Anatomical Terms and Medical Specialties - Words Flashcards
anatomical position
a standard position in which the body is standing erect, the head is up with the eyes looking forward, the arms are by the sides with the palms facing forward, and the legs are straight with the does pointing forward
health
state of complete physical, emotional, and mental well-being
plane
imaginary flat surface that divides the body into two parts
coronal plane
frontal plane
vertical plane that divides the body into front and back sections
anterior section
ventral section
the front of the body
posterior section
dorsal section
the back of the body
prone position
position of lying face-down
dorsal position
dorsal supine position
position of lying on the back
anterior direction
anteriorly
moving toward the front of the body
posterior direction
posteriorly
moving toward the back of the body
anteroposterior (AP) direction
moving from outside the body through the anterior section and then through the posterior section
posteroanterior (PA)
moving from outside the body through the posterior section and then through the anterior section
sagittal plane
vertical plane that divides the body into right and left sections
midsaggital plane
sagittal plane that divides the body into equal right and left sections
medial direction
medially
moving from either side of the body toward the midline
lateral direction
laterally
moving from the midline toward either side of the body
transverse plane
horizontal plane that divides the body into top and bottom sections
superior section
the upper half of the body
inferior section
the lower half of the body
cephalad direction
superior direction
superiorly
moving toward the head
caudad direction
inferior direction
inferiorly
moving toward the tail bone
always downwards
distal direction
distally
moving from the trunk of the body toward the end of a limb (arm or leg)
proximal direction
proximally
moving from the end of a limb toward the trunk of the body
external structures
superficial structures
structures on the surface of the body
internal structures
deep structures
structures below the surface and inside the body
cavity
a hollow space
What surrounds a cavity?
bones or muscles that support and protect the organs and structures within the cavity
cranial cavity
the cavity within the bony cranium
What does the cranial cavity contain?
brain, cranial nerves, and other structures
spinal cavity
spinal canal
a continuation of the cranial cavity as it travels down the midline of the back
What does the spinal cavity contain?
the spinal cord, spinal nerves, and other structures
thoracic cavity
the cavity within the chest surrounded by:
- the breast bone (sternum) anteriorly
- the ribs laterally
- the bones of the spinal column posteriorly
What does the thoracic cavity contain?
the lungs and other structures
mediastinum
a smaller, central area within the thoracic cavity
abdominal cavity
the cavity within the abdomen
pelvic cavity
a continuation of the abdominal cavity
abdominopelvic cavity
cavity including both the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity
viscera
certain internal organs in the abdominopelvic from the gastrointestinal, reproductive, and urinary systems
quadrants
four sections of the anterior surface of the abdominopelvic area:
- left upper quadrant (LUQ)
- right upper quadrant (RUQ)
- left lower quadrant (LLQ)
- right lower quadrant (RLQ)
What are the nine regions?
- right and left hypochondriac regions
- epigastric region
- right and left lumbar regions
- umbilical region
- right and left inguinal or iliac regions
- hypogastric region
anatomy
the study of the structures of the human body
physiology
the study of the functions of the structures of the human body
cell
the smallest independently functioning structure in the body that can reproduce itself by division
tissues
the structures formed when cells combine
organs
the structures formed when tissues combine
macroscopic
something that can be seen with the naked eye
body system
a way to study the body according to its structures and how they function
medical specialties
Basis of the practice of medicine, including:
- structures, functions, and diseases for a body system
- laboratory and diagnostic procedures
- medical and surgical procedures
- drugs
