Anatomy & Physiology Major Orientation Terms

Terms for anatomical orientations

anatomy

branch of science regarding the study of body structures of living organisms

physiology

branch of biology that studies how body structures functions in living organisms

organs

typically a self contained part of the organism that has a specific and vital function

organ system

a group of organs that work together to perform specific, vital role

metabolism

chemical processes performed in organism to maintain life

homeostasis

biological process living organism use to maintain balance (pH, blood sugar)

anatomical position

standing up, facing up right, arms at side (palms facing out), feet forward (parallel), eyes forward

cross section

cutting from a right angle to an axis

cranial cavity

the hollow space inside skull

spinal cavity

the hollow space inside spine

ventral body cavity

the big, front-facing (anterior) body cavity in humans

pelvic cavity

bowl-like structure that sits below abdominal cavity

diaphragm

muscular dome-shaped organ that separates the thoracic and abdominal sections

abdominal

trunk area between chest and pelvis

axillary

armpit area

brachial

upper arm

carpal

bones of wrist that connect the forearm to the fingers

digital

fingers

femoral

femur or thigh

inguinal

groin

nasal

nose

oral

mouth

orbital

space in skull that contains eye

patellar

kneecap

pelvic

bowl-like structure that most famously holds and protects reproductive organs

pubic

region around pubis (foward-facing bone that forms part of hip bone)

sternal

sternum/breastbone

tarsal

the bones in ankle and upper foot area

thoracic

chest

umbilical

belly button

deltoid

triangle shoulder muscle

gluteal

buttocks region

lumbar

lower back

occipital

lower back part of skull

sacral

triangular bone at base of spine

scapular

shoulder blade

vertebral

vertebrae (bones that make up spine)

sagittal section

vertical slice that divides body into L & R sections

frontal section

vertical slide that divides body into front & back sections

transverse section

horizontal cut that divides body into top & bottom sections

abdominal cavity

large space right below diaphragm containing digestive organs

thoracic cavity

space right above diaphragm

superior

to the top/toward head-end of body

inferior

to the bottom/toward feet

dorsal

to the back/back side of body (specifically used when referring to quadrupeds)

ventral

to the front/front side of body (specifically used when referring to quadrupeds)

anterior

to the front/front side of body

posterior

to the back/back side of body

medial

midline/center of body

lateral

away from midline of body/towards the sides

intermediate

space betw. medial & lateral

proximal

body part that is closer to the point of body where a limb attaches to (ex of pt of attachment: shoulder)

distal

body part that is further to the point of body where a limb attaches to (ex of pt of attachment: shoulder)

superficial

closer to surface of skin/body's surface

deep

further away or deeper inside in relation to the surface of skin/body's surface