Dr. J.M. Littlejohn’s Lectures on Applied Anatomy

Dr. John Martin Littlejohn’s Lectures on Applied Anatomy commences with an Introduction by John Wernham “The Applied Anatomy presented here by J.M. Littlejohn is essential reading for any student of Classical Osteopathy. Covering every aspect of the human body it begins with an outline of the spinal mechanics, supported by the four arches and their function.  The nervous systems, sympathetic and central, with special reference to the 5th and 10th cranial nerves are given a prominence in osteopathic thinking that is unknown to Medicine.  Ganglia and plexuses receive close attention with their sub-divisions and the great spinal centres are included in a survey that yields a very considerable amount of information and fundamental knowledge in 68 pages that is unobtainable elsewhere.”

The opening chapter begins: “Applied anatomy is the application of our general knowledge of the anatomy of the body as it lives and moves from day to day. Anatomy in general gives bones, muscles, etc., but we have to know the superficial anatomical landmarks and their relations to all the organs and structures of the body.  The final object is to obtain a knowledge of the normal adjustment of each part of the body to every other part and to the body as whole.”

In his writings on Applied Anatomy J.M. Littlejohn further writes “The science and system of therapeutics we call osteopathy constitutes the application of physical treatment for conversion into a physiological process within the body.  This implies that the body is living and has the vital power to convert the physical into the physiological and that this living body is a mechanism which, together with the vital organism, is in control of all its different parts.  It is this control which enables us to give osteopathic treatment.  If the body did not possess this power of taking a treatment given in the abdomen and applying it to the head, our treatment would be valueless.  This means that the nervous system, presided over by the brain, with the assistance of the spine, is at the head of all the work that can be carried out to deal with disease, osteopathically.”

To read more of “Dr. J.M Littlejohns Lectures on Applied Anatomy” you can purchase a copy from the JWCCO Bookshop for £18.00 here: http://www.johnwernhamclassicalosteopathy.com/dr-j-m-littlejohns-lectures-on-applied-anatomy