Anatomy is like studying a map of the human body. To enable us to find and locate exactly, all of the body parts (and parts of the body parts), it has a language and directory. It’s great to familiarize yourself with these terms and then refer back to this module whenever you need a refresh.
watch me
ORIENTATION & DIRECTIONAL TERMS
ANATOMY: The study of the morphology of the body.
PHYSIOLOGY: The study of the function of the body.
SUPERIOR: up/above
INFERIOR: down/below
PROXIMAL: closer to the torso
DISTAL: further away from the torso
MEDIAL: toward midline
LATERAL: away from midline
KEY ANATOMICAL TISSUES
BONES: rigid connective organs that make up the skeleton and framework of the body
MUSCLES: soft tissues that produce movement or maintain stability in the body by contracting and extending
NERVES: bundles of fibres that transmit electrochemical impulses throughout the nervous system, transmitting information between the brain and the organs and muscles.
LIGAMENTS: tissues that connect bone to bone
TENDONS: tissues that connect muscle to bone