If you’re looking to bone up on your anatomy and deepen your understanding of exercise science, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve assembled the best free online anatomy courses and video tutorials on the internet!
For anyone wanting to take your teaching as a Pilates or yoga instructor or personal trainer to the next level, these free anatomy videos will really help you deepen your understanding of the body.
Organization of Free Online Anatomy Courses
There’s a huge amount of information here! Please use the table of contents at the top of this page.
The videos are organized by topic, and they generally increase in complexity as you proceed down the videos for any of the topics.
Originally I had began collecting these videos as I was studying for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist test. The videos are structured according to their order within the book Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4ed. I actually found that the best way to pass the test was . (I really recommend this program for advanced Pilates and yoga teachers as it will give you knowledge to really level-up your teaching.)
There is repetition in the videos, and this is a good thing. For various reasons, things might make more sense to you with one video than they do with another. You can also quiz yourself as you watch additional videos that cover material you’ve already studied.
Chapter 1: Structure and Function of Body Systems
Musculoskeletal macro and microstructure
This is an excellent overview of function, divisions, proteins, and sliding filament theory:
This goes deeper into function, recruitment, and proprioceptors:
The Sliding Filament Theory of Muscle Contraction
Great illustrations:
Good overview for CSCS key points:
Muscle Fiber Types
The Activation of Muscles
This is a bit more info than the chapter gives you, but recommended for a better understanding of neurons:
Great tutorial on how neurons (all of them) communicate with each other, your muscles, and more:
Activation of Muscles: Twitch, Summation, and Tetanus
Muscle Spindles and Golgi Tendon Organ
Muscle Spindles & The Stretch Reflex
The Heart
Watch this, do the exercises along with it, and you’ll understand the circulation of blood through the heart in under 10 minutes:
Electrocardiogram
This video covers the SA and SR Nodes and P, QRS, and T Waves:
A bit more in depth than we need, but shows how to apply your knowledge of the waves to read an ECG:
The Blood Vessels
On venus return via pressure, skeletal muscle pump, gravity, and breathing.
Blood
The Respiratory System
Exchange of Respiratory Gases
Chapter 2: Biomechanics of Resistance Exercise
Levers of the Musculoskeletal System
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White board-based tutorial on 3 types of levers and discussion of exercises that are examples of those.
A bit more in-depth, but tendency just to repeat what’s written in the book.
Super advanced, including equations.
Variations in Tendon Insertion
Planes of Movement
Planes and examples of exercise:
A bit more in depth with some examples from Pilates exercises:
Explanation of planes with yoga examples:
Discussion of joint actions and also axes of movement:
Definitions of Strength and Power
Positive & Negative Work (and Power)
Good intro to the topic and examples, but not technical or detailed. What is said about gravity as a negative force could be said about any such force, such as friction or springs/bands.
How to calculate the net work:
