Anatomy means “to cut apart” or “to separate by cutting.” That’s how you figure out what’s inside the body, so it makes sense to name it that way!
Anatomy refers to the structure of the organism – compared with physiology, which refers to the function of that structure. Anatomy talks about the same structures as physiology, but only in terms of the way those structures are built. In another analogy, anatomy is to architecture, as physiology is to engineering. The architect designs the building, the structure. The engineer designs the function of the building.
You should have a good understanding of the basic anatomy of your body. At a minimum, know where the following muscles are, and what their actions are:
The Muscles of the Calf – Gastrocnemius, Soleus, and Tibialis.
The Muscles of the Thigh – Quadriceps and Hamstrings.
The Muscles of the Hip – Iliacus and Psoas, TFL, Gluteals, Hip Rotators, and Quadratus Lumborum.
The Muscles of the Abdomen – Rectus Abdominus, Obliques, TVA, Multifidi, and Spinal Erectors.
The Muscles of the Back – Latissimus Dorsi, Spinal Erectors.
The Muscles of the Shoulder Girdle – Rhomboids, Trapezius, Deltoids, Pectorals.
The Muscles of the Rotator Cuff – Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Subscapularis.
The Muscles of the Arm – Biceps, Triceps, Wrist Flexors and Extensors.
The Muscles of the Neck – Levator Scapulae, Cervical Extensors.
Perform a Google image search for “human anatomy,” print out the picture, and review it on a regular basis. Name the muscles when you see them or use them. This will not only help you to understand the things we’ll discuss in future posts better, but it will also make you more informed generally, and better able to communicate with people like trainers, doctors, and physical therapists should you ever need to consult with one.
Most of all, the names of body parts are just words. They’re like the words “blue,” “skinny,” “jump,” or any other words. Because they aren’t commonly used, they seem very strange, but don’t let that strangeness put you off!
How does this relate to health? Well, the better you know your body, the better you’ll be able to identify the source of any issues you might experience with it. Being able to use specific names is a first step in that process. Remember learning how to read and write? First you had to learn the alphabet. The words above, and the other new words you’ll learn on this journey, are the alphabet for your language of your body. This way, we’ll all share a common language, and be able to understand one another when we talk about our bodies.
