Anatomical Terms Flashcards
Standard anatomical position
Body erect, feet shoulder-width apart, palms facing forward, level eye gaze
Right/left is based on…
…the body being viewed, not the observer’s POV
Superior/cranial
Towards head, above
Inferior/caudal
Away from head, below
Anterior/ventral
Toward the front of the body, forwards
Posterior/dorsal
Toward back of the body, backwards
Medial
Closer to the midline of the body
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body
Intermediate
Between a more medial and more lateral structure
Proximal
Close to where the limb is attached
Distal
Far from where the limb is attached
Superficial
Towards the surface of the body
Deep
Away from the body’s surface
Axial region
Head, neck, trunk
Appendicular region
Limbs
Sagittal plane
Divides into right/left vertically
Midsagittal plane
Equal right/left sides
Parasagittal plane
Unequal right/left sides
Frontal plane
Divides into anterior/posterior
Transverse plane
Makes a cross-section, divides into superior/inferior
Oblique plane
Planes that are not sagittal, frontal, or transverse
Dorsal cavity
Function: to protect the nervous system
Cranial cavity (brain), vertebral cavity (spinal cord)
Ventral cavity
Houses internal organs (collectively called viscera)
Thoracic cavity
Has 2 pleural cavities, each surrounds 1 lung, as well as the mediastinum
Mediastinum
Contains thoracic organs like esophagus, trachea, as well as pericardial cavity
Pericardial cavity
Encloses the heart
Abdominopelvic cavity
Contains abdominal and pelvic cavities
Located in lower section of axial region
Abdominal cavity
Contains stomach, intestines, liver, spleen
Pelvic cavity
Contains urinary bladder, rectum, reproductive organs
Membranes in ventral body cavity
Serosa: double layered membranes that secrete serous fluid
Parietal serosa: lines internal body cavity walls
Visceral serosa: covers internal organs (viscera)
Pericardium cavity
Serous membrane that contains heart
Pleurae
Serous membrane contains lungs
Peritoneum
Serous membrane that contains the abdominopelvic cavity
Abdominopelvic quadrants
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
Abdominopelvic regions
R.Hypochondriac|Epigastric|L.Hypochondriac
R.Lumbar|Umbilical|L.Lumbar
R.Inguinal|Hypogastric|L.Inguinal
Oral cavity
Mouth
Digestive cavity
Digestive tract
Orbital cavity
Eyes
Middle ear cavity
Contains malleus, incus, stapes
Synovial cavity
Contains synovial fluid that lubricates joints
