Surface anatomy (also called superficial anatomy and visual anatomy) is the study of the external features of the body of an animal.[Seeley (2003) chap.1 p.2] In Bird anatomy, 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 endoscopy and radiology anatomy.[Standring (2008) Introduction, Anatomical nomenclature, p.2] Surface anatomy is a descriptive science.
In addition, the science of surface anatomy includes the theories and systems of body proportions and related artistic canons. The study of surface anatomy is the basis for depicting the human body in classical art.
Some such as physiognomy, phrenology and palmistry rely on surface anatomy.
Human surface anatomy
Surface anatomy of the thorax
Knowledge of the surface anatomy of the
chest (chest) is particularly important because it is one of the areas most frequently subjected to physical examination, like
auscultation and percussion.
[Drake (2009) Ch.3 Thorax - Thorax surface anatomy, pp. 224-6 and Fig. 3.96 A] In cardiology,
Erb's point refers to the third intercostal space on the left sternal border where S2 heart sound is best auscultated.
Some sources include the fourth left interspace.
Human female are located on the chest wall, most frequently between the second and sixth rib.
Anatomical landmarks
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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 muscle.
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The back as a general area is the dorsum or dorsal area, and the lower back as the limbus or lumbar region.
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The shoulderblades are the area and the breastbone is the sternum region.
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The abdomen is the region between the chest and the pelvis.
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The breast is called the mamma or mammary, the armpit as the axilla and axillary, and the navel as the umbilicus and umbilical region.
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The pelvis is the lower torso, between the abdomen and the .
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The groin, where the thigh joins the trunk, are the inguen and inguinal area.
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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 Carpal bones and carpal area, the hand as the manus and manual, the palm as the palma and palmar, the thumb as the pollex, and the as the digits, phalanx bone, and phalangeal.
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The buttocks are the gluteus or gluteal region and the pubic area is the pubis bone.
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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).
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The thigh is the femur and the femoral region.
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The kneecap is the patella and patellar while the back of the knee is the popliteus and popliteal area.
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The leg (between the knee and the ankle) is the crus and crural area, the lateral aspect of the leg is the area, and the calf is the sura and sural region.
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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.
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As with the fingers, the toes are also called the digits, phalanges, and phalangeal area.
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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,
cranium to
tail. Homologues share a bullet point and are separated by commas. Subcomponents are nested. Class in which component occurs in
italic.
In humans
In other animals
See also
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Anatomy
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Inspection (medicine)
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List of images in Gray's Anatomy: XII. Surface anatomy and Surface Markings
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Palpation
Notes
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Standring, Susan (2008) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, 39th Edition. . Human surface anatomy photos at pp. 947, 1406-1410 Figs. 56.3, 110.12, 110.13, 110.15, 110.22
Further reading
