Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

What is present in the anatomical position?

Answer 1

1. Toes pointing forward
2. Eyes directed towards the horizon
3. Arms are by the side
4. Palms of the hands facing forward

Question 2

What are the 3 main planes of the body?

Answer 2

Sagittal - Vertical lines dividing into left and right sides
Coronal - Vertical plane dividing the body into front and back parts
Transverse - Horizontal plane dividing the body into inferior and superior.

Question 3

What plane and joint name joins the two bones in the skull?

Answer 3

Sagittal suture

Question 4

Explain the meaning of the words anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, medical and lateral

Answer 4

Anterior - towards the front of the body
Posterior - towards the back of the body 
Superior - Towards the head
Inferior - Towards the soles of the feet
Medial - Towards the median plane 
Lateral - Away from the median plane

Question 5

What is the explanation for proximal and distal?

Answer 5

Proximal = towards the trunk
Distal = away from the trunk

Question 6

What does superficial mean?

Answer 6

Towards the skin

Question 7

What does internal and external mean?

Answer 7

Internal means inside and body cavity and external means outside a body cavity

Question 8

What does the skeleton consist of and which part of mineralised?

Answer 8

Bones and cartilage. Bone is mineralised.

Question 9

What cells is cartilage made up of?

Answer 9

Made up of chondroblasts which secretes ground substance and collagen.

Question 10

What are some identifiable elements of cartilage?

Answer 10

• no neurovascular elements so gains nutrients via diffusion through ground substance
• no blood supply
• thin

Question 11

What are 5 main functions of bones?

Answer 11

1. Support - bone provides a rigid framework
2. Movement - Levers for muscles
3. Protection - for organs
4. Haemopioesis - blood stem cells found in bone marrow
5. Storage - Calcium and phosphorus stored in the bone e.g. calcium needed for muscle contraction

Question 12

What are the names of the types of bones we have?

Answer 12

Flat bone (sternum)
Long bone (limbs)
Short bone (wrist)
Irregular bone (vertebra)
Sesamoid bone (knee)

Question 13

What are the cells which make up bones called?

Answer 13

Osteoblasts

Question 14

How do osteoblasts form bone?

Answer 14

Osteo cells become osteoblasts. Intracellular matrix becomes calcified.

Question 15

Explain the two ways bone forms

Answer 15

Endochondral = starts off with a small amount of cartilage and they grows until a boney collar forms. The middle can no longer receive nutrients so begins to calcify and more cartilage is formed at the end of the bone.

Ossification = long bones continue to grow and this continues up to puberty. Osteoblasts are laid down and secrete a matrix.

Question 16

What is special about inter membranous ossification?

Answer 16

There is no cartilage so bone is being formed around a structure e.g. the skull.

Question 17

What is fascia?

Answer 17

Sheet of connective tissue which separates muscles from other organs

Question 18

Where is the superficial fascia found?

Answer 18

Immediately below the dermis (skin).

Question 19

What does the superficial fascia contain?

Answer 19

Contains collagen and elastic fibres and a varying amount of fat

Question 20

What are the functions of fascia?

Answer 20

1. Storage of both water and fat
2. Protection against mechanical shock
3. Conduction to transport nerves and blood vessels to the skin
4. Thermal insulation as fat & water provide an effective barrier against rapid body heat loss.

Question 21

Where is deep fascia found and what is the structure like?

Answer 21

Found under superficial fascia. It forms a connective tissue covering for the deeper structures e.g muscles, vessels and nerves.
It contains little/no fat.

Question 22

What are the functions of the deep fascia?

Answer 22

1. Conduction - blood and nerves transported through
2. Muscle movement - Muscles wrapped in deep fascia able to slide over each other.
3. Attachment for some muscles
4. Capsules around organs and glands

Question 23

What are serous membranes composed of and what are the 3 in the body?

Answer 23

Composed of mesothelium and supported by loose connective tissue. 
The pleura (around lungs), the pericardium (around heart) and the peritoneum (around the abdomen).

Question 24

How are the serous membranes arranged?

Answer 24

Thin and double layered, small space between the two layers to minimise friction.

Question 25

Where are axillary and cervical lymph nodes found?

Answer 25

armpit, neck

Question 26

What do anchoring fibres of lymphatic capillaries do?

Answer 26

Attach the endothelial cells of lymphatic capillaries to the surrounding tissue to prevent the lumen from collapsing