Lab Practical 1: Basic Terms

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

Leading side

Question 2

Posterior

Answer 2

Following side

Question 3

Ventral

Answer 3

Belly side

Question 4

Dorsal

Answer 4

Back side

Question 5

Superior

Answer 5

Up/ away from the ground

Question 6

Inferior

Answer 6

Down/ toward the ground

Question 7

Medial

Answer 7

Midline

Ex: The nose is medial to the ears.

Question 8

Lateral

Answer 8

Further away from midline

Ex: The lungs are lateral to the heart

Question 9

Proximal

Answer 9

In reference to your limbs; closer to the point of reference (shoulder/ hip)
Ex: The humorous is proximal to the finger.

Question 10

Distal

Answer 10

In reference to your limbs; further from the point of reference
Ex: The fingers are distal to the wrist

Question 11

Superficial

Answer 11

Where a tissue is relative to another; outside
Ex: Ribs are superficial to the lungs

Note: The skins is the most superficial tissue humans have.

Question 12

Deep

Answer 12

Where a tissue is relative to another; closer to the inside

Ex: The heart is deep to the ribs.

Question 13

Cranial

Answer 13

Closer to the cranium/ head

Question 14

Caudal

Answer 14

Farther away from the cranium/ head

Question 15

Anatomical Position (point of reference)

Answer 15

Face to face, palms forward, toes forward, left and right reversed when front facing

Question 16

Plane

Answer 16

Imaginary line

Question 17

Section

Answer 17

Cut through a plane

Question 18

3 planes include:

Answer 18

Sagittal (Mid-sagittal)
Transverse
Frontal

Question 19

Sagittal Plane

Answer 19

Separates the body into a left and right part

Question 20

Mid-sagittal Plane

Answer 20

Separates the body into perfectly equal left and right parts; straight down midline

Question 21

Transverse Plane

Answer 21

Divides the body into superior and inferior parts

Question 22

Frontal Plane

Answer 22

Divides the body into an anterior and posterior part

Question 23

What is a body cavity?

What is its function?

Answer 23

• A cavity lined with a membrane

- Holds organs

Question 24

What is a membrane?

What is its function?

Answer 24

• Thin tissue that lines all body cavities and organs

- Decreases friction between organs

Question 25

Visceral Membrane

Answer 25

Directly covers organs

Ex: The visceral membrane is deep to the parietal membrane.

Question 26

Parietal Membrane

Answer 26

Lines the inside of the cavity; inside bones

Ex: The parietal membrane is superficial to the visceral membrane

Question 27

Serious Membrane

Answer 27

A membrane that makes fluid; mostly water but a little viscous

Question 28

What is the “empty space” between membranes?

Answer 28

It is not actually empty! It is filled with serous fluid.

Question 29

What are the 2 main types of body cavities?

Answer 29

Dorsal

Ventral

Question 30

What body cavities fall within the dorsal body cavity?

Answer 30

Central nervous system!
Cranial (brain)
Vertebral (spine)

Question 31

What subdivides the one large ventral body cavity?

Answer 31

Diaphragm

Question 32

What body cavities is the ventral body cavity split into?

Answer 32

Thoracic

Abdominopelvic

Question 33

What is housed in the thoracic cavity?

Answer 33

Pericardial (heart)

Pleural (lungs)

Question 34

What is housed in the abdominopelvic cavity?

Answer 34

Abdominal (most of the digestive system)

Pelvic (reproductive organs)