Lecture 1: Anatomical Terminology and Medical Imaging

Anatomy 1

Instructor: Greg Gonsalves

Lecture 1: Anatomical Terminology and Medical Imaging

I. Levels of Organization of Organisms

A. atoms (elements of periodic table)

B. molecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acid)

C. cells (epithelial, bone, muscle, nervous)

D. tissues (epithelial, connective, muscular)

E. organ (stomach, heart, brain, lung)

F. organ system (muscular, skeletal, digestive, nervous)

G. whole organism (each different species)

II. Anatomy - the study of the structures of an organism

A. Gross Anatomy - structures as seen by unaided eye

B. Developmental Anatomy - study of the anatomy of the developing organism

1. Embryology - fertilization to third month of fetus

C. Histology ("tissues" "to study") - structures that can be seen with the microscope such as

cells and tissues

1. Cytology - study of cell structure/function

D. Systemic Anatomy - study of individual organ system

E. Regional Anatomy - study of structures in particular area

F. Pathology ("disease" "to study") - study of changes in structure due to disease/injury

III. Structure - Function Relationships

A.Anatomy - study of structure

Physiology - study of function

B.Structure determines Function

Function determines Structure

C.Charles Darwin - "Origin of the Species" (1858) - Changes in structure affect function: basis of evolution of all organisms

IV. Anatomical Terminology - The Language of Anatomy

A. Summary of Common prefixes and suffixes (Lecture Notes)

B. Anatomical Position

1. subject stands erect

2. upper limbs placed at sides with palms forward

3. feet flat on floor in natural forward direction

C. Directional Terms (practice using them in the lab!)

1. superior (cephalic) : inferior (caudal)

2. anterior (ventral) : posterior (dorsal)

3. medial : lateral

4. ipsilateral (same side) : contralateral (opposite)

5. proximal : distal

6. superficial : deep

7. parietal : visceral

D. Planes and Sections

1. sagittal - divides into right and left parts

a. midsagittal - right down the middle

b. parasagittal - away from the midline

2. frontal (coronal) - divides anterior & posterior

3. horizontal (transverse) - divide superior & inferior

E. Body Cavities

1. Dorsal Body Cavity

a. cranial cavity (brain)

b. vertebral cavity (spinal cord)

2. Ventral Body Cavity (viscera - organs found here)

a. thoracic cavity

i. pleural cavity (space separating the parietal pleura and visceral pleura of lungs - like balloon pushed in with fist)

ii. mediastinum - all contents of thoracic cavity except the lungs (eg. heart)

b. abdominopelvic cavity

i. abdominal - stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small

intestine

ii. pelvic - urinary bladder, cecum, appendix, sigmoid colon, rectum, reproductive organs

3. Other Body Cavities

a. oral cavity (mouth)

b. nasal cavity (sinuses for air passage)

c. orbital cavities (eyes)

d. middle ear cavities (in temporal bone)

e. synovial cavities (freely moveable joints)

V. Divisions of Abdominopelvic Cavity

A. Quadrants (from the umbilicus - belly button)

1. right upper quadrant (RUQ)

2. left upper quadrant (LUQ)

3. right lower quadrant (RLQ)

4. left lower quadrant (LLQ)

B. Regions (nine regions around umbilicus)

Right HypochondriacEpigastricLeft Hypochondriac

Right LumbarUmbilicalLeft Lumbar

Right IliacHypogastricLeft Iliac

VI. Specific Terms for Various Regions (SEE TEXT!)

A. Examples of Regional Terms

1. axillary - armpit

2. brachial - upper arm

3. pubic - around genitalia

4. carpal - wrist

5. antebrachial - forearm

6. acromial - point of shoulder

VII. Medical Imaging Techniques

A. Classic X-ray : radiography (radiograph)

1. good for dense structures (bones and tumors)

B. Computed Tomography (CT) or Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) Scanning

1. employs X-ray technology to create clearer image

2. tumors, aneurysms, kidney stones, gallstones, etc.

C. Dynamic Spatial Reconstruction (DSR)

1. employs X-ray technology to see organ action/motion

2. measures physiology of heart, lungs, vessels; can

indicate abnormality/deformity in structure; tissue damage

D. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

1. uses magnetic properties of molecules, not X-rays

2. presence of cancer cells, chemical disease of brain, spinal cord disorders, blood

flow problems, injury after stroke, measure effects of drugs on tissues

3. used chiefly on soft tissues such as brain & heart

E. Ultrasound (US)

1. uses high frequency sound waves

2. gall stones, pelvic organs, blood flow, fetal development

F. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

1. uses radioisotopes such as Carbon-11, Nitrogen-13

2. effects of drugs, site of molecules, cancer cells

3. very good at studying glucose absorption by neurons in the brain during certain

tasks

G. Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)

1. takes X-ray picture before and after administration of contrast substance to the

vessels

2. used to study vessels of the brain and heart to help prevent strokes and heart

attacks