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Human Anatomy
Lecture 1
Human Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body
 It provides the foundation for understanding physiology, which is the function of
the human body
 Although this class will not look at how the parts of the body work in great detail,
we will study structural morphology, which looks at functional reasons behind
the structures that we will learn to identify.
Anatomical Science
 Galen was a Greek physician who wrote one of the most influential anatomy
textbooks of all time
o He lived from about 100-200 AD
o Despite inaccuracies, information from his book was passed down for
many generation
 Andreas Vesalius questioned the accuracy of earlier authors, and he
commissioned the first accurate anatomical illustrations for his 1543 book (On the
Structure of the Human Body)
o Contemporary books like Gray’s Anatomy (and your current textbook)
follow this tradition of attention to detail
 While what has been learned has often come from studying cadavers (deceased
bodies), technology now makes it possible to observe the body in multiple ways.
o Gross anatomy is the study of structures that are visible to the naked eye
 Surface anatomy is limited to external structures
 Radiologic anatomy is the study of internal structures, using Xrays, etc.
o Microscopic anatomy is the study of the body under a microscope
 Histology is the study of tissues
 Cytology is the study of cells
Levels of Human Structure
 Atoms are the smallest chemical units.
 Molecules are the chemical structures that can be put together to form organelles
 Organelles are microscopic structures in a cell that carry out individual functions
 Cells are the smallest units of an organism that carry out all the basic functions
of life.
o Nothing smaller than a cell is considered alive
 A tissue is a mass of similar cells and cell products that form a discrete region of
an organ and performs a specific function
 An organ is a structure composed of two or more tissue types that work together
to perform a particular function
 An organ system is a group of organs that carry out a basic functions of the
organism, such as circulation, respiration, or digestion
 An organism is a single, complete individual
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General Anatomical Terminology
 Anatomical Position
o Conditions:
 Body is erect
 Feet are parallel to each other and flat on the floor
 Eyes directed forward
 Arms at the sides of body with palms turned forward and fingers
pointed down
o Why?
 It provides a precise frame of reference
 The thymus is “above the heart” in the anatomical position
 If the person is on his back, the sternum is “above the
heart”
 Descriptions of the nerves, and blood vessels of the arm assume
that the arm is supine
 Supine – (palms) face up or forward
 Prone – (palms) face down or rearward
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Anatomical Planes
o Sagittal plane
o Divides into left and right portions
 A saggital plane divides into equal left and right halves
o Coronal (frontal) plane
o Divides into front and back portions
o Transverse plane
o Divides into upper and lower portions
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Directional Terms
o Superior = toward the head
o Inferior = away from the head
o Anterior = toward the front
o Posterior = toward the back
o Medial = toward the midline
o Lateral = away from the midline of the body
o Proximal = toward the trunk of the body
o Distal = away from the trunk of the body
Body Regions
 Axial Region
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o Head
o Cervical Region (neck)
o Trunk Region
 Thoracic region (above the diaphragm)
 Abdominal region (below the diaphragm)
 This can be divided in 4 regions, with intersecting lines through the
umbilicus (belly button)
o Right upper quadrant, right lower quadrant, left upper quadrant, left
lower quadrant
o This scheme is often used to describe the location of pain
 This region could also be divided into 9 regions in a tic-tac-toe grid
Appendicular Region
o Upper limbs (upper extremities)
 brachial region (arm – just shoulder to elbow)
 Antebrachium (forearm)
 Carpus (wrist)
 Manus (hand)
 Digits (fingers)
o Lower limbs (lower extremities)
 Femoral region (thigh)
 Crus or crural region (leg – just knee to ankle)
 Tarsus (ankle)
 Pes (foot)
 Digits (toes)
Body Cavities and Membranes
 Spaces inside the body are called cavities of the body
o The cavities are lined with membranes that cover organs and hold them in
place.
 These organs within the cavities are referred to as viscera
 Dorsal body cavity
o Consists of two subdivisions
 Cranial cavity contains the brain (inside the cranium)
 Vertebral cavity contains the spinal cord (inside the vertebral
column)
 Ventral body cavity
o Consists of two subdivisions
 Thoracic cavity contains the organs above the diaphragm such as
the heart and lungs
 Abdominopelvic cavity contains the organs below the diaphragm
 The abdominal cavity (above the pelvis) contains digestive
organs, the spleen, the kidneys, and ureters
 The pelvic cavity contains the urinary bladder and
reproductive organs
Organ Systems
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Integumentary System
o Skin, hair, and nails
o Protection, water retention, thermoregulation, cutaneous sensation
Skeletal System
o Bones, cartilages, ligaments
o Support, movement, protection of viscera, blood formation
Muscular System
o Skeletal muscles
o Movement, stability, heat production, control of body openings
Nervous System
o Brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia
o Rapid internal communication and coordination, sensation
Endocrine System
o Pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, etc.
o Internal chemical communication and coordination
Circulatory System
o Heart, blood vessels
o Distribution of hormones, electrolytes, heat, immune cells, etc.
Respiratory System
o Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs
o Absorption of oxygen, discharge of carbon dioxide, speech, etc.
Urinary System
o Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra
o Elimination of wastes, regulation of electrolyte and acid-base balance
Digestive System
o Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, intestines
o Nutrient breakdown and absorption
Reproductive System
o Testes, epididymides, spermatic ducts, seminal vesicles, penis, etc.
o Production and delivery of sperm
o Ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, vulva, mammary glands, etc.
o Production of egg, site of fertilization and fetal development, fetal
nourishment, birth, lactation