Body of a Woman With Anorexia, Posterior View

Description

Presented in posterior anatomical position, the female trunk is rendered with pronounced bony landmarks from cervical to lumbar spine, including the spinous processes, vertebral column contour, and the medial borders and inferior angles of the scapulae. With the upper limbs held slightly abducted and the palms facing medially, the posterior shoulder girdle contours become clear, outlining the trapezius, posterior deltoid region, and the paraspinal muscle columns flanking the midline. Reduced subcutaneous fat and muscle bulk accentuate the thoracic cage margins and the superior iliac crest outlines inferiorly, consistent with malnutrition in anorexia nervosa. Posterior views like this matter because the back often reveals the mechanical and metabolic consequences of chronic energy deficiency before other signs are documented. Marked wasting around the scapula can mimic or worsen scapular dyskinesis, and a prominent vertebral column raises teaching points about postural changes, sarcopenia, and the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis with vertebral compression fractures in prolonged anorexia. Clinicians also use these surface cues when counseling patients, correlating visible anatomic changes with functional complaints such as fatigue, back pain, or reduced shoulder endurance. Curriculum use fits best in anatomy and clinical skills teaching where surface anatomy, posture, and nutritional status are integrated, including medical school modules on eating disorders and musculoskeletal examination. It also suits editorial illustrations for psychiatry, adolescent medicine, endocrinology, and sports medicine publications discussing anorexia, malnutrition, and the physical exam, as well as patient-facing materials that require a neutral, non-sensational posterior reference. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.