19. The pelvic cavity and pelvic skeleton
Optional Reading Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 8th ed., chapter 6, Introduction to pelvis and perineum section through The bottom line: Pelvic cavity, pelvic peritoneum, and pelvic fascia. The pelvis is the region of transition where the trunk and lower limbs meet. Since the word pelvis comes from the Latin term for basin, it is used more […]
Autonomic innervation of thoracic organs
Now let’s take the principles of the ANS that we learned in Principles of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and apply them specifically to innervating thoracic organs. Autonomic nerve plexuses Autonomic motor and visceral afferent fibers reach and leave thoracic organs through autonomic nerve plexuses. Concept In autonomic plexuses, parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers and visceral […]
Heart and pericardium
Location of the heart and pericardium The heart and pericardium are located in the mediastinum, resting atop the diaphragm, between the lungs and pleural cavities. Owing to its development, most of the heart is located to the left side of the body’s midline. The size of the heart is described as that of the person’s […]
Pleura, pleural sacs, and lungs
Pleura and pleural sacs Pleura is a serous membrane associated with the lungs. Pleura comes in two varieties: Visceral pleura Read More Visceral pleura invests each lung; in fact, it forms the outermost layer of the organs themselves. It is snugly adherent and difficult to remove. Being structurally part of the lungs, it is derived […]
13. Introduction to the thoracic cavity
In this chapter Subdivisions of the thoracic cavity The thoracic cavity is divided into two pleural spaces bilaterally, containing the lungs and pleural sacs, and a central space containing the rest of the thoracic viscera called the mediastinum (Latin = median septum). Next Pleura, pleural sacs, and lungs
18. The retroperitoneum (posterior abdominal wall)
Optional Reading Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 8th ed., Diaphragm section through Clinical box: Diaphragm. Muscles of the posterior abdominal wall Diaphragm Right and left domed musculotendinous partition between thoracic and abdominal cavities Extends up to the 5th rib on the right, 5th intercostal space on the left Depends on the position, phase of respiration, size and […]
Overview of GI tract vessels, lymphatics, and nerves
Optional Reading Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 8th ed., chapter 5, Innervation of abdominal viscera section. Abdominal Viscera The principal viscera of the abdomen are the esophagus (terminal part), stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and suprarenal glands. The esophagus, stomach, and intestines form the digestive (alimentary) tract. The kidneys and suprarenal glands will be discussed […]
The peritoneal cavity and mesenteries
What is peritoneum? Peritoneum is a serous membrane. Recall that serous membranes are associated with body cavities and visceral organs within them. Question What is the function of a serous membrane? What are the names of the two other serous membranes we encountered earlier in our course? Parietal peritoneum lines the walls of the abdominopelvic […]
17. Introduction to the peritoneal cavity and GI tract
In this chapter Optional Reading Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 8th ed., chapter 5, Peritoneum and peritoneal cavity section; Moore et al., The Developing Human, 11th ed., chapter 8.
11. The hand
The hand is crucial to daily living—from sensing our environment to getting food to our mouths. It is very complex in a biomechanical sense, with 19 bones (not including the 8 carpal bones), 19 joints, and 29 (intrinsic and extrinsic) muscles. This complexity permits basic actions such as swinging a bat, to very intricate movements […]