Anatomy and Body Mechanics

1. Anatomy and Body Mechanics

2. Anatomy vs Physiology • Anatomy: describes the bodily “structure” of humans, animals, and other living organisms. Ie. The heart and its parts • Physiology: describes “how the body works”. Ie. How the heart functions.

3. Anatomical Position • Common starting point form which we can view, describe, and analyze body parts and body movements • Person is standing erect; head, toes, eyes pointing forward • Feet are together and arms are slightly out to the side • Palms of the hands are facing forward

4. Anatomical Position

5. Describing Positions and Relationships • Anterior: front of body • Posterior: back of body • Superior: above or toward your head • Inferior: below or toward your feet

6. Describing Positions and Relationships con’t • Medial: closer to the midline • Lateral: further from the midline • Proximal: portions of limbs closer to the body • Distal: portions of limbs further from the body

7. Anatomical Positions

8. Mobility • Musculoskeletal system • Muscles • Skeleton • Provides the framework for the body and allows it to move

9. Bones • There are 206 bones in the body • 5 types of bones • Long bones– weight bearing (leg bones) • Short bones– allow skill and ease of movement (wrist, fingers, ankles, toes) • Flat bones– protect organs (ribs, skull, pelvic bones, and shoulder blades) • Irregular bones– allow various degrees of movement and flexibility • Sesamoid bones: small, flat bones wrapped in tendons (patella)

10. Role of the Skeleton • Support and Movement – frame to which our muscles and organs attach • Protection – it is our body’s armour. (ie. Skull protects your brain) • Blood Cell Factory – our bone marrow creates our blood cells • Warehouse – bones store minerals such as calcium and phosphate which are essential for bone formation

11. Anatomy of a Long Bone In the bones we find such things as a: • A Medullary cavity – contains bone marrow (Where white blood cells are manufactured) • Cartilage – protects end of long bones within joints • Periosteum – connective tissue that covers the entire length of the bone. Ligaments and tendons connect to bone through this lining

12. Anatomy of a Long Bone

14. Joints • The point at which two or more bones meet allowing for movement • Ball and socket joints allow for movement in all directions (ie. hip, shoulder) • Hinge joints allow for movement in one direction (ie. fingers) • Pivot joints allow turning from side to side (ie. head and neck)

15. Muscles • More than 500 muscles in the body • Voluntary • can be consciously controlled • Attached to bone = voluntary • Ie. Biceps, quadriceps, etc. • Involuntary • Work automatically • Cannot be consciously controlled • Ie. Cardiac (heart) muscles

16. Muscles (2) • Contraction of muscles burns food for energy • Results in a production of heat • The greater the muscular activity, the greater amount of heat that is produced • Shivering– a type of rapid muscle contraction by which the body produces heat when exposed to cold

17. Ligaments and Tendons • Ligaments connect bone to bone. (ie. ACL in your knee) • Tendons connect bone to muscle (ie. achilles tendon)

18. Nervous System • Controls, directs, and coordinates body function • Controls sensation (touch, smell, hearing, sight) • Two main divisions • Central (CNS)– brain and spinal cord • Peripheral (PNS) – nerves that go to rest of body • Nerves conduct impulses between the brain and the rest of the body • Nerves can be easily damaged and they take a long time to heal

20. Body Mechanics • Refers to movement of body in an efficient and careful manner • Involves good posture, balance, and using largest and strongest muscles • Important for avoidance of fatigue, muscle strain, and injury • Note: The further an external weight is from your body, the greater the strain is on your body.