Study of the external features of the body of an animal
Surface anatomy (also called superficial anatomy and visual anatomy) is the study of the external features of the body of an animal.[1] In
birds, this is termed topography. Surface anatomy deals with anatomical features that can be studied by sight, without
dissection. As such, it is a branch of
gross anatomy, along with
endoscopic and
radiological anatomy.[2] Surface anatomy is a descriptive science.[3] In particular, in the case of human surface anatomy, these are the form and proportions of the human body and the surface landmarks which correspond to deeper structures hidden from view, both in static pose and in motion.
In addition, the science of surface anatomy includes the theories and systems of
body proportions and related artistic canons.[citation needed] The study of surface anatomy is the basis for depicting the human body in classical
art.
Knowledge of the surface anatomy of the
thorax (chest) is particularly important because it is one of the areas most frequently subjected to
physical examination, like
auscultation and
percussion.[4] In cardiology, Erb's point refers to the third
intercostal space on the left sternal border where
S2 heart sound is best auscultated.[5][6] Some sources include the fourth left interspace.[7]
Human female
breasts are located on the chest wall, most frequently between the second and sixth
rib.[4]
Anatomical landmarks
On the trunk of the body in the thoracic area, the shoulder in general is the
acromial, while the curve of the shoulder is the
deltoid.
The back as a general area is the
dorsum or dorsal area, and the lower back as the limbus or
lumbar region.
The shoulderblades are the
scapular area and the breastbone is the
sternal region.
The breast is called the mamma or mammary, the armpit as the
axilla and axillary, and the
navel as the umbilicus and
umbilical.
The pelvis is the lower torso, between the abdomen and the
thighs.
The
groin, where the thigh joins the trunk, are the inguen and inguinal area.
The entire arm is referred to as the brachium and brachial, the front of the elbow as the antecubitis and
antecubital, the back of the elbow as the
olecranon or olecranal, the
forearm as the antebrachium and antebrachial, the
wrist as the
carpus and carpal area, the
hand as the manus and manual, the palm as the palma and palmar, the
thumb as the pollex, and the
fingers as the digits,
phalanges, and phalangeal.
The
buttocks are the gluteus or gluteal region and the pubic area is the
pubis.
Anatomists divide the lower limb into the thigh (the part of the limb between the
hip and the
knee) and the leg (which refers only to the area of the limb between the knee and the
ankle).
The kneecap is the
patella and patellar while the back of the knee is the popliteus and popliteal area.
The leg (between the knee and the ankle) is the crus and crural area, the lateral aspect of the leg is the
peroneal area, and the calf is the sura and sural region.
The ankle is the tarsus and tarsal, and the heel is the calcaneus or calcaneal. The foot is the pes and pedal region, and the sole of the foot the planta and plantar.
As with the fingers, the toes are also called the digits, phalanges, and phalangeal area.
The big toe is referred to as the hallux.
List of features
Following are lists of surface anatomical features in humans and other animals. Sorted roughly from head to tail,
cranial to
caudal.
Homologues share a bullet point and are separated by commas. Subcomponents are nested. Class in which component occurs in italic.
^Constant, Jules (1999). Bedside cardiology. Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 228.
ISBN0-7817-2168-7.
References
Drake, Richard; Vogl, A. Wayne; Mitchell, Adam W. M. (2009).
Gray's Anatomy for Students (2nd ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 157–164, 311–320, 538–547, 686–694, 882–892, 1097–1110, 1514–1524.
ISBN9781437720556. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
Seeley, Rod R.; Stephens, Trent D.; Tate, Philip (2002). Anatomy & physiology (6th ed.). McGraw & Hill.
ISBN978-0-07-235113-2.
Standring, Susan (2008) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, 39th Edition.
ISBN978-0-443-07168-3. Human surface anatomy photos at pp. 947, 1406-1410 Figs. 56.3, 110.12, 110.13, 110.15, 110.22
Further reading
Frederick, Roland Becker; Wilson, James Walter; Gehweiler, John A. (1971). The anatomical basis of medical practice (illustrated ed.). Williams and Wilkins.