Have you ever wondered which vein is the longest vein in the human body? Probably not, but in case you want to know, it is called the great saphenous vein (or the long saphenous vein). What is the Function of Veins? Veins are responsible for returning de-oxygenated blood to the heart. The great saphenous vein […]

The nail unit consists of the nail (fingernail or toenail), which is made of hardened plates of keratin, and its surrounding tissues that make up the distal, dorsal surface of the fingers and toes (digits). Nails are one of the four main appendages that, along with the skin, make up the integumentary system. The other […]

In my last anatomy lesson, I discussed the anatomy of a tooth, including the three main sections (crown, neck, and root), as well as the four major tissues that make up the tooth (enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp). Now let’s talk about the different types of teeth and their function. Two Sets of Teeth (Dentitions) […]

Let’s take a look at the anatomy of a tooth, including its major structures and tissues. But first, here’s a quick question that many people get wrong. Teeth are considered bones: true or false? The answer is…false. Although teeth and bones do have a similar appearance, they also have important differences. Therefore, anatomists do not […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to talk about an arm muscle that few people mention, the brachialis. Brachialis Shape and Location Like the biceps brachii, the brachialis muscle is a spindle-shaped muscle that is also located in the anterior (front) compartment of the arm. However, it lies just under the biceps brachii, and because […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to “pump you up” by talking about one of the most popular muscles in all of the body: the biceps brachii. Biceps Brachii Shape and Location The biceps brachii has a spindle (fusiform) shape, and it is located in the anterior compartment of the arm, which makes it very […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover all of the major body movement terms for anatomy (also called the planes of motion) that can occur at the synovial joints. You’ll come across these in your anatomy or kinesiology courses, and if you pursue a career in healthcare, you’ll use these terms during documentation or […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate rotation, which is a body movement term that describes a bone moving around a central axis. Rotation Body Movement Term in Anatomy When I think of the rotation body movement, I like to picture a screw turning to either the right or left, as that is similar […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate another body movement term called gliding. What is Gliding in Anatomy? What is gliding? Gliding occurs when the surfaces of bones slide past one another in a linear direction, but without significant rotary or angular movement. An example of this movement is moving your hand back and […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate circumduction, which is an angular movement that blends the motions of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction to create a circular or conical motion of the attached structure. The word circumduction starts with the same letters as the word “circle,” so that will tip you off that this […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstration abduction and adduction, which are angular body movement terms that have a structure moving either toward or away from a midline reference point on the body. Unlike flexion and extension movements, which mostly take place within the sagittal plane, you’ll notice that abduction and adduction motions mostly […]

There are 3 types of muscle tissue in the human body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle. In this video and article compilation, I’m going to discuss all three types of muscle tissue. Skeletal Muscle Tissue Skeletal muscles most commonly attach to bones, and they help you move your body. Unlike the other two types of […]

In this anatomy lesion, I’m going to demonstrate flexion and extension, which are body movement terms that either decrease or increase the angle between two structures or joints, bringing them closer together or moving them further apart. Flexion and extension are considered angular movements. I find that it’s really helpful for me to think in […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate elevation and depression, which are special body movement terms that describe motion in a superior (up) or inferior (down) direction. Elevation in Anatomy Elevation refers to movement of a body part in a superior direction, or moving upward. When you walk into a hotel lobby, you have […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate protrusion, retrusion, and excursion, which are special body movement terms in anatomy that refer to forward (anterior), backward (posterior), or side to side movements. Protrusion in Anatomy Protrusion refers to the movement of a structure in an anterior (forward) direction. In fact, the word protrude means “projecting […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate protraction and retraction, which are special body movements in anatomy that most commonly involve the scapulae (shoulder blades). Protraction Movement Protraction moves the scapula forward (anteriorly) and toward the side of the body (laterally) in an anterolateral direction. Retraction Movement Retraction is the opposite movement. It causes […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate inversion and eversion, which are special movements that cause the foot to move relative to the body’s midline. Inversion of the Foot During inversion, the bottom of the foot (sole) turns so that it faces toward the body’s midline, in a medial orientation. Inversion starts with the […]

In this continued series on body movements of anatomy, I’m going to demonstrate dorsiflexion and plantarflexion (or plantar flexion), which are special movements involving the foot and ankle joint. Dorsiflexion vs Plantarflexion To help you understand this special movement, let’s break down the words. Dorsal Side of the Foot (Dorsum) Dorsal refers to the back […]

In this article and video, I’m going to demonstrate opposition and reposition, which are special movements involving the thumb. The thumb, also known as the pollex or digit one, articulates (forms a joint) with the trapezium bone of the wrist (carpus) via a saddle joint, which is a type of synovial joint featuring interlocking convex […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate supination and pronation, which are special movements involving rotation of the forearm. These body movements are used by healthcare professionals to describe body movements, document, and assess patients. Supination of Forearm and Hand During supination, the distal end of the radius bone rotates over the ulna bone […]

Smooth muscle tissue anatomy review: In my previous lectures, I’ve discussed skeletal muscle tissue and cardiac muscle tissue. In this review, I’m going to cover the third and final type of muscle tissue: smooth muscle tissue. Smooth muscle is quite a bit different from the other two types of muscle tissue, but it also shares […]

In my last anatomy lesson, I discussed skeletal muscle tissue, which is one of the three types of muscle tissue found in the human body, along with cardiac and smooth muscle tissue. In this article and video, I’m going to discuss cardiac muscle tissue. Of the three types of muscle tissue, cardiac muscle tissue is […]

There are 3 types of muscle tissue in the human body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle. In this video and article, I’m going to discuss skeletal muscle tissue. Skeletal Muscle Tissue Skeletal muscles most commonly attach to bones, and they help you move your body. Unlike the other two types of muscle tissue, skeletal muscles […]

This muscle song will help you learn the major muscles of the human body.  Most anatomy courses will require that you at least know the name and location of the major muscles, though some anatomy courses will also require you to know the function (or action), the insertion and origin, and so on. It can […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the major ligaments of the vertebral column. Let’s recap for a moment. What are ligaments? Ligaments are those strong bands of fibrous connective tissue that primarily connect bones together, adding both strength and stability to them. Less commonly, they also connect organs or cartilage. Tendons, on the […]