Human Anatomy Essentials: Musculoskeletal System Review

Posted on Jun 16, 2026 in Physiotherapy

Week 1: Terminology, Skeleton, Joints, and Muscles

Anatomical Terminology

  • Planes: Sagittal, coronal, transverse
  • Positions: Anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal
  • Movements: Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation

Skeleton

  • Bone types: Long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid
  • Classification: Axial vs. appendicular skeleton

Joints

  • Types: Fibrous, cartilaginous, synovial
  • Synovial features: Capsule, cavity, synovial membrane, articular cartilage

Muscles

  • Components: Origin, insertion, action
  • Roles: Agonist, antagonist, synergist

Week 2: Vertebral Column, Spinal Cord, and Axial Muscles

Vertebral Column

  • Regions: Cervical (7), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacrum, coccyx
  • Function: Intervertebral discs for shock absorption

Spinal Cord and Nerves

  • Roots: Dorsal root (sensory), ventral root (motor)
  • Exit: Mixed spinal nerve exits via intervertebral foramen

Axial Musculature

  • Erector spinae: Iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis
  • Deep back muscles: Stabilize vertebrae

Week 3: Shoulder, Arm, and Elbow

Cubital Fossa

  • Borders: Superior (line between epicondyles), medial (pronator teres), lateral (brachioradialis), floor (brachialis + supinator), roof (bicipital aponeurosis)
  • Contents (lateral to medial): Biceps tendon, brachial artery (radial & ulnar), median nerve

Nerve Lesions and Action Loss

  • Axillary: Shoulder abduction
  • Radial: Wrist/finger extension
  • Musculocutaneous: Elbow flexion
  • Median: Thumb opposition
  • Ulnar: Finger ab/adduction

Week 4: Forearm, Wrist, and Hand

Carpal Tunnel

  • Boundaries: Roof (flexor retinaculum), floor (carpal bones)
  • Contents: Median nerve, FPL, 4x FDS, 4x FDP
  • Clinical: Median nerve compression leads to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Week 5: Pelvis, Hip, and Thigh

Pelvis

  • Anatomy: Pelvic inlet vs. outlet; true vs. false pelvis
  • Joints: Sacroiliac joint (weight-bearing), pubic symphysis (fibrocartilage)
  • Ligaments: Sacrospinous (greater sciatic foramen), sacrotuberous (lesser sciatic foramen)

Hip Joint

  • Type: Ball-and-socket synovial
  • Ligaments: Iliofemoral (prevents hyperextension), pubofemoral (limits abduction), ischiofemoral (posterior support)
  • Blood supply: Medial circumflex femoral artery (critical for preventing AVN)
  • Movements: Flexion (iliopsoas), extension (gluteus maximus), abduction (gluteus medius/minimus), adduction (adductor group), rotation (deep gluteals)

Thigh Compartments

  • Anterior (Femoral nerve): Knee extension, hip flexion
  • Medial (Obturator nerve): Thigh adduction
  • Posterior (Sciatic nerve): Knee flexion, hip extension

Femoral Triangle

  • Borders: Superior (inguinal ligament), lateral (sartorius), medial (adductor longus)
  • Contents (lateral to medial): N.A.V.L (Nerve, Artery, Vein, Lymphatics)

Clinical Traps

  • Trendelenburg sign: Superior gluteal nerve lesion
  • Femoral neck fracture: Medial circumflex artery risk
  • Posterior hip dislocation: Sciatic nerve injury
  • Piriformis syndrome: Sciatic nerve compression

Week 6: Knee, Leg, and Ankle

Popliteal Fossa

  • Borders: Superomedial (semimembranosus), superolateral (biceps femoris), inferomedial (medial gastrocnemius), inferolateral (lateral gastrocnemius + plantaris)
  • Floor: Femur, popliteal ligament, popliteus
  • Contents (superficial to deep): Tibial nerve, popliteal vein, popliteal artery, lymph nodes, common fibular nerve