HUMAN ANATOMY &

PHYSIOLOGY

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To explain all the systems
of the human body in
relation to massage
therapy.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

ANATOMY
Study of
BODY
STRUCTURES

ANATOMY
The study of the structure and
design of living things, from the
whole organism down to the cell
level.

ANA Means UP
TOMY to CUT

PHYSIOLOGY
Study of
BODY
FUNCTIONS

PHYSIOLOGY
The study of the mechanical,
physical and biochemical
functions of living things.

PHYSI means NATURE

OLOGY Means STUDY

MASSAGE
BODY TISSUE
MANIPULATIONS

ANATOMICAL POSITION

 Body

erect
facing forward

and

Arms at the side

Palms are facing
forward with thumbs
on the side

Feet

about a hip
distance apart with
toes pointing forward

BODY REGIONS

HEAD & NECK REGION

TRUNK
UPPER EXTREMITIES
LOWER EXTREMITIES

HEAD & NECK REGION

HEAD & NECK REGION

The head houses the brain and
major sense organs. It also forms
the framework of the face. The head
is held upright by the muscles and
bones of the neck, which connects
the head to the trunk.

TRUNK

TRUNK
The trunk (or torso) forms the central
part of the body and has two sections:
the thorax forms the upper trunk; from
the neck to the diaphragm; the
abdomen forms the lower part of the
trunk.

UPPER
EXTREMITIES

UPPER EXTREMITIES
Divided into three regions: the arm,
forearm and hand; the hallow part just
below the connection between the
upper extremity and the trunk is the
axilla or armpit.

LOWER
EXTREMITIES

LOWER EXTREMITIES
Divided into thigh, leg and foot.

DIRECTIONS

SUPEROR
Above or towards the head

INFEROR
Below or toward the lower part
of the body.

ANTERIOR /
VENTRAL /
FRONT
Towards the front of the
body

POSTERIOR /
DORSAL/
BACK
Towards the back of the
body

MEDIAL/
INTERNAL
At or nearer to the center
plane or the midline of the
body; or in the inner side of
the body.

LATERAL /
EXTERNAL
Away from the center
plane of the body.

PROXIMAL
Nearer to the center of the
body

DISTAL
Farther from the
center of the body

BODY POSITIONS

SUPINE
a position of the body lying down face up

PRONE
A Position of the Body Lying Down with Face
Down

SIDE LYING
A Position of the Body Lying on One Side

BODY PLANES

SAGITTAL

CORONAL /
FRONTAL

TRANSVERSE

BODY CAVITIES

VENTRAL

DORSAL

BODY MOVEMENTS

FLEXION

Movement that bends a joint so that the

angle between two body parts is decreased
and parts come close together.

EXTENSION

Is the opposite of flexion. Extension causes

the parts at the joint to straighten out or
open so that the angle between the body
parts is increased and the parts move
farther apart.

HYPEREXTENSION

It is the movement beyond the movement of

extension

ABDUCTION

Is to draw away anything from the midline of

the body

ADDUCTION

A joint brings a body part closer to the

midline of the body or the midline of the hand
or foot in the case of finger or toes

CIRCUMDUCTION

The movement of a body part so that its end

follows a circular path. It is a combination of
extension, adduction, flexion and abduction
and occurs in the shoulder and hip joints and
in the thumb, knuckles and wrist.

ROTATION

The turning movement of a bone around its

own long axis and involves movement in the
transverse plane. Turning your head is an
example of simple rotation.

INTERNAL ROTATION

EXTERNAL ROTATION

PRONATION

Turning the hand so that the palm faces

down

SUPINATION

Involves turning the hand so that the

palm faces upward and is in a supine
(face up) position.

RADIAL DEVIATION

ULNAR DEVIATION

PLANTAR FLEXION

It is the movement at the ankle joint that

occurs when the toe is pointed.

DORSIFLEXION

It involves upward flexing of the foot at the

ankle.

INVERSION
This occurs when the
foot moves medially so
the sole faces inward or
if the foot is positioned
so toes turn in

EVERSION
It involves turning
foot laterally so the
sole faces away from
the body or if the foot
is positioned with
toes splayed out.

ELEVATION
It is a movement
superiorly or upward
along the coronal
plane.

DEPRESSION
It refers to the
movement
inferiorly or
downward.

PROTRACTION
Turning the hand
so that the palm
faces down.

RETRACTION

ORGANIZATION

CELL

TISSUE

ORGAN

SYSTEM

HUMAN BODY

TERMS

THE END