
(2 bones)
Radius
(2 bones)
Ulna
(2 bones)
Carpal bones
(16 bones)
Metacarpals
(10 bones)
Digits (Phalanges)
(28 bones)
Pelvic Girdle
Os Coxa
Lower Extremities (Legs) (60 bones):
Femur
(2 bones)
Tibia
(2 bones)
Fibula
(2 bones)
Patella
(2 bones)
Tarsal bones
(14 bones)
Metatarsals
(10 bones)
Digits
(28 bones)
Axial Skeleton (80) + Appendicular Skeleton (126)
Updated: 2/11
(2 bones)
(2 bones)
=
Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork
MSAK101-I – Session 1
126 bones
206 bones
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4) AXIAL SKELETON: These bones make up the head, neck and trunk of the human body.
a) SKULL:
i) Cranial bones
(1) Frontal (Pertaining to the front)
(2) Parietal (Pertaining to the wall of a cavity)
(3) Occipital (Pertaining to the occiput)
(4) Temporal (Pertaining to the temple)
(5) Sphenoid (Wedge like)
(6) Ethmoid (Sieve like)
ii) Facial Bones:
(1) Maxilla
(2) Zygomatic (cheekbone)
(3) Nasal
(4) Vomer
iii) Mandible
b) HYOID BONE
c) VERTEBRAL COLUMN
i) Cervical Vertebrae = C1 – C7
ii) Thoracic Vertebrae = T1 – T12
iii) Lumbar Vertebrae = L1 – L5
iv) Sacrum (5 fused segments) = S1 – S5
v) Coccyx (4 fused segments) = CC1 – CC4
d) THORACIC CAGE
i) Sternum
ii) Ribs = R1 – R12
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Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork
MSAK101-I – Session 1
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5) APPENDICULAR SKELETON – UPPER: These bones make up the upper extremities.
a)
SHOULDER GIRDLE
i) Scapula – “shoulder blade”
ii) Clavicle – “collar bone”
b) ARM, FOREARM, WRIST & HAND
i) Humerus
ii) Radius: Lateral forearm bone
iii) Ulna: Medial forearm bone
iv) Carpals
v) Metacarpal bones and Phalanges
6) APPENDICULAR SKELETON – LOWER: These bones make up the lower extremities.
a) THE PELVIS: Composed of 4 bones of both appendicular and axial skeletons:
i) Os Coxa (Hip Bone)
ii) Sacrum
iii) Coccyx
b) THE PELVIC GIRDLE: Like the shoulder girdle, this connects the lower extremity to the trunk.
i) Os Coxa (singular: ox coxa) composed of three fused bones = ilium, ischium & pubis
(1) Ilium
(2) Ischium
(3) Pubis
c) THIGH, LEG, ANKLE & FOOT (60 Bones)
i)
Femur
ii)
Patella
iii) Tibia: Medial leg bone
iv) Fibula: Lateral leg bone
v)
Tarsals
vi) Metatarsals and Phalanges
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Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork
MSAK101-I – Session 1
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7) DEFINITIONS: These are general anatomical terms used to identify various anatomical structures and
landmarks.
a) Depressions and Openings: These are holes through which blood vessels or nerves travel or
shallow grooves where muscles attach.
i)
Fissure – a narrow, cleft-like opening between adjacent parts of bones through which blood vessels or
nerves pass
ii) Fontanel – space between skull bones at birth that is filled with fibrous connective tissue; the so-called
soft spot on a baby’s skull
iii) Foramen – an opening through which blood vessels nerves/ligaments
pass
iv) Foramina – a smaller opening than a foramen (or plural foramen)
v) Fossa – a depression in or on a bone
vi) Meatus (canal) – a tube-like opening or passageway within a bone
vii) Sinus – a cavity within a bone
b) Processes that form joints: These will be found at the ends of bone!
a. Condyle – a large, rounded articular prominence
b. Facet – a smooth, flat surface (“little face”)
c. Head – a rounded, articular projection supported on
the proximal (usually) end of a long bone
c) Processes to which tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues attach:
a. Crest – a prominent border or ridge of bone
b. Epicondyle – a prominence that lies above a condyle (see above)
c. Linea (line) - a less prominent ridge than a crest
d. Spinous Process - a short, slender process
e. Trochanter - a very large projection found only on the femur
f.
Tubercle – a small rounded process
g. Tuberosity - a large rounded, usually roughened process
8) PALPATION: The act of feeling with the hand; the application of light pressure with the fingers to the
surface of the body for the purpose of determining the consistency or condition of the parts beneath the surface
during physical assessment.
Updated: 2/11
Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork
MSAK101-I – Session 1
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