Gray’s anatomy
H1 - The bod 2
What is anatomy 2
How can gross anatomy be studied 2
Important anatomical term 2
Body system 3
Skeletal system 3
Skin 7
Fascia 7
Muscular system 8
H6 - Lower lim 9
Conceptual overvie 9
Function 9
Regional anatom 12
Thig 12
Muscle 12
Anterior compartment 12
Posterior compartment 14
Knee join 16
Articular surfaces 16
Menisci 17
h s t s y ? y
b w s ?
, H1 - The body
What is anatomy?
Anatomy = the study of …
• macroscopic / gross anatomy = structures that can be seen without magni cation
• microscopic anatomy / histology = cells and tissues, seen with the aid of magni cation
Anatomy forms the basis for the practice of medicine, as it leads the physician toward an
understanding of a patient’s disease (analysis of clinical signs).
• gross anatomy: physical examination
• microscopic anatomy: advanced imaging techniques
The endpoint of a good anatomical understanding is the ability to interpret a clinical observation
correctly, by using observation and visualization (beyond simple memorization).
How can gross anatomy be studied?
Anatomy (Greek: temnein = to cut):
- Dissection = cutting open in order to study its structure
- Viewing prosected (= previously dissected) material and plastic models
- Using computer teaching modules and other learning aids
Anatomy can be studied following either a regional or a systemic approach:
• Regional approach = each region of the body is studied separately, all aspects of that region
are studied at the same time (thorax: vasculature, nerves, bones, muscles, etc.).
• Systemic approach = each system of the body is studied and followed throughout the entire
body (cardiovascular system: heart and all the blood vessels in the body).
Important anatomical terms
The anatomical position = the standard reference position of the body used to describe the
location of structures: standing upright with feet together, hands by the side (palms forward) and
neutral face looking forward.
Anatomical planes and terms to describe location
• Coronal planes = vertically, divide the body into anterior
(ventral, “front”) and posterior (dorsal, “back”) parts
• Sagittal planes = vertically, the median sagittal plane
divides the body into right and left parts:
- Medial = from the side of the body to the median
sagittal plane
- Lateral = from the median sagittal plane to the side
of the body
• Transverse, horizontal, or axial planes = divide the body
into superior (above horizontal) and inferior (below
horizontal) parts
Other terms to describe positions
• Proximal and distal = closer to or farther from a structure’s origin
• Cranial (= toward the head) and caudal (= toward the tail)
• Rostral = the position of a structure with reference to the nose
• Super cial and deep = the relative positions of two structures with respect to the surface of
the body.
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, Body systems
Skeletal system
The skeletal system can be divided into two subgroups:
1. The axial skeleton = the bones of the skull (cranium),
vertebral column, ribs and sternum.
2. The appendicular skeleton = the bones of the upper and
lower limbs.
The skeletal system consists of cartilage and bone.
Cartilage
Cartilage = an avascular (= having few or no blood vessels) form
of connective tissue consisting of extracellular bers embedded in
a matrix that contains cells localized in small cavities.
Cartilage is nourished by di usion and has no blood vessels,
lymphatics or nerves.
Functions of cartilage are to:
- support soft tissues
- provide a smooth, gliding surface for bone articulations at
joints
- enable the development and growth of long bones
3 types of cartilage:
1. Hyaline = most common, matrix contains a moderate amount of collagen bers (articular
surfaces of bones)
2. Elastic = matrix contains collagen bers along with a large number of elastic bers
(external ear)
3. Fibrocartilage = matrix contains a limited number of cells and ground substance amidst a
substantial amount of collagen bers (intervertebral discs)
Bone
Bone = a calci ed, living, connective tissue that forms the majority of the skeleton. It consists of
an intercellular calci ed matrix, which also contains collagen bers and several types of cells
within the matrix.
fi fi ff fi fi fi fi fi fi
H1 - The bod 2
What is anatomy 2
How can gross anatomy be studied 2
Important anatomical term 2
Body system 3
Skeletal system 3
Skin 7
Fascia 7
Muscular system 8
H6 - Lower lim 9
Conceptual overvie 9
Function 9
Regional anatom 12
Thig 12
Muscle 12
Anterior compartment 12
Posterior compartment 14
Knee join 16
Articular surfaces 16
Menisci 17
h s t s y ? y
b w s ?
, H1 - The body
What is anatomy?
Anatomy = the study of …
• macroscopic / gross anatomy = structures that can be seen without magni cation
• microscopic anatomy / histology = cells and tissues, seen with the aid of magni cation
Anatomy forms the basis for the practice of medicine, as it leads the physician toward an
understanding of a patient’s disease (analysis of clinical signs).
• gross anatomy: physical examination
• microscopic anatomy: advanced imaging techniques
The endpoint of a good anatomical understanding is the ability to interpret a clinical observation
correctly, by using observation and visualization (beyond simple memorization).
How can gross anatomy be studied?
Anatomy (Greek: temnein = to cut):
- Dissection = cutting open in order to study its structure
- Viewing prosected (= previously dissected) material and plastic models
- Using computer teaching modules and other learning aids
Anatomy can be studied following either a regional or a systemic approach:
• Regional approach = each region of the body is studied separately, all aspects of that region
are studied at the same time (thorax: vasculature, nerves, bones, muscles, etc.).
• Systemic approach = each system of the body is studied and followed throughout the entire
body (cardiovascular system: heart and all the blood vessels in the body).
Important anatomical terms
The anatomical position = the standard reference position of the body used to describe the
location of structures: standing upright with feet together, hands by the side (palms forward) and
neutral face looking forward.
Anatomical planes and terms to describe location
• Coronal planes = vertically, divide the body into anterior
(ventral, “front”) and posterior (dorsal, “back”) parts
• Sagittal planes = vertically, the median sagittal plane
divides the body into right and left parts:
- Medial = from the side of the body to the median
sagittal plane
- Lateral = from the median sagittal plane to the side
of the body
• Transverse, horizontal, or axial planes = divide the body
into superior (above horizontal) and inferior (below
horizontal) parts
Other terms to describe positions
• Proximal and distal = closer to or farther from a structure’s origin
• Cranial (= toward the head) and caudal (= toward the tail)
• Rostral = the position of a structure with reference to the nose
• Super cial and deep = the relative positions of two structures with respect to the surface of
the body.
fi fi fi
, Body systems
Skeletal system
The skeletal system can be divided into two subgroups:
1. The axial skeleton = the bones of the skull (cranium),
vertebral column, ribs and sternum.
2. The appendicular skeleton = the bones of the upper and
lower limbs.
The skeletal system consists of cartilage and bone.
Cartilage
Cartilage = an avascular (= having few or no blood vessels) form
of connective tissue consisting of extracellular bers embedded in
a matrix that contains cells localized in small cavities.
Cartilage is nourished by di usion and has no blood vessels,
lymphatics or nerves.
Functions of cartilage are to:
- support soft tissues
- provide a smooth, gliding surface for bone articulations at
joints
- enable the development and growth of long bones
3 types of cartilage:
1. Hyaline = most common, matrix contains a moderate amount of collagen bers (articular
surfaces of bones)
2. Elastic = matrix contains collagen bers along with a large number of elastic bers
(external ear)
3. Fibrocartilage = matrix contains a limited number of cells and ground substance amidst a
substantial amount of collagen bers (intervertebral discs)
Bone
Bone = a calci ed, living, connective tissue that forms the majority of the skeleton. It consists of
an intercellular calci ed matrix, which also contains collagen bers and several types of cells
within the matrix.
fi fi ff fi fi fi fi fi fi
