Ch. 2: Anatomical Directions and Planes of Section Flashcards
anatomy of nervous system
What is the function of anatomical directions in the nervous system?
Help locate structures in the nervous system
Anatomical directions provide a standardized way to describe locations and relationships of different structures.
What does the term ‘rostal’ refer to?
Structures located toward the head or front of the skull
‘Rostral’ is often used in contrast to ‘caudal’ in descriptions of anatomical positions.
What does the term ‘caudal’ refer to?
Structures located toward the tail or rear of the skull
‘Caudal’ is used to describe positions in relation to the tail end of the body.
What does the term ‘dorsal’ indicate?
Structures located toward the back or top of the skull
‘Dorsal’ and ‘ventral’ are used to describe the vertical orientation of structures.
What does the term ‘ventral’ refer to?
Structures located toward the belly or bottom of the skull
‘Ventral’ is the opposite of ‘dorsal’ and is crucial for understanding anatomical orientation.
How do the dorsal parts of the brain relate to the spinal cord?
They form a 90-degree angle
This relationship can create confusion when using directional terms.
What is the midline?
An imaginary line that divides the body into two equal halves
The midline is important for describing structures as either ipsilateral or contralateral.
What are ipsilateral structures?
Structures on the same side of the midline
This term helps to clarify spatial relationships within the body.
What are contralateral structures?
Structures on opposite sides of the midline
Understanding contralateral relationships is important in neuroanatomy.
What does ‘medial’ mean?
Structures near the midline
‘Medial’ is contrasted with ‘lateral’, which describes structures away from the midline.
What does ‘lateral’ mean?
Structures away from the midline
‘Lateral’ is used to describe the positioning of various anatomical structures.
What are proximal structures in limbs?
Structures closer to the body center
‘Proximal’ is contrasted with ‘distal’, which means farther from the center.
What are distal structures in limbs?
Structures farther away from the body center
These terms are essential for describing the location of limbs in relation to the torso.
What is a coronal section?
Divides the brain from front to back
A coronal section is cut in a vertical plane as if from ear to ear.
What is a sagittal section?
Parallel to the midline, giving a side view of the brain
A midsagittal section specifically divides the brain into two approximately equal halves.
What is a midsagittal section?
Divides brain into 2 approximately equal halves
This cut is commonly used to describe structures like the corpus callosum.
What is a horizontal / axial section?
Divides the brain from top to bottom
This section is cut in a plane parallel to the floor when a human is standing upright.
