iPedia Free Information Center

Information about Superficial Anatomy

Superficial anatomy (also called surface anatomy) is a descriptive science dealing with anatomical features that can be studied by sight, without dissecting an organism. In particular, in the case of human 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. It is also called "visual anatomy".

In addition, the science of superficial anatomy includes the theories and systems of body proportions and related artistic canons.

Studying of superficial anatomy is the basis for depiction of human body in classic art.

Some pseudo-sciences such as physiognomy, phrenology and palmistry rely on superficial anatomy. (The relation is one-sided, like that of astrology to astronomy.)

This is a list of superficial anatomical features. That is to say, externally visible parts of the body in humans and animals.

Sorted roughly from cranial to caudal. Homologues share a bullet point and are separated by commas. Subcomponents are nested. Alternative names or category members in parentheses. Class in which component occurs in italic.

See also

Books: Drawing the Living Figure by Joseph Sheppard, ISBN 0-486-26723-7
Anatomy (from the Greek ἀνατομία anatomia, from ἀνατέμνειν
..... Click the link for more information.
Dissection is usually the process of disassembling and observing something to determine its internal structure and as an aid to discerning the function and relationships of its components. It may refer also to some spontaneous natural process of disassembly as in aortic dissection.
..... Click the link for more information.
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the adult human body.[1] It is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy.[1]
..... Click the link for more information.
body proportions are the study of relation of human body, or in general, animal body, parts to each other and the whole, essential for depiction of the overall figure.

Some common proportional relationships for humans:

Body:

..... Click the link for more information.
ART is a three-letter acronym that can mean:

Medicine

  • Antiretroviral therapy. It is used in the treatment of HIV infection.
  • assisted reproductive technology

Other

  • Adaptive resonance theory

..... Click the link for more information.
Physiognomy (Gk. physis, nature and gnomon, judge, interpreter) is a theory based upon the idea that the assessment of the person's outer appearance, primarily the face, may give insights into one's character or personality.
..... Click the link for more information.
Phrenology (from Greek: φρήν, phrēn, "mind"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is a theory which claims to be able to determine character, personality traits and criminality on the basis of the shape of the head (i.e.
..... Click the link for more information.
Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir, “hand”; manteia, “divination”), is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palmistry, palm-reading, chirology
..... Click the link for more information.
Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism.
If you are prevented from editing this page, and you wish to make a change, please discuss changes on the talk page, request unprotection, log in, or .
..... Click the link for more information.
Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled until (UTC) due to vandalism.
If you are prevented from editing this page, and you wish to make a change, please discuss changes on the talk page, request unprotection, log in, or
..... Click the link for more information.
Cranial may refer to:
  • Anatomical terms of location
  • Cranial Osteopathy

..... Click the link for more information.
In sciences dealing with the anatomy of animals, precise anatomical terms of location are necessary for a variety of reasons. Non-scientists often wonder why zoological and human anatomists use complex terminology to describe locations on a body, when common terms like "up",
..... Click the link for more information.
In evolutionary biology, homology is any similarity between characters that is due to their shared ancestry. There are examples in different branches of biology. Anatomical structures that perform the same function in different biological species and evolved from the same structure
..... Click the link for more information.
Tentacles can refer to the elongated flexible organs that are present in some animals, especially invertebrates, and sometimes to the hairs of the leaves of some insectivorous plants. Usually, they are used for feeding, feeling and grasping.
..... Click the link for more information.
Cephalopoda
Cuvier, 1797

Orders

Subclass Nautiloidea
  • †Plectronocerida
  • †Ellesmerocerida
  • †Actinocerida
  • †Pseudorthocerida
  • †Endocerida
  • †Tarphycerida
  • †Oncocerida

..... Click the link for more information.
head of an animal is the rostral part (from anatomical position) that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth (all of which aid in various sensory functions, such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste).
..... Click the link for more information.
Antlers are the large and complex horn-like appendages of male deer, consisting of bony outgrowths from the head with no covering of keratin as is found in true horns. Each antler grows from an attachment point on the skull called a pedicle.
..... Click the link for more information.
A sagittal crest is a ridge of bone running lengthwise along the midline of the top of the skull (at the sagittal suture) of many mammalian and reptilian skulls, among others. The presence of this ridge of bone indicates that there are exceptionally strong jaw muscles.
..... Click the link for more information.
See also the clitoral hood
The hood is the name in anatomy for the flap of skin behind the head of cobras, which can be used to make the snake appear bigger. It can also carry distinctive markings.
..... Click the link for more information.
horn is a living, vein and artery filled, pointed projection of the skin of various animals, consisting mainly of keratin as well as other proteins. True horns are found only among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae (pronghorn) and Bovidae (cows, buffalo,
..... Click the link for more information.
Mane can have the following meanings:
  • The mane of a horse is used to describe the line of hair along the spine of the neck, starting behind the ears and ending just above the withers.
  • The mane may also refer to the mane of a lion, found on the male animal's neck.

..... Click the link for more information.
Eyes are organs of vision that detect light. Different kinds of light-sensitive organs are found in a variety of organisms. The simplest eyes do nothing but detect whether the surroundings are light or dark, while more complex eyes can distinguish shapes and colors.
..... Click the link for more information.
outer ear is the most external portion of the ear. The outer ear includes the pinnae (also called auricle), the ear canal, and the very most superficial layer of the ear drum (also called the tympanic membrane).
..... Click the link for more information.
A snout is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw. The snout is also often called a muzzle. A piece of equipment also called a muzzle can be placed over the snout to prevent the animal from biting or eating, often used before and
..... Click the link for more information.
nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration in conjunction with the mouth.

In most humans, it also houses the nosehairs, which catch airborne particles and prevent them from reaching the lungs.
..... Click the link for more information.
Trunk may be:
  • Trunk (botany), the main structural member of a tree.
  • Trunk (structural), a chute or conduit, or a watertight shaft connecting two or more decks.
  • Trunk (luggage), a large case.

..... Click the link for more information.
nostril (or naris, pl. nares) is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. In birds and mammals, they contain branched bones or cartilages called turbinates, whose function is to warm air on inhalation and
..... Click the link for more information.
Vibrissae (singular: vibrissa), or whiskers, are specialized hairs, usually employed for tactile sensation, but can also refer to the stiff feathers near the mouths of some birds.
..... Click the link for more information.
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which, in addition to eating, is used for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, probing for food, courtship, and feeding their young.
..... Click the link for more information.
Aves
Linnaeus, 1758

Orders

About two dozen - see section below

Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information.


This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
Herod_Archelaus


page counter