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 metacarpal 1, 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 […]

The vertebral column is part of the axial skeleton, and it is made of 33 individual bones during youth, which anatomists classify as irregular bones. Approximately nine of the bones at the terminal end of the spine later fuse in adulthood to form two larger bones: the sacrum and the coccyx. After the bones of […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the sacrum, a triangular bone located near the inferior portion of the vertebral column. Sacrum Etymology The word “sacrum” sounds a lot like the word “sacred,” and there’s a reason for that. “Sacrum” comes from an ancient Greek word that means “sacred bone” (hieron osteon), and they […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the coccyx bone, also called the tailbone. Anatomists classify the coccyx bone as an irregular bone, and it makes up the inferior portion of the vertebral column, which is part of the axial skeleton. Your tailbone does serve a purpose: It allows for the attachment of several […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the rib bones, also called costae in Latin. The ribs help protect vital organs  in the thorax such as the heart and lungs, and they assist with breathing. Don’t be fooled their long, curved shape! Rib bones are not classified as long bones. Instead, anatomists classify the […]

Sternum Anatomy: Manubrium, Body (Gladiolus), and Xiphoid Process In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the sternum bone, also called the breastbone. I like to call this the “necktie bone” because it is shaped just like a necktie, and it’s also located in the center of the chest.  In fact, the word sternum comes […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to highlight the major differences between the male pelvis and the female pelvis.  If you were to walk into a crime scene containing skeletal remains, one of the quickest ways to determine the sex of the body would be to examine the pelvis. Male vs Female Pelvis Let’s take […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the pelvic girdle, which consists of the two hip bones. The hip bones are referred to by different names, such as os coxae or coxal bones, innominate bones, or the pelvic bones. The pelvic girdle is part of the appendicular skeleton, and it not only protects the […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the patella bone, also known as the kneecap. The patella bone is part of the appendicular skeleton, and it gets its name from a Latin word that means “shallow pan or dish.” Anatomists classify it as a sesamoid bone, which is often considered a subcategory of short […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the anatomy of the tibia and fibula bones of the anatomical leg, which is the section between the knee and ankle. These two leg bones are part of the appendicular skeleton, and anatomists classify them as long bones. Tibia and Fibula Memory Trick If you get these […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the femur bone, which is the only bone that makes up the thigh. In fact, the word femur comes from a Latin word that literally means “thigh.” The femur is part of the appendicular skeleton, and this bone is classified as a long bone, which makes sense […]

Anatomy and Physiology can be an intimidating class, so I’m going to give you some simple anatomy study tips that will help you pass with high grades. Anatomy Study Tips Study Tip #1: Master the First Few Chapters You’ll want to master the first few chapters for three reasons: First, anatomy builds on itself, so […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the foot bones, which make up part of the appendicular skeleton. Each foot contains 26 bones: 7 tarsals, 5 metatarsals, and 14 phalanges. When you combine the bones from both feet, you get 52 bones out of the 206 bones in the average adult skeleton. The bones […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the clavicle and scapula bones. These bones are part of the appendicular skeleton, and together they form the pectoral girdle (also called shoulder girdle), which attaches the upper limb to the axial skeleton. Clavicle Bone Anatomy (Collarbone) The clavicle bone, also called collarbone, is a small, curved […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the anatomy of the two forearm bones, the radius and ulna. These bones are classified as long bones, and they make up part of the appendicular skeleton. Many people get these two bones confused, so let me begin by giving you a couple of memory tricks to […]

In this anatomy and physiology lesson, I’m going to cover the only bone that makes up the anatomical arm, called the humerus, which is part of the appendicular skeleton. Although the word “humerus” comes from a Latin word that means “shoulder, “ it is often referred to as the funny bone, because humerus (arm bone) […]