Clinically oriented anatomy
Three main approaches to studying anatomy correct answers Regional, systemic, and
clinical (or applied)
Regional anatomy correct answers Topographical anatomy
considers the organization of the human body as major parts or segments (Fig. I.1): a
main body, consisting of the head, neck, and trunk (subdivided into thorax, abdomen,
back, and pelvis/perineum), and paired upper limbs and lower limbs. All the major parts
may be further subdivided into areas and regions. Regional anatomy is the method of
studying the body's structure by focusing attention on a specific part (e.g., the head),
area (the face), or region (the orbital or eye region); examining the arrangement and
relationships of the various systemic structures (muscles, nerves, arteries, etc.) within it;
and then usually continuing to study adjacent regions in an ordered sequence
Regional anatomy considers the body as organized into segments or parts
surface anatomy correct answers an essential part of the study of regional anatomy. It
is specifically addressed in this book in "surface anatomy sections" (orange
background) that provide knowledge of what lies under the skin and what structures are
perceptible to touch (palpable) in the living body at rest and in action.
the aim of this method is to visualize (recall distinct mental images of) structures that
confer contour to the surface or are palpable beneath it and, in clinical practice, to
distinguish any unusual or abnormal findings. In short, surface anatomy requires a
thorough understanding of the anatomy of the structures beneath the surface.
Physical examination is the clinical application of sur- face anatomy. Palpation is a
clinical technique, used with observation and listening for examining the body. Pal-
pation of arterial pulses, for instance, is part of a physical examination. Students of
many of the health sciences will learn to use instruments to facilitate examination of the
body (such as an ophthalmoscope for observation of features of the eyeballs) and to
listen to functioning parts of the body
Radiographic and sectional imaging (radiographic anatomy) correct answers provides
useful information about normal structures in living individuals, dem- onstrating the
effect of muscle tone, body fluids and pressures, and gravity that cadaveric study does
not
Radiographic, sectional, and endoscopic anatomy allows appreciation of structures in
living people, as they are affected by muscle tone, body flu- ids and pressures, and
gravity
,Diagnostic radiology correct answers reveals the effects of trauma, pathology, and
aging on normal structures
Endoscopic techniques correct answers using a insertable flex- ible fiber optic device to
examine internal structures, such as the interior of the stomach
also demonstrate living anatomy
Prosections correct answers carefully prepared dissections for the demonstration of
anatomical structures
Systemic anatomy correct answers the study of the body's organ systems that work
together to carry out complex functions. The basic systems and the field of study or
treatment of each (in paren- theses) are:
integumentary system
skeletal system
articular system
muscular system
nervous system
circulatory system
cardiovascular system
lymphatic system
alimentary or digestive system
respiratory system
urinary
reproductive
endocrine
Systemic anatomy sees the body as organized into organ systems
the locomotor system or apparatus correct answers the passive skeletal and articular
systems and the active muscular system collectively constitute a super system
they must work together to produce locomotion of the body
clinical anatomy correct answers emphasizes aspects of bodily structure and function
important in the practice of medicine, dentistry, and the allied health sciences. It incor-
porates the regional and systemic approaches to studying anatomy and stresses clinical
application.
Clinical anatomy often involves inverting or reversing the thought process typically
followed when studying regional or systemic anatomy. For example, instead of thinking,
"The action of this muscle is to . . . ," clinical anatomy asks, "How would the absence of
this muscle's activity be manifest?" Instead of noting, "The . . . nerve provides
innervation to this area of skin," clinical anatomy asks, "Numbness in this area indicates
a lesion of which nerve?"
, Clinical anatomy empha- sizes application of anatomical knowledge to the practice of
medicine.
anatomical position correct answers efers to the body position as if the person were
standing upright with the:
• head, gaze (eyes), and toes directed anteriorly (forward),
• arms adjacent to the sides with the palms facing anteri-
orly, and
• lower limbs close together with the feet parallel.
Longitudinal sections correct answers run lengthwise or parallel to the long axis of the
body or of any of its parts, and the term applies regardless of the position of the body.
Although median, sagittal, and frontal planes are the standard (most commonly used)
longitudinal sections, there is a 180° range of possible longitudinal sections.
transverse sections correct answers or cross sections, are slices of the body or its parts
that are cut at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body or of any of its parts.
Because the long axis of the foot runs horizontally, a transverse section of the foot lies
in the frontal plane
Oblique sections correct answers Oblique sections are slices of the body or any of its
parts that are not cut along the previously listed anatomical planes. In practice, many
radiographic images and ana- tomical sections do not lie precisely in sagittal, frontal, or
transverse planes; often they are slightly oblique.
Dorsum correct answers usually refers to the superior aspect of any part that protrudes
anteriorly from the body, such as the dorsum of the tongue, nose, penis, or foot. It is
also used to describe the posterior surface of the hand, opposite the palm.
dorsal surface correct answers The surface of the hands, the feet, and the digits of both
corresponding to the dorsum
palmar surface correct answers the surface of the hand and fingers corresponding to
the palm
inferomedial correct answers means nearer to the feet and median plane—for example,
the anterior parts of the ribs run infero- medially
superolateral correct answers means nearer to the head and far- ther from the median
plane.
Proximal and distal correct answers used when contrasting positions nearer to or
farther from the attachment of a limb or the central aspect of a linear structure,
respectively.
