A&P Lab 2: Language of Anatomy Flashcards
Word root
main word part; carrying the primary meaning of the word
Prefix
precedes the root and often alters its meaning
Suffix
follows the root to alter the meaning
Anatomical position
important point of reference in common usage in anatomy; erect stance facing forward; arms straight, palms forward, fingers pointing downward at a slight angle; legs straight, slightly apart, toes forward/flat
Body regions
areas of the body that are identified during a physical examination
Cephalic
pertaining to the head
Facial
face
Buccal
cheek
Orbital
eye socket
Oral
mouth
Otic
ear
Mental
chin
Nasal
nose
Cranial
cranium
Frontal
forehead
Cervical
neck
Thoracic
chest/thorax
Sternal
breastbone
Pectoral (mammary)
breast
Abdominal
anterior trunk below ribs (abdomen)
Coxal
hip
Umbilical
navel
Pelvic
pelvis
Pubic
genital region
Inguinal
groin
Back
posterior trunk
Scapular
shoulder blade
Vertebral
spinal column
Lumbar
lower back (loin)
Acromial
shoulder
Axillary
armpit
Brachial
arm
Antebrachial
forearm
Cubital
elbow
Antecubital
anterior elbow
Carpal
wrist
Manus
hand
Palmar
palm of the hand
Digital (hand)
fingers
Gluteal
buttock
Femoral
thigh
Patellar
anterior knee
Popliteal
posterior knee
Crural
lower leg
Sural
posterior leg (calf)
Fibular (peroneal)
side of leg
Tarsal
ankle
Pedal
foot
Calcaneal
heel
Plantar
sole of the foot
Digital (foot)
toes
Directional terms
group of anatomical terms (with opposing meanings) used to describe the location of body parts; abbreviate otherwise lengthy descriptions of where a body part is located relative to other parts; use anatomical position as a point of reference
Superior (cranial)
toward the head end of upper part of the body
Inferior (caudal)
away from the head end and toward the lower part of the body
Anterior (ventral)
toward the front/belly side
Posterior (dorsal)
toward the back
Medial
toward the midline, which is an imaginary line that extends vertically down the middle of the body
Lateral
away from the midline
Superficial (external)
toward the surface of the body
Deep (internal)
away from the surface of the body
Proximal
toward a structure’s origin or point of attachment to the trunk
Distal
away from a structure’s origin or point of attachment to the trunk
Plane
imaginary flat surface; can describe how a slice/section can extend through the body
Section
slice of a imaginary flat surface of body
Frontal plane
extends through the long axis of the body (along the body’s length, dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions
Sagittal plane
extends through the long axis of the body, but divides the body into right and left portions
Midsagittal plane
a sagittal plane dividing the body into equal right and left halves
Parasagittal plane
a sagittal plane dividing the body into unequal right and left halves
Transverse plane
extends perpendicular to the frontal and sagittal planes to divide the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions
Cross section
section made along the transverse plane
Dorsal cavity
located within the posterior (dorsal) side of the body; includes the cranial cavity (brain) and the vertebral cavity (spinal cord)
Cranial cavity
cavity containing the brain
Vertebral cavity
cavity containing the spinal cord
Ventral cavity
includes the spaces on the ventral side of the body, such as the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity
Thoracic cavity
fills the chest region; contains the heart, lungs, and major vessels of the heart; includes several smaller cavities (pericardial, 2 pleural cavities, mediastinum)
Pericardial cavity
cavity containing the heart
Pleural cavities (2)
each of these cavities contains a lung
Mediastinum
area superior to the heart; contains major blood vessels and the thymus gland
Diaphragm
thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominopelvic cavity by this muscular structure
Abdominal cavity
superior section of the abdominopelvic cavity; houses the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, kidneys, and part of the large intestine
Pelvic cavity
inferior section of the abdominopelvic cavity; contains the reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, and part of the large intestine
Serous membranes
line the inside walls of ventral cavities; also cover most of the visceral (internal) organs of the ventral cavities
Parietal layer
outer layer of a serous membrane that attaches to a cavity wall
Visceral layer
inner layer of a serous membrane that adheres to an inner organ
Serous fluid
liquid within the small space separating 2 layers of a serous membrane that is produced by the cells in the membrane to reduce friction between the 2 layers when organs shift in position
Pericardium
serous membrane associated with the heart
Pleura
serous membrane associated with the lungs
Peritoneum
serous membrane associated with the abdominal organs
Retroperitoneal
in the occasions when the abdominal organs are not located in the peritoneum but rather behind the peritoneum
Right hypochondriac
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; top right
Epigastric
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; top middle
Left hypochondriac
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; top left
Right lumbar
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; middle right
Umbilical
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; center
Left lumbar
1 of 9 abdomonopelvic regions; middle left
Right inguinal
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; bottom right
Hypogastric
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; bottom middle
Left inguinal
1 of 9 abdominopelvic regions; bottom left
Quadrants
2nd scheme dividing the abdominopelvic cavity; common in clinical use; formed by 1 vertical line and 1 horizontal line that meet at the umbilicus (navel); right upper, left upper, right lower, left lower
Organ
structure with a defined shape that is composed of more than 1 type of tissue, and performs a general role in the body
System
organs are combined to form a larger group called this, which performs a more general role to support health; 11 of these in the body
Homeostasis
physiological state of equilibrium in an effort to achieve survival
