Post-topographic anatomy

Post-topographic anatomy is about keeping bodily stuff intact rather than dissecting it to construct discrete anatomical structures.

Historically, anatomical dissection has been about getting to the good stuff and literally throwing away anything that seemed superfluous. For centuries, highly varied, regionally specialised and ubiquitous connective tissue and fascia has been relegated to the bin.

This subtractive method has been applied throughout the body, including the nervous system and brain. As it turns out, these discarded structures are massively invested with functionally significant connective tissue. Post-topographic anatomy is compelling researchers and clinicians to rethink the function of vast tracts of tissue.

WARNING:

THE READ MORE SECTION BELOW CONTAINS ANATOMICAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF DISSECTED HUMAN TISSUE

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Materially continuous post-topographic dissection of the brachial (triceps) fascia – functional adhesions and enveloping are the norm (C. Stecco 2015)

Antibrachial fascia – extensive multi-directional reinforcement around wrist (C. Stecco 2015)

Brachial fascia teased away from underlying biceps brachii muscle (C. Stecco 2015)

Getting to the good stuff – fascia has been removed to reveal deep buttock muscles (Rohen and Yokochi 3rd Edition)

fascia06 — Some shiny white remnants of connective tissue remain – mainly tendons since they ‘relate’ to muscles (Rohen and Yokochi 3rd Edition)

Topographic anatomy creates lots of parts and labels (Rohen and Yokochi 3rd Edition)

The subtractive dissection of the organism, represents only one particular anatomical approach to the body. For example, anatomy text books depict tendons attaching to bone (see the diagram below) – this is an artefact which does not reflect the biological reality of intact living tissue.

Tendons ‘attaching’ to bone around the wrist (Dr. Adalbert I. Kapandji ‘The Physiology of the Joints’)

FEATURED IMAGE:

Dr. Adalbert I. Kapandji. The Physiology of the Joints (2010).

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