Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
3.1 INTRODUCTION
Since biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field based in both engineering
and the life sciences, it is important for biomedical engineers to have knowledge about
and be able to communicate in both areas. Biomedical engineers must understand the basic
components of the body and how they function well enough to exchange ideas and infor-
mation with physicians and life scientists. Two of the most basic terms and areas of study
in the life sciences are anatomy and physiology.
refers to the internal and external
structures of the body and their physical relationships, whereas
Anatomy
physiology
refers to the
study of the functions of those structures.
Figure 3.1a shows a male body in anatomical position. In this position, the body is erect
and facing forward, with the arms hanging at the sides and the palms facing outward. This
particular view shows the anterior (ventral) side of the body, whereas Figure 3.1c illustrates
the posterior (dorsal) view of another male body that is also in anatomical position, and
Figure 3.1b presents the lateral view of the female body. In clinical practice, directional
terms are used to describe the relative positions of various parts of the body. Proximal parts
are nearer to the trunk of the body or to the attached end of a limb than are distal parts
(Figure 3.1a). Parts of the body that are located closer to the head than other parts when
the body is in anatomical position are said to be
superior
(Figure 3.1b), whereas those
located closer to the feet than other parts are termed
inferior
.
Medial
implies that a part is
toward the midline of the body, whereas
means away from the midline (Figure 3.1c).
Parts of the body that lie in the direction of the head are said to be in the cranial direction,
lateral
SUPERIOR
INFERIOR
PROXIMAL
DISTAL
MEDIAL
LATERAL
(a) (b) (c)
FIGURE 3.1 (a) Anterior view of male body in anatomical position. (b) Lateral view of female body. (c) Poste-
rior view of male body in anatomical position. Relative directions (proximal and distal, superior and inferior, and
medial and lateral) are also shown.
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