Lab 1 Flashcards
Anatomical postition
Standing erect, face forward with arms at the sides and palms towards the front.
Superior / inferior
Superior = the upper region of the body
Inferior = the lower region of the body
Dorsal / ventral
(Only used in reference to 4 legged animals)
Dorsal = the top region of the animal ( it’s back)
Ventral = the underneath region of the animal (it’s belly)
Anterior / posterior
Anterior = the front facing side of the human body
Posterior = the back facing side of the human body
Medial / lateral
Medial = closer to the imaginary “midline” of the body
Lateral = further from the imaginary “midline” of the body
Caudal and cranial
(Used for animals)
Caudal = refers to the “tail” end of the body
Cranial = refers to the head end of the body
Superficial / deep
Superficial = towards the surface of the body (aka skin)
Deep = further away from the surface (closer to bone)
Sagittal section (plane)
A vertical cut dividing the object into a left side and a right side.
Midsagittal/median = the cut is made right in the middle into equal halves
Parasagittal = not cut equally
Frontal section (plane)
A verticals cut that divides the object into a front section and back section
Also known as: coronal section
Transverse section (plane)
A horizontal cut dividing the object into a top section and a bottom section
Also known as: horizontal/cross
Dorsal body cavity
Made up of 2 subdivisions:
• the cranial cavity
• the spinal vertebral canal
Contains the brain and spinal cord
Ventral body cavity
Made up of 2 subdivisions:
• the thoracic cavity (superior)
• the abdominopelvic cavity (inforior)
The 2 subdivisions are separated by the diaphragm
Cranial cavity
The hallow portion of the skull made by the cranial bones which contain the brain.
Spinal vertebral canal
A long tubular space formed by the vertebral column (backbone). It contains the spinal cord.
Thoracic cavity
Consists of 3 chambers:
1) right pleural cavity (right lung)
2) left pleural cavity (left lung)
3) pericardial cavity (the heart)
Abdominopelvic cavity
Consists of 2 cavities:
1) Abdominal cavity (stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, small/large intestine)
2) Pelvic cavity (urinary bladder, sigmoid colon, rectum, uterus, ovaries)
Serous membrane
In the ventral body cavity;
A moist/slippery, double layered, strong, elastic-like fluid. It covers the organs (viscera) and the walls of the cavities to prevent friction.
2 parts:
1) visceral layer - covers organs (viscera)
2) parietal layer - lines the cavity walls
Parietal pleurae
Serous membrane which covers the pleural cavity walls (holds the lungs)
Visceral pleurae
Serous membrane that cover the lungs
Parietal pericardium
Serous membrane which lines the pericardial cavity (holds the heart)
Visceral pericardium
Serous membrane which covers the heart.
Peritoneum
Serous membrane which lines the abdominal cavity
(Does not extend to the pelvic cavity)
Mesenteries
Double layered folds in peritoneum, which helps hold the organs in place.
Contains blood vessels and nerves.
Parietal peritoneum
Part of the peritoneum associated with the walls of the abdominal cavity
