General Anatomy Concepts

Question 1

describe the anatomical position.

Answer 1

body fully erect with head, eyes, and toes directed forward, hands at the sides and palms forward. all descriptions of structures of the body are made with reference to this position

Question 2

what is fascia composed of?

Answer 2

cells, fibers, and ground substance

Question 3

What is the function of fascia?

Answer 3

1. Adds strength to structures
2. provides continuity to structures covered/encircled
3. provides ease of movement by allowing structures to move easily over one another.

Question 4

superficial fascia

Answer 4

CT layer found directly beneath the skin composed of two layers: superficial (fatty) and deeper reinforcing layer (membranous)

Question 5

deep fascia

Answer 5

“stocking-like” vestment of fibrous CT devoid of fat and located deep to superficial fascia.

• surrounds body musculature
• forms sheaths for nerves and vessels
• provides general compartmentation by attaching to bony prominences
• provides assessory attachments for muscles to bone

Question 6

What are some examples of deep fascia?

Answer 6

retinaculum, intermuscular septum, neurovascular sheath, bursa

Question 7

retinaculum

Answer 7

narrow band of deep fascia associated with joint, functions to hold tendons close to bones as joint moves and prevent ‘bow stringing’

Question 8

intermuscular septum

Answer 8

specialized deep fascia, forms partition between muscular groups and aid in delineating muscular compartments

Question 9

neurovascular sheath

Answer 9

tubular sheath of deep fascia that surrounds arteries, veins, lymphatics and nerves that transverse and/or feed a muscular compartment

Question 10

bursa

Answer 10

CT membranes which surround tendons as sheaths, overlay boney prominences, and surround organs as bursal sacs. linings secrete serous fluids which reduce the frictional component of structures moving within or over them.

Question 11

What are the functions of bone?

Answer 11

1. support and protection of soft tissues
2. provides ‘levers’ for action of skeletal muscles
3. blood producing organ
4. storage site for calcium

Question 12

What are the divisions of the skeletal system?

Answer 12

1. axial - skull, vertebral column, and rib cage

2. appendicular - limbs and bones of girdle which attach them to the axial skeleton

Question 13

what are the different types of bone?

Answer 13

1. long
2. short
3. irregular
4. flat
5. sesamoid

Question 14

Name the regions of the long bone.

Answer 14

diaphysis - shaft
metaphysis - expanded portion of shaft approaching end
epiphysis - distal ends of long bones

Question 15

appositional growth

Answer 15

growth in width; result of coupled activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts removing bone from wall of medullary cavity and forming new bone on external surface

Question 16

where does bone growth of length occur?

Answer 16

epiphyseal line - cartilaginous line where bone extension occurs

Question 17

what are the main types of joints?

Answer 17

1. fibrous - joints united by fibrous tissue (suture, syndesmosis)
2. cartilaginous - joints united by cartilage (synchondrosis, symphysis)
3. synovial - most common, characterized by hyaline covered articular surfaces, joint capsule w/ cavity, synovial membrane, freely mobile

Question 18

what are the characteristics of synovial joints?

Answer 18

• hyaline cartilage covered articular surfaces
• presence of joint capsule surrounding joint cavity
• symovial membrane lining capsule secreting synovial fluid
• reinforcing capsular ligaments
• may have fibrocartilaginous articular disk or interarticular ligaments
• freely mobile

Question 19

Describe different types of synovial joints.

Answer 19

• plane/gliding: sliding of surfaces (vertebrae)
• hinge: flex/extend around single transverse axis (elbow
• pivot: bone ‘pin’ with osseofibrous ring (atlantoaxial joint)
• condyloid: modified ball and socket; allows movements in two planes at right angles (wrist)
• saddle: biaxial articulation where surfaces of each articulating bone lie in opposite directions (joint of thumb)
• ball and socket - convex head fits a concavity (shoulder/hip)

Question 20

how are muscles named?

Answer 20

size, shape, number of heads, fiber direction, location, function, attachments

Question 21

What are the categories used to describe the belly of muscles?

Answer 21

1. fusiform - parallel fibers longitudinally oriented (weak)
2. unipennate - parallel fibers that attach to ta tendon obliquely
3. bipennate - “feather-like”
4. multipennate - many feathers next to one another (strongest)