Anatomical Terminology Flashcards
What is Anatomy?
Anatomy is a broad field in which the structure of the body and its parts and how they are relevant to each other is studied. Anatomy can be macroscopic ( visible structures) or microscopic ( invisible structures). Anatomy can be regional ( in which all structures of the body region are studied) or systemic ( in which all systems are studied).
What is Anatomical terminology?
Directional terms used to describe the positions of structures relative to other structures or locations in the body.
What are the three major anatomical terms used to define position of structures and locations in the body?
Body directions, Body cavities & planes
What is the anatomical position?
The positioning of the body when it is standing upright, legs together, feet flat on the floor, hands at the sides of the body and the arms facing forwards
What does the term midline mean?
An imaginary vertical line down the middle of the body
What does the term lateral mean?
Further away from the midline
What does the term medial mean?
Closest to the midline
What does the term proximal mean?
The direction TOWARD the attachment of a limb to the trunk
What does the distal mean?
The region FURTHER away from the trunk
What does the term caudal mean?
An area NEAR the umbilical region
What does the term cranial mean?
An area NEAR the region of the head
What does the term inferior mean?
A region towards the feet
What does the term superior mean?
A region toward the head
What does the term anterior mean?
Close to the belly
What does the term posterior mean?
Toward the back
What does the term Dorsal surface mean?
The back of the hand
What does the term Palmar surface mean?
The palm of the hand ( inside area)
What are body cavities?
The body’s organs are suspended in internal chambers known as cavities.
What terms are dorsal & ventral equivalent to?
The term ventral can be used as an equivalent to anterior, while the term dorsal is used as an equivalent to posterior.
What does the term plantar surface mean?
The sole of the foot
What is the purpose of body cavities?
The cavities provide cushion against shocks & allow body organs to assume various sizes and shapes in order to perform their functions.
What muscle structure separates the thoracic from the pericardial cavity?
The diaphragm
What does the Dorsal cavity house?
The cranial cavity & spinal cavity which hoses the spinal cord.
What does the Ventral cavity house?
The thoracic cavity, which contains the lungs, major blood vessels and other structures. It also houses the pericardial cavity which encloses the heart.
Where is the abdominal cavity located?
Inferior to the diaphragm, where the stomach, liver, spleen and intestines are found.
Which cavity is inferior to the abdominal cavity?
The pelvic cavity, where the female reproductive organs, urinary bladder, and male ducts are found.
What purpose do body planes serve?
Planes are used to divide the body and its structures into three dimensional parts which provide views from different perspectives.
What are body planes?
Hypothetical geometric planes used to divide the body into sections
What are the three body planes?
Transverse plane, frontal plane ( coronal plane) & sagittal plane.
Describe the transverse plane
Divides into superior & inferior
Describe the frontal plane ( coronal plane)
Divides into anterior & posterior portions
Describe the Sagital plane
Divides into left & right halves
