Ep 32: More Anatomy Terms You Should Know!

We've been diving into the world of anatomy lately and there's so much new information about the human body that we're learning every single day. But don't you worry about that, I got you! I've created so many different ways to help yoga teachers learn anatomy in bite size, easy to understand ways so that the feeling of overwhelmed does not consume you.

I've taught anatomy in numerous yoga teacher trainings and instead of just going through PowerPoint slides and watching teachers' eyes glass over I've created ways to get teachers excited about anatomy, through different learning styles and fun and interactive games. 

In this podcast episode, I'm going to continue to teach you more anatomy terms in accessible ways by teaching through analogies. So let's keep going down the rabbit hole of anatomy and focus on the following terms: Bones, bony landmarks or protrusions, retinaculum, arteries & veins, bursa, lymph nodes, and nerves.

Got your journal? I hope so!

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Transcript

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We've been diving into the world of anatomy lately. And I know sometimes it can feel overwhelming because there's so much information to learn. And honestly, there is so much new information about the human body that we're learning every single day. But don't you worry about that? I got you. I've created so many different ways to help yoga teachers learn anatomy in bite size, easy to understand ways. So that the feeling of overwhelmed does not consume you. I've taught anatomy in numerous yoga teacher trainings. And instead of just going through PowerPoint slides and watching teachers eyes, glass over. I figured out ways to get teachers excited about anatomy, through different learning styles and fun and interactive games. In this podcast episode, I'm going to continue to teach you more anatomy terms in accessible ways by teaching through analogies. So let's keep going down the rabbit hole of anatomy and focus on the following terms. Bones bony landmarks or protrusions retina curriculum. Arteries and veins, bursa, lymph, nodes, and nerves. Got your journal. I hope so. Welcome to the Essential Conversations for Yoga Teachers podcast with me. I'm Monica Bright, and I've been teaching yoga and running my yoga business for over a decade. This is the podcast for you if you're a yoga teacher, you're looking for support, you love to be in conversation, and you're a lifelong student. In this podcast, I'll share with you My life as a yoga teacher, the lessons I've learned, my process for building my business, and helpful ideas, tools, strategies, and systems I use and you can use so that your business thrives. We'll cover a diverse range of topics that will help you whether you're just starting out or you've got years under your belt and you want to dive deep and set yourself up for success. I'm so glad you're here. Listen, I don't take myself too seriously, so expect to hear some laughs along the way. Now, let's do this together. Welcome back to the podcast. It's been exciting for the last few weeks over here, because I was recently interviewed for three podcasts, which are going live as we speak. They're being doled out over time. I'll put a link in the show notes to listen to those interviews because they're always linked. On my website under the press. Tab also, I'm continuing to welcome new guests teachers in my online studio, the Alliance, there are teachers that focus on functional movement, floor, Pilates, sustainable movement. Yoga and your chakras and yoga focused on strength, flexibility, and endurance. I'm so excited to have all of my guest teachers inside the studio. And if you're looking for an online option to practice. I would invite you to check it out. We're having an awesome time practicing online. Okay. Onto this week's topic, more anatomy terms that you should know we're going to build on the basic terms that are in episode 29. I've taught anatomy in numerous yoga teacher trainings. And instead of just going through PowerPoint slides and watching teacher's eyes, glass over. I figured out ways to get teachers excited about anatomy. Through different learning styles and fun and interactive games. Now for the podcast, I'm going to continue to teach you more anatomy terms in accessible ways by teaching through analogies. Okay. Make sure you have your journal. So you can write down the terms, their definitions. I'm going to give you for each term, a central idea to relate it back to plus how to associate it and analogy. And some visual imagery. I'll finish up with an explanation that ties it all together for you. To be mindful of your time. I'm going to limit this episode to the following terms. Bones. Bony landmarks or bony protrusions, which I like to call them. Retina baculum arteries versus veins, bursa, lymph, nodes, and nerves. I'm sure I will record another episode and share even more terms. And I'm super excited to do that. So let's just get started with bones. Human bones are the rigid organs that form the endoskeleton of the human body. They provide structure, protect vital organs, anchor muscles, and store calcium. And adult human has 206 bones, but a newborn has around 270 bones. And the difference is because as we grow some of these bones fuse together, Bones come in various sizes and shapes each suited to its function. There are five types of bones you have long bones. That are found in your arms and your legs such as your femur and your humorous. Those are the upper leg and the upper arm bones. And these bones are more longer than they are wide and primarily support weight and facilitate movement. Next you have short bones, which are roughly cube shaped and found in your wrist and ankle, such as the carpals and the tarsals. They provide stability and support with little movement. Next, our flat bones. These bones are thin, flat, and often curved. Like your ribs. Your skull, your sternum, they protect your internal organs and provide surfaces for muscle attachment. Next star irregular bones. And these are bones with complex shapes that don't fit into the other categories, such as the vertebra. And. Certain facial bones, They protect it. Nervous tissue. And maintain support for your pharynx and trachea. Finally you have sesamoid bones embedded within tendons, such as your patella or your knee cap, and these protect your tendons from stress and wear. Bones are made up of several components. They're compact bones, which is the dense, harder, outer layer that provides strength and protection. Then there's spongy bone, which is the lighter poorest inner layer that contains red bone marrow, which produces blood cells. Next you have bone marrow, which is a soft tissue inside your bones. Red marrow produces blood cells while yellow marrow stores fat.. Periosteum a dense layer of vascular connective tissue, enveloping the bones except at the surfaces of the joints. And then finally cartilage. Is a smooth tissue that covers the end of your bones, where they meet to form joints, reducing friction, and helping to absorb shock. Bones are primarily composed of collagen and calcium phosphate. This combination allows for bones to be strong yet. Flexible enough to withstand stress. So here's the central idea around bones. I want you to think of bones as the steel framework that provides structure and support to a building. Just as the steel framework of a building provides strength and stability bones provide the framework that supports the body and allows for movement. So just visualize the steel beams and columns of a skyscraper, forming the skeleton that supports the entire structure. And this is similar to how bones form the skeleton. That supports your human body. So just to steal frameworks and buildings provide a central support instability, ensuring the structure can stand and withstand various forces, bones perform a similar function in the body. Providing a rigid framework that supports and protects organs and facilitates movement. Moving on to bony landmarks or what? I often call protrusions bony protrusions. Like I explained. Bones come in different sizes and shapes, and they also have ridges and divots. They're smooth and they're bumpy too. So think of bony landmarks as the peaks and valleys on a topographical map. Marking significant points of elevation. Just as peaks and valleys, help identify specific locations and terrain features on a map. Bony landmark serve as reference points for identifying the positions of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If you can pick your, a detailed topographical map with highlighted peaks and valleys marking important geographical features, then you can visualize how this is similar to the way bony landmarks. Highlight different, significant points on your bones, like the iliac crest of your pelvis or the a chromium process found in your scapular bone. So just keep in mind how topographical maps use. Peaks. And valleys to indicate important geographical features. Similarly, bony landmarks are specific points on bones that serve as reference points for locating muscles, tendons, and ligaments aiding in anatomical orientation. And helping you. If you're a teacher who gives assist to your students? Okay, next is Retton ACLAM. Have you ever heard this term before? We all have it in our bodies. These are several fibrous bands of fascia that pass over or under tendons. And its function is to help keep tendons in place. Retina macular are found in several locations throughout your body, serving as crucial structures to prevent the bowing out of tendons and ensuring efficient movement. Think of retina macula as cable ties that hold wires together in an organized manner, justice, cable ties, bundle and secure wires to prevent tangling. Retina macula hole tendons in place. Ensuring they stay aligned and functional. If you visualize a bunch of wires, neatly bundled and secured with cable ties, keeping them organized and in place, then you can see how this is similar to how retina macula secure your tendons around joints. Cable ties, organized and secure. These wires, preventing them from getting tangled or misplaced and retina macula perform a similar function. By holding these tendons in place around joints, ensuring that they move smoothly and stay aligned during movement. One well-known example is the flexor retinaculum in the wrist. Also known as the transfers, carpal ligament, it spans the carpal bones on the anterior side, or think inside of your wrist and forms the roof of the carpal tunnel through which the median nerve and flexor tendons pass. This retina curriculum helps maintain the position of these tendons and prevent them from bowing outward. When the wrist is flexed. Think when you flip the Palm of your hand towards you, that's a flexed wrist. The retina column is directly related to carpal tunnel syndrome. And I'll go deeper into the explanation of this in a future episode where I explained injuries in the retina. Awesome. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when there is increased pressure within the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in the risks. Formed by the carpal bones and the flexor retinaculum. All right, moving on to arteries and veins. What's the difference? Think of arteries as highways that carry fast, flowing traffic and think of veins as local roads that return traffic to the downtown area of your city. Arteries carry oxygen, rich blood away from your heart under high pressure. They have thick and the Lastic walls and are located deeper within your body. Whereas veins carry oxygen, poor blood back to your heart under low pressure. They have thinner walls with valves to prevent backflow and are located closer to the skin. Here's the central idea. Arteries are the highways and veins are the local roads. Just as highways, transport vehicles quickly and efficiently from the heart. Of the city to the outskirts. Arteries, transport oxygen, rich blood from the heart. Out to the rest of your body. Just pick your, a busy highway with fast moving traffic, efficiently distributing vehicles from downtown. To various destinations. This is similar to how arteries distribute blood from your heart. Now think of veins as local roads, that return traffic to the downtown area. Just as local roads carry vehicles back from the suburbs to the heart of the city veins, carry oxygen, depleted blood back to your heart. Visualize a network of local roads converging towards downtown. Collecting traffic and directing it back efficiently. This is similar to how veins return blood to your heart. Arteries transport blood quickly from your heart to areas of your body while veins collect blood from your body and return it to your heart. There are injuries and conditions with arteries and veins and I'll share a personal story. In an upcoming episode. Okay. Moving on to bursa. Uh, bursa is a small fluid filled SAC that acts as a cushion. And lubricating surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. Bursa are lined with synovial membrane and contain synovial fluid, which helps minimize friction between bones, tendons, muscles. And skin. Bursts are located throughout your body, particularly in areas where there's a lot of movement and friction. Some key locations include your shoulders, your elbows, hips. Knees ankles and your feet. Bursa plays a crucial role in facilitating smooth movement and preventing friction related damage in areas of high mechanical stress. Can you imagine your bones rubbing together? If you didn't have this cushion in your joints? Just thinking about that makes me cringe. Your bursa can get inflamed and that's called bursitis, which can cause pain and restrict movement in the effected area. But I'll get more detailed with this common condition in the injury episode. That's upcoming. Now here's how to remember bursa, think of bursa as the cushion pads inside shoes that prevent friction and provide comfort just as cushion pads and shoes, reduce friction between the foot. And your shoe. Bursa reduce friction between bones, tendons, and muscles in your body. Picture the soft cushioned in souls of a shoe that provide comfort, prevent, rubbing, and blisters, and compare that to how bursa acts as cushions. To reduce friction in joints. Okay. We've got two more lymph nodes and nerves. I need a break. Just breathe. And then we'll move on to lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small bean shaped structures that are part of the lymphatic system. They play a critical role in your body's immune system by filtering lymph fluid. And trapping bacteria viruses. And other foreign substances, which are then destroyed by. Specialized white blood cells called lymphocytes. Your body contains approximately 600 to 700 lymph nodes, and they play a crucial role in your immune system by filtering lymph fluid and trapping pathogens. But the exact number can vary slightly from person to person. Where are your lymph nodes located? They're distributed throughout your body and are concentrated in specific areas where they can effectively filter lymph fluid. They're found in your neck, your arm pits, groin, chest abdomen, your pelvis. And they are interconnected by lymphatic vessels. Which transport lymph fluid throughout your body. When lymph nodes detect an infection or other problem, they can become swollen and tender as they work to filter out the offending agents. And Mount an immune response, this swelling. Often referred to as swollen glands. Is a sign that the body is fighting an infection. Think of lymph nodes as checkpoints in a security system that monitor and filter traffic just as security, checkpoints monitor and filter people entering a secure area. Lymph nodes filter and monitor lymph fluid for harmful substances. Try to visualize security checkpoints at various locations where guards check for any unauthorized items or individuals, then compare that to how lymph nodes filter out harmful substances from the lymphatic fluid. Wash Shaw and massage are both really great ways to move lymphatic fluid and stimulate lymphatic circulation. Plus they both feel really good. So here's your push to go get a massage. Okay. Finally, let's get on to nerves. Nerves are bundles of fibers that transmit electrical signals between your brain spinal cord and other parts of the body. They are a crucial part of the nervous system, which controls and coordinates body activities. Nerves are made up of neurons nerve cells. That process and transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. There are two main types of nerves, sensory nerves, which carry information from the body to the brain and motor nerves, which carry instructions from the brain to the muscles and glands. The three most common nerves that you've probably heard of are your psychotic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the human body. It originates from the lower back or your lumbar spine. Runs through the buttocks and extends down the back of each leg. To your feet. The next is the median nerve. The median nerve runs down your arm and form through the carpal tunnel in the wrist into your hand. And your Vegas nerve. The Vegas nerve is one of your cranial nerves, the 10th cranial nerve to be specific. Although we refer to the vagus nerve as singular is actually a pair of nerves on the right and left side. It extends from your brainstem down through your neck. And into your chest and abdomen and influences your heart rate digestion and more. Dysfunctions impact multiple bodily functions and we'll get into that soon. All right. Think of nerves as the electrical wiring that transmits signals throughout a house. Just as electrical wiring carries electricity to different parts of a house. Nerves transmit electrical signals or impulses between your brain spinal cord and the rest of your body. If you picture a network of electrical wires running through the walls of the house. Your house. Connecting lights, switches, outlets, and appliances. Then you'll see how this is similar to how nerves. Connect the brain and spinal cord to muscles. And Oregon's. All right. How are you feeling about all of that? Did you take notes? Sometimes you have to hear information again and again in order to integrate it. So please listen to this episode as many times as you need. And you'll find that you start to understand these terms a little bit better. Can you tell that I love talking about anatomy and injuries, especially. I want all teachers of movement to understand how a working knowledge of it affects your teaching. I don't think we talk about the importance of anatomy enough. And if this conversation makes you feel uneasy, like you don't know enough, Please. Don't worry about that. This is exactly where change happens. So pick a place to start. It could be an anatomy book. You could watch a video series, you could follow a council on social media that will teach you. Just keep taking the steps to be more informed. I hope that this episode sparks some deeper thought around why the knowledge of anatomy is so important as a movement educator. I've added a link in the show notes for you to send me a quick text message about your thoughts on this episode or any other. And I actually got some fan mail. The other day, it was so awesome. Somebody thanked me for sharing such important information. I'm not going to know your phone number. It's just a neat addition to the platform that I use that allows for this new and super easy way for you to communicate with me. Once you click on it, it will take you to your messages. Don't delete the code because that's how your message is going to get to me. And I would love to know your thoughts on this topic. I love diving into these conversations because there are so many important discussions to be had in the teaching world. You know that my goal is for you to love the yoga teaching life and allow it to be fulfilling and rewarding. And sometimes it takes some work and a few conversations to get there. If you love this episode, let me know. I subscribe to the podcast. So you're always in the know when a new episode drops and share it with another yoga teacher. Who you think would love to be in on these conversations? Thank you for helping to spread the word about this podcast. If you've been taking notes in your journal, as you listened to these episodes, I'm so glad about that. And I'd love to hear about it. Finally, don't forget to join my newsletter. That's just for yoga teachers. I've got some exciting teachings coming soon. So I want to tell you all about them. The link is in the show notes below, and I would love for you to join it so we can always stay connected. All right. That's it for now? Bye. Mhm.