Anatomy Flashcards
Torso/Trunk
The main central part of the body including the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.
Not including the neck, head, or the upper or lower limbs.
Thorax
The upper part of the torso from the bottom of the neck to the diaphragm (an internal muscular sheet that separates the thorax from the abdomen).
The thorax houses the lungs and heart and is surrounded by the ribs.
The term ‘chest’ refers to the front of the thorax only.
Abdomen
The central part of the torso between the diaphragm and top of the pelvic bones.
The abdomen contains most of the organs of digestion including the stomach, intestine, and liver.
In everyday conversation, people often refer to the entirety of the abdomen as the ‘stomach’.
Pelvis
The lowest part of the torso, between the abdomen and the start of the lower limbs.
The pelvis contains the last part of the digestive tract, the bladder, and reproductive organs.
The bony ‘ring’ of the pelvic region is also called the pelvis, so the term ‘pelvis’ is used to describe both the entirety of the pelvic region (including organs and blood vessels etc.) and the bone of the pelvic region.
Back
A poorly descriptive term.
Anatomically, the ‘back’ refers to the entire posterior surface of the torso.
Arm
The upper part of the upper limb (from the torso to the elbow).
This is where the biceps muscle is located.
Forearm
The middle part of the upper limb (from the elbow to the wrist).
Thigh
The upper part of the lower limb (from the pelvis to the knee).
Leg
The middle part of the lower limb (from the knee to the ankle)
anatomical position
A person is standing up with their feet flat on the floor, facing forward, arms by their sides with their palms facing forwards
Diagram page 9
Superior
Above
Example; The brain is superior to the heart
Inferior
Below
Example; the pelvis is inferior to the pelvis
Anterior/ Ventral
Front (in front of)
Example; The nose is anterior to the ears
Posterior/dorsal
Back (behind)
Example; the spine is posterior to the sternum
Medial
Closer to the centre line
Example; the big toe is medial to the little toe
Lateral
Further away from the centre line
Example; The thumb is lateral to the palm
Proximal
Closer to the origin
Example; The elbow is proximal to the wrist (wrist is the origin here)
Distal
Further away from the origin
Example; the toes are distal to the knee (origin is the knee here)
Ipsilateral
The same side of the body
Example; The right arm and left leg are contralateral to each other.
Deep
Further away from the surface
Example; The heart is deep to the sternum.
Superficial
Closer to the surface
Example; The skin is superficial to the muscle
Supine (position)
Lying down, flat on back, facing up
Example; With the patient supine, they are facing the ceiling.
Prone (position)
With the patient prone, they are facing the floor
Cranial
Towards the head
Example; the brain is cranial to the spina cord