Navigating the Body (Atlas A) Flashcards
Page 31 in the textbook.
Toward the front or belly
Ventral; in humans also called anterior
Toward the back or spine
Dorsal; in humans also called posterior
Toward the ventral side*
(*This word means: “toward the front,” which is synonymous with ventral in humans.)
Anterior
Toward the dorsal side*
(*This word means: “toward the back,” which is synonymous with dorsal in humans.)
Posterior
Toward the head, or superior end*
(*In humans, the head is the superior (“above”) end of the body.)
Cephalic
Toward the forehead or nose
Rostral
Toward the tail, or inferior end*
(*Humans don’t have tails, so on the human body, the inferior/below “end” is the feet.)
Caudal
Above
Superior
Below
Inferior
Toward the median plane*
(*A.k.a. “towards the middle”; Median plane is another word for the mid-sagittal plane, which runs down the center of your body, cutting it into right and left sides.)
Medial
Away from the median plane*
(*A.k.a. “away from the middle,” “to the left or the right of,” or “to the side of”; Median plane is another word for the mid-sagittal plane, which runs down the center of your body, cutting it into right and left sides.)
Lateral
Closer to the point of attachment or origin*
(*For example: the point of attachment for an arm is the shoulder; for a leg is the hip.)
Proximal
Farther from the point of attachment or origin*
(*For example: the point of attachment for an arm is the shoulder; for a leg is the hip.)
Distal
On the same side of the body
Ipsilateral
On opposite sides of the body
Contralateral
Closer to the body surface
Superficial
Farther from the body surface
Deep
What is the name of this body position:
- The body is standing up, erect
- The arms are hanging to the sides of the body with the palms facing forward and thumbs pointing away from the body
- The feet are facing forward
Anatomical Position
A) Sagittal Plane (specifically, Mid-Sagittal or Median)
B) Frontal or Coronal Plane
C) Transverse Plane or Cross Section
This body region consists of the head, neck, and trunk.
Axial Region
(Axial Skeleton)
This region of the body consists of the appendages (limbs) and their “girdles” which hold them in place:
- Arms + Pectoral girdle (shoulders)
- Legs + Pelvic girdle (hips)
Appendicular region
(Appendicular Skeleton)
The trunk of the body is divided into three (or sometimes two) regions, which are…
- Thorax (chest)
- Abdomen (tummy)
- Pelvis (hips)
*There is no physical divider between the abdomen and the pelvis; the textbook lumps them together as one region called the “abdominal region.”
The wall or barrier of muscle that divides the thorax from the abdomen is called the…
Diaphragm
What organs might be found in the dorsal cavity?
Brain, spinal cord
This body cavity includes all the other trunk cavities.
Ventral cavity
What are the cavities of the trunk?
- Thoracic cavity
- Abdominal cavity
- Pelvic cavity*
*The textbook lumps the the abdominal and pelvic cavities together into one “abdominopelvic” cavity.
Name the cavity:
- Contains pericardial cavity (heart) and pleural cavities (lungs) within it
- Divided in half by the mediastinum
- Surrounded by the ribcage
- The diaphragm makes up the “floor” of this cavity
Thoracic cavity
- Divides the thoracic cavity into two sides
- Made up of the trachea and esophagus (a.k.a. throat)
Mediastinum
Name the cavity:
- Cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic cavity
- Bound by abdominal muscles
- Contains the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, etc.
- Lined by the parietal peritoneum
Abdominal cavity
Name the cavity:
- Enclosed by the bones of the pelvis (pelvic girdle)
- Contains the bladder and internal reproductive organs (e.g. ovaries, uterus, prostate)
- The textbook lumps it together with the abdominal cavity, combining them into a single, large “abdominopelvic” cavity
- Lined with the parietal peritoneum, just like the abdominal cavity
Pelvic cavity
- A membrane that anchors organs to the “wall” of the body
- Formed out of (an extension of) the parietal peritoneum
Mesentery
- Membranes that create a fluid called “serous fluid” for lubrication, to prevent friction from internal body parts rubbing against each other
- These membranes are named based on their location
Serous membranes
- The fluid secreted by serous membranes to prevent friction inside the body
- Named based on its location in the body
Serous fluid
Name the cavities:
- The thin space between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura
- There are two of these cavities, one for each lung
- Filled with pleural fluid
Pleural cavities
Name the cavity:
- The thin space between the parietal pericardium and the visceral pericardium
- Filled with pericardial fluid
Pericardial cavity
Name the cavity:
- The thin space between the parietal peritoneum and the visceral peritoneum
- Filled with peritoneal fluid
Peritoneal cavity
- Serous membranes surrounding organs
Visceral membranes
- Serous membranes attached to cavity walls, lining the inside of body cavities
Parietal membranes
Name the specific serous membranes:
- There are two of these outer membranes, each lines one side of the thoracic cavity
- These membranes are deep to the ribs, but superficial to the visceral pleura
- These membranes are contralateral to each other
Parietal pleura
Name the specific serous membranes:
- There are two of these inner membranes, each is wrapped snugly around a lung
- These membranes are deep to the parietal pleura, but superficial to the lungs
- These membranes are contralateral to each other
Visceral pleura
Name the specific serous membrane:
- This membrane is superficial to the visceral pericardium
- If you were a surgeon cutting into the heart, this would be the outermost of the two heart membranes
Parietal pericardium
Name the specific serous membrane:
- This membrane is wrapped snugly around the heart
- This membrane is superficial to the heart, but deep to the parietal pericardium
Visceral pericardium
Name the specific serous membrane:
- This membrane lines both the abdominal and the pelvic cavities (a.k.a. the abdominopelvic cavity)
- This membrane is superficial to the visceral peritoneum
- Part of this membrane forms the mesentery
Parietal peritoneum
Name the specific serous membrane:
- This type of membrane surrounds each of the individual abdominal organs
- This type of membrane is deep to the parietal peritoneum
Visceral peritoneum
Name the plane:
- Divides the body into right and left sides
Saggital Plane
(Note: It is specifically called the mid-sagittal or median plane if it divides the body into perfect halves, like in the picture)
Name the plane:
- Divides the human body into an anterior (front) and posterior (back)
Frontal or Coronal Plane
Name the anatomical plane:
- Divides the body horizontally, into superior (above) and inferior (below)
Transverse Plane
(may also be called “Cross Section”)
