Chapter 1: 1.4 Basic Anatomical Terminology Flashcards
1
Q
Anatomical Position
A
- A position of the body universally used in anatomical descriptions in which the body is erect, the head is level, the eyes face forward, the upper limbs are at the sides, the palms face forward, and the feet are flat on the floor
2
Q
Prone position
A
Body is laying face down
3
Q
Supine position
A
Body is lying face up
4
Q
The human body is divided into several major regions: 5 regions
A
- Head
- Neck
- Trunk
- Upper limbs
- Lower limbs
5
Q
Head (location)
A
- The superior portion of the body that is attached to the trunk by the neck
6
Q
Head (components)
A
- Consists of bones and associated soft tissues such as the skin, muscles, and nervous system structures
- The bones of the skull are grouped into two categories: cranial cavity bones and facial bones
- The cranial cavity bones enclose and protect the brain
- The facial bones form the anterior (front) portion of the skull
7
Q
Neck
A
- Supports the head and attaches it to the remainder of the trunk
8
Q
Trunk (components)
A
- Thorax
- Abdomen
- Pelvis
9
Q
Upper limb (extremity)
A
- Attached to the trunk by the pectoral girdle and consists of the shoulder, armpit, arm (portion of limb from the shoulder to the elbow), forearm (portion of the limb from the elbow to the wrist), wrist, and hand
10
Q
Lower limb (extremity)
A
- Attached to the trunk by the pelvic girdle and consists of the buttock, thigh (portion of the limb from the buttock to the knee), leg (portion of the limb from the knee to the ankle), ankle, and foot
11
Q
Groin
A
- The area on the front surface of the body marked by a crease on each side, where the trunk attaches to the thighs
12
Q
Plane
A
- An imaginary flat surface, like a sheet of glass that passes through the body
13
Q
Sagittal plane
A
- sagitta = arrow
- Longitudinal plane that divides the body or organ into right and left sides
14
Q
Median plane
A
- A plane that passes through the midline of the body and divides it into equal right and left sides
15
Q
Midline
A
- Imaginary longitudinal line that divides the body into equal left and right sides
16
Q
Paramedian plane
A
- does not pass through the midline and divides the body into unequal right and left sides
17
Q
Coronal plane
A
- Frontal plane
- longitudinal plane but divides the body or an organ into front and back portions
18
Q
Transverse plane
A
- Cross-sectional or horizontal plane or axial plane/ section
- Horizontal plane that divides the body or an organ into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions
19
Q
Median, paramedian, coronal, and transverse planes are all at __________ angles to one another
A
- Right
20
Q
Oblique plane
A
- Passes through the body or organ at an oblique angle (any angle other than a 90 degree angle)
21
Q
What plane divides the heart into anterior and posterior portions?
A
- Coronal plane
22
Q
Sections
A
- Cuts of the body or one of its organs made along one of the three planes
- Produces a flat two-dimensional surface of the original three-dimensional structure
23
Q
What plane divides the body into left and right sides?
A
- Median plane
24
Q
Directional terms
A
- Words that describe the position of one body part relative to another
- Have relative meanings; they make sense only when used to describe the position of one structure relative to another
25
Q
Directional term: Superior
A
- Above or higher in position
- Toward the head
- (Not used in reference to relative positions within the limbs)
- The heart is superior to the liver
26
Q
Directional terms: Cranial
A
- Relating to the skull or head
- Toward the head
- (This is a more flexible term than superior because it can be applied to all animals, whether they stand upright on two limbs or on all four limbs)
- Ex. The stomach is more cranial than the urinary bladder
27
Q
Directional term: Inferior
A
- Below or lower in position
- Toward the feet
- Not used in reference to relative positions within the limbs
- Ex. The stomach is inferior to the lungs
28
Q
Directional term: Rostral
A
- Relating to the nose and mouth region
- Toward the face
- Used only in references within the head
- Ex. The frontal lobe of the brain is rostral to the occipital lobe
29
Q
Directional term: Caudal
A
- Relating to the tail
- At or near the tail end of the trunk
- Used only in references to relative positions within the trunk
- Ex. The lumbar vertebrae are caudal to the cervical vertebrae
30
Q
Directional term: Anterior
A
- Nearer to or at the front of the body
- Ex. The sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart
31
Q
Directional term: Posterior
A
- Nearer to or at the back of the body
- Ex. The esophagus (food tube) is posterior to the trachea (windpipe)
32
Q
Directional term: Ventral
A
- Relating to the belly side of the body
- Toward the belly
- Used synonymously with anterior in human anatomy)
- Ex. The intestines are ventral to the vertebral column
33
Q
Directional term: Dorsal
A
- Relating to the back side of the body
- Toward the back
- Used synonymously with posterior in human anatomy
- Ex. The kidneys are dorsal or to the stomach
34
Q
Directional term: Medial
A
- Nearer to the midline
- Ex. The ulna is medial to the radius
35
Q
Directional term: Lateral
A
- Farther from the midline
- Ex. The lungs are lateral to the heart
36
Q
Directional term: Intermediate
A
- Between two structures
- Ex. The transverse colon is intermediate to the ascending colon and descending colon
37
Q
Directional term: Ipsilateral
A
- On the same side of the body’s midline as another structure
- Ex. The gallbladder and ascending colon are ipsilateral organs
38
Q
Directional term: Contralateral
A
- On the opposite side of the body’s midline from another structure
- Ex. The ascending and descending colons are contralateral organs
39
Q
Directional term: Proximal
A
- Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk
- Nearer to the origination of a structure
- Ex. The humerus (arm bone) is proximal to the radius
40
Q
Directional term: Distal
A
- Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk
- Farther from the origination of a structure
- Ex. The phalanges (finger bones) are distal to the carpals (wrist bone)
41
Q
Directional term: Superficial
A
- Toward or on the surface of the body
- Ex. The ribs are superficial to the lungs
42
Q
Directional term: Deep
A
- Away from the surface of the body
- Ex. The ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back
43
Q
Directional term: External
A
- Toward the outside of a structure
- Typically used when describing relationships of individual organs
- Ex. The visceral pleura is on the external surface of the lungs
44
Q
Directional term: Internal
A
- Toward the inside of the structure
- Typically used when describing relationships of individual organs
- Ex. The mucosa forms the internal lining of the stomach
