Download anatomical terms and terminoogy

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ANATOMICAL TERMS AND TERMINOOGIES
EN Obikili
What is anatomy?
Anatomy is the study of the structure of an organism.
Human anatomy is the study of the structure of the human organism.
Anatomy is derived from the Greek word anatome which means "cutting up". Its Latin
equivalent is dissectio.
Anatomy has a wider scope than mere cutting up. It is the foundation of the whole art of
medicine and introduces the student to most of the medical terminologies. It adheres to the
Terminologica Anatomica.
Subdivisions of anatomy
1. Gross anatomy or macroscopic anatomy is the study of the structure of the body seen with
the naked eye and by means of dissection.
2. Microscopic anatomy (cytology and histology) is the study of the structure of the body with
the aid of a microscope.
3. Embryology or developmental anatomy is the study of the changes that occur from the
time of fertilization to the time of birth.
4. Comparative anatomy is the study of the relationship between the structures of related
organisms.
Method of study
Regional or Topographical anatomy is the study of anatomy by regions: upper limb, thorax
etc.
Systemic anatomy is the study of anatomy by systems : CVS, RS, NS etc
Clinical or applied anatomy is the study of structure of the body as it relates to practice of
medicine and other health sciences
History of anatomy
Anatomy is one of the oldest basic medical sciences. Formal study of anatomy started in Egypt
about 500 BC
Hippocrates of Cos (460-377 BC) is regarded as the father of medicine and one of the founding
fathers of anatomy. He taught human anatomy in Greece and wrote many books on anatomy. He
also wrote the Hippocratic oath.
Herophilus (300 BC) is regarded as the founding father of anatomy as a systematic discipline.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) is regarded as the founder of comparative anatomy. He was the first
person to use the term anatome: a Greek word which means cutting up. Comparative anatomy
studies the similarities and differences that exist between structures of various animals.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an anatomist and an artist. He prepared models and
paintings which were the first correct representations of the various organs of the human body.
Andreas Vesalius (1514-1565) was the first to do a systematic study of the structure of the human
body. He was the first to write a scientific textbook on anatomy. He pointed out that anatomy is
the foundation of the whole art of medicine and corrected over 200 anatomical errors made by
Galen.
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Discoveries by medical students
1. Red blood cells (Swammerdan)
2. Islets of pancreas (Langerhans)
3. Collecting tubules of kidney (Bellini)
4. Parotid duct (Stensen)
5. Venae cordis minimae (Thebesius)
ANATOMICAL TERMS
Accurate use of anatomical terms enables medical personnel to communicate with their
colleagues both nationally and internationally. Descriptions of the human body are based on the
assumption that the person is standing erect, and the parts of the body are described in relation to
some imaginary planes.
ANATOMICAL POSITION: This is the position in which the body is considered to be
standing erect with the eyes directed straight ahead into the horizon, the arms by the side, the
palms facing forwards and the toes together and directed forwards. Descriptions in anatomy are
based on the anatomical position.
PLANES OF THE BODY
1. Median plane or midsagittal plane is an imaginary vertical plane running from front to back
that divides the body into right and left halves. The median plane meets the anterior and posterior
surfaces of the body at the anterior median (midsternal) line and the posteriormedian (midsternal)
line respectively.
2. A sagittal or parmedian plane is an imaginary vertical anteroposterior plane that divides
the body into right and left parts (not halves). It is parallel to the median plane and derives its
name from the sagittal suture of the skull.
3. A coronal or frontal plane is an imaginary vertical plane running from side to side that
divides the body into anterior and posterior parts. It intersects the median plane at right angles. It
is named after the coronal suture of the skull.
4. A horizontal or transverse plane is an imaginary plane that divides the body into upper and
lower parts. It is at right angles to both the median and the coronal planes. Transverse plane is
referred to as transaxial by radiologists.
A longitudinal section of an organ is a section that passes through the long axis of the organ
A transverse or cross section of an organ is a section at right angles to the long axis of that
organ
An oblique section is a section that is neither longitudinal nor horizontal
LINES OF THE BODY
Anterior median or midsternal line is the intersection of the median plane with the anterior
surface of the thorax.
Posterior median or midvertebral line is the intersection of the median plane with the
posterior surface of the thorax or vertebral column
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Midclavicular or lateral vertical or mammary line is a vertical line that passes through the
midpoint of the clavicle; it reaches the midinguinal point and is parallel to the anterior median
line
Anterior axillary line is a vertical line that passes through the anterior axillary fold, which is
formed by the border of the pectoralis major.
Midaxillary line passes through the apex of the axilla, and is parallel to the anterior and
posterior axillary lines.
Posterior axillary line is a vertical line along the posterior axillary fold, which is formed by the
latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles.
Lateral sternal line passes along the sternal margin.
Parasternal line is midway between the lateral sternal and midclavicular lines
Terms of relationship
General
Anterior = nearer to the front surface of the body
Posterior = nearer to the back surface of the body
Superior = nearer to the top or upper end of the body or the crown of the head
Inferior = nearer to the lower end or the soles of the foot
Medial = nearer to the median plane
Lateral = farther from the median plane
Ipsilateral = on the same side of the body, e.g., the left upper limb and the left lower limb are
ipsilateral.
Contralateral = on the opposite side of the body, e.g., the left upper limb and the right lower
limb are contralateral.
Unilateral = structures that occur on only one side of the body are said to be unilateral e.g.
spleen
Bilateral = Paired structures that occur on the left and right sides of the body are said to be
bilateral, e.g. kidneys
Trunk
Ventral = nearer to the front of the trunk
Dorsal = nearer to the back of the trunk
Cephalic or cranial = nearer to the head
Caudal = nearer to the tail end
Rostral = nearer to the front end. In the postembryonic period the front end is the region around
the nose and the mouth
N.B. With reference to the trunk, anterior and ventral are synonymous. Posterior and dorsal are
also interchangeable.
Internal
= nearer to the centre of an organ or cavity
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External=
farther from the centre of an organ or cavity
Superficial = nearer to the skin or surface of the body
Deep = farther from the surface
Invagination = inward bulging of the wall of a cavity
Evagination = outward bulging of the wall of a cavity
Proximal = nearer to the root or the attached end of the trunk
Distal = farther from the root or the attached end of the trunk
Preaxial border = the thumb or the big toe side of the limb. The preaxial border in the upper
limb is the lateral or the radial side while in the lower limb it is the medial or the tibial border
Postaxial border = the opposite of the preaxial border
Terms of movements
Joint=
where two or more bones meet
Flexion = to flex is to bend or to move forward, e.g., a bow is flexion of the trunk in the sagittal
plane. Lateral flexion of the trunk is a movement of the trunk in the coronal plane.
Extension = to extend is to straighten or to move backward.
Adduction = movement towards the median plane
Abduction = movement away from the median plane
In the upper limb, the middle finger lies in the axial line of the hand. Ulnar deviation =
adduction; radial deviation = abduction. In the lower limb, the 2nd toe lies in the axial line.
Circumduction = a sequence of movement involving flexion, abduction, extension and
adduction.
Rotation = movement of a part of the body along its long axis (a part of the body is turned
around its own long axis). Rotation may be medial or lateral. In medial rotation, the anterior
surface of a part of the body faces medially while in lateral rotation the anterior surface faces
laterally.
Pronation = to pronate is to rotate the forearm medially so that the palm faces posteriorly
(blessing)
Supination = to supinate is to rotate the forearm laterally so that the palm faces anteriorly
(begging)
Supine position = is the position in which the body lies on its back.
Prone position = is the position in which the body lies face down.
Protraction = forward movement e.g. protrusion of the mandible or the tongue,
Retraction = backward movement e.g. backward movement of the mandible at the
temporomadibular joint.
Eversion = movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane: the sole faces
laterally.
Inversion = movement of the sole towards the median plane:the sole faces medially.
UPPER LIMB
LATIN NAMES
Humerus
Brachium
Antebrachium
ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS
Shoulder
Arm
Foreaem
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Axilla
Cubitus
Carpus
Manus
Palma
Digitus manus
Polex or digitus pollicis
Digitus indicis
Digitus medius or tertius
Digitus annularis
Digitus minimus
Capitate
Hamate
Lunate
Triquetrum
Scaphoid
Pisiform
Profundus
Sublimis
Lumbrical
Brevis
Longus
Minimus
Maximus
Armpit
Elbow
Wrist
Hand
Palm
Finger
Thumb
Index finger
Middle finger
Ring finger
Little finger
Head-like
Hooked
Crescent or Moon-shaped
Three-cornered
Boat-like
Pear-shaped
Deep
Superficial
Like earthworm
Short
Long
Smallest
Largest
THE CLAVICLE
The
clavicle and the scapula are the bones of the shoulder girdle. It connects the upper limb to
the trunk and transmits part of the weight of the upper limb to the sternum. It acts as a strut that
allows the arm to swing away from the trunk. The clavicle is a long bone and has a shaft and two
ends. The medial or sternal end is thickened and is quadrangular in shape. It articulates with the
manubrium of the sternum and the first costal cartilage. The lateral or acromial end is flattened
and articulates with the acromion of the scapula.
The shaft has two curves: the medial two-thirds is convex anteriorly while the lateral one-third
is concave anteriorly. The curvatures give the clavicle an elongated capital S appearance. The
medial two-thirds is rounded and has 4 surfaces: anterior, posterior, superior and inferior. The
anterior surface gives origin to the clavicular head of pectoralis major muscle. The sternohyoid
muscle arises from the posterior surface close to the sternal end. The superior surface gives
origin to the clavicular head of sternocleidomastoid (it arises from the medial third of the superior
surface). The inferior surface is not as smooth as the superior surface. It has a rough oval
impression at its medial end for the costoclavicular ligament. This impression is called the
rhomboid fossa. It also has a rough impression on its lateral part for the attachment of the
coracoclavicular ligament, and a longitudinal groove in its middle part for the insertion of
subclavius . The clavipectoral fascia is attached to the margins of the grove.
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The
lateral one-third is flattened and has anterior and posterior borders, and superior and
inferior surfaces. The anterior border gives origin to deltoid muscle while the posterior border is
for the insertion of trapezius. The superior surface is smooth while the inferior surface has an
elevation near its posterior border called the conoid tubercle, and a ridge called the trapezoid
ridge. The conoid tubercle and the trapezoid ridge give attachment to the conoid and trapezoid
parts of the coracoclavicular ligament. The clavicle is shorter, smoother, thinner, lighter and less
curved in females than in males. The right clavicle is shorter and stronger than the left. The
clavicle may be congenitally absent.
Ossification
The clavicle is the first bone to begin to ossify and it ossifies in membrane except for its medial
end which ossifies in cartilage. It has three centres of ossification: two primary and one
secondary. The two primary centres appear in the shaft in the 5th or 6th week and fuse at about the
45th day. The secondary centre appears at the medial end at about the 15th year in the female and
the 17th year in the male and fuses with the shaft at about the 25th year. Sometimes there may be
another secondary centre at the acromial end.
Peculiarities of the clavicle
1. It is the first bone to begin to ossify and the last to complete ossification
2. It is the only long bone that has two primary centres of ossification.
3. It is the only long bone that ossifies in membrane.
4. It is the only long bone that lies horizontally.
5. It is subcutaneous throughout its length.
6. It does not usually have a medullary cavity.
7. It is the most commonly fractured bone in the body. Usually the fracture is at the weakest point
of the clavicle which is the junction between the middle and lateral thirds of the clavicle. When
there is a fracture medial to the coracoclavicular ligament, the lateral end of the clavicle is pulled
down by the weight of the upper limb while the medial end is only slightly deformed because of
the balanced action of pectoralis major and sternocleidomastoid.
8. It is sometimes pierced by a branch of supraclavicular nerve.