What is Surface anatomy?
the study of the external features of the body
The scientific study of the structure of the body.
What is anatomy?
The head is _____________ (superior or inferior) to the neck.
Superior
Case Study: A patient is involved in a minor car accident and sustains a small cut on their forearm. When the doctor examines the wound, it is immediately visible on the surface of the skin. The doctor describes the wound as being superficial.
Question: What does "superficial" mean in terms of anatomy?
Superficial refers to something that is closer to or on the surface of the body.
What is the transverse plane?
Plane that separates inferior and superior parts of the body
This area of anatomy focuses on a given organ system of the 11 body systems.
What is systemic anatomy?
The fingers are ____________ (proximal or distal) to the hand.
Distal
Case Study:
A patient is diagnosed with a deep cut in the leg that extends through the skin and into the muscles below. The doctor describes the injury as being deep within the tissue.
Question:
What does "deep" mean in terms of anatomy?
What is "away from or farther from the surface of the body"?
Why is Surface anatomy useful?
It is the key to interpreting normal anatomy on medical images and being able to describe the location, appearance and relationships of palpable anatomical structures
A lengthwise cut that divides the body into left and right sides
Sagittal
The structure moving medially from the eyes, is the ______.
Nose
Case Study:
A runner trips and injures their lower leg just above the ankle. The injury is located closer to the knee than to the foot.
Question:
How would you describe the injury in terms of anatomical direction?
What is "proximal" (closer to the body’s center or point of attachment)?
What is gross anatomy?
This type of anatomy is subdivided into surface anatomy (the external body), regional anatomy (specific regions of the body), and systemic anatomy (specific organ systems). It refers to the anatomy that can be seen with the naked eye.
This anatomy type focuses on a certain region of the body (both internal and external)
What is regional anatomy?
During surgery, a physician may refer to the cranial end of an organ as ____________ and the tail-end portion as ____________. (caudal, cephalic)
Cephalic, Caudal
Case Study:
A surgeon performs a procedure to remove a tumor from the abdomen. The incision is made along a horizontal line, splitting the body into top and bottom halves for a better view of the internal structures.
Question:
What anatomical plane is used to divide the body into top and bottom?
What is the "transverse plane"?
What is the importance of Anatomy?
In the field of medicine and life science sectors, anatomy plays a vital role as it helps us to learn about the different parts of an organism, including plants, animals and humans, along with their structure and characteristic features.
Pertaining to the back of the body
What is dorsal?
In anatomical terminology, the term ____________ is often used to describe something closer to the nose or front of the head.
Rostral
Case Study:
A patient suffers a broken leg. When comparing the two legs, the doctor explains that the injury is located further from the body’s midline, toward the foot, compared to the thigh.
Question:
How would you describe the location of the injury relative to the hip?
What is "distal" (further from the point of attachment or midline)?