The Human Body:An Orientation

Human Anatomy & Physiology

Ms. N. Smith

Hierarchy of Structural Organization

• Chemical

• Cellular

• Tissue

• Organ

• Organ System

• Organism

Gross Anatomy: Introduction• Anatomical position

• Directional terms

• Regional terms

• Body planes and sections

• Body cavities and membranes

• Abdominopelvic regions and quadrants

Directional and Regional Terms

Directional Terms

• Superior: Toward the head or upper part of the body

• Inferior: Away from the head or toward the lower part of the body

• Anterior: Toward the front of the body (ventral)

• Posterior: Toward the back of the body; behind (dorsal)

Directional Terms

• Medial: Toward the midline of the body

• Lateral: Away from the midline of the body

• Proximal: Closer to the origin of the body part or point of attachment of a limb

• Distal: Farther from the origin of a body part or point of attachment of a limb

Directional Terms

• Superficial: Toward or at the body surface

• Deep: Away from the body surface; more internal

Body Planes and Sections• In the study of

anatomy, the body is often sectioned (cut) along a flat surface called a plane

Human Body Plan• All vertebrates share the same basic features

• Tube-within-a-tube body plan

• Bilateral symmetry

• Notochord and vertebrae

• Segmentation

• Pharyngeal pouches

Tube-Within-A-Tube

Bilateral Symmetry

Notochord and Vertebrae

Segmentation (Body Cavities)

Pharyngeal Pouches