Anatomical term

human anatomy week 1; ORIENTATION

anatomical position

The standard arrangement of the body used for reference when studying anatomy Body is erect and at rest Both feet are flat on the floor and slightly separated Arms are down by the side, held slightly away from the body Head, eyes, palms, and toes are all facing forward

superior

above or higher

proximal

closer to the point of attachment

lateral

towards the side; farther away from the midline

anterior

towards the front;before

ventral

“belly side”, towards the front (for humans, ventral=anterior)

superficial

closer to surface

supine

having the palms facing up or forward; lying with the body facing up

inferior

below or lower

distal

Farther away from the point of attachment

medial

Towards the middle; closer to the midline

posterior

Towards the back; behind

dorsal

“Back side”, towards the back (for humans, dorsal = posterior)

deep

Deeper; farther from the surface

prone

Having the palms facing down or to the back; lying with the body face d

frontal plane or coronal plane

A vertical plane, perpendicular to the ground, that runs through the body from side to side and divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections

sagittal plane

A vertical plane, perpendicular to the ground, that runs through the body from front to back and divides the body into left and right sections

transverse plane or horizontal plane

A horizontal plane, perpendicular to the midline of the body, that runs through the body from front to back, and divides the body into upper and lower sections

simple

Composed of a single layer of cells

Stratified

Composed of multiple layers of cells

Loose

Tissues that contain large amounts of ground substance; fibers and cells, if present, are loosely arranged

dense

Tissues that contain more fiber than cells or ground substance; fibers appear closely packed with little open space between them

Condyle

A rounded process that articulates with another bone

Facet

A small, often flat surface that articulates with another bone

Head

An enlargement at the end of a bone, usually articulating with another bone

Suture

Interlocking junction between cranial bones

Foramen (plural: foramina)

An opening for the passage of blood vessels and/or nerves

Fossa (plural: fossae)

A shallow depression or cavity

Fovea

A tiny pit or depression

Meatus (plural: meatus, meatuses)

A tube-like passageway within a bone

Notch

A depression from one side of a bone to another

Sinus

A recess, cavity or hollow space within a bone

Crest

A prominent border or ridge

Epicondyle

A smaller projection situated above a condyle

Linea

A narrow, line-like ridge (less prominent than a crest)

Process

A prominent projection of a bone

Ramus (plural: rami)

A branch-like process

spine

A sharp, slender ridge

Trochanter

A relatively large, blunt projection of bone (found only on the femur)

Tubercule

A small, knob-like process (usually smoother than a tuberosity

Tuberosity

A larger, roughened, knob-like process or thickened area of a bone

Ligament

A band of connective tissue that connects bones to each other

Tendon

A band of connective tissue that connects muscles to bones

Aponeurosis

A broad, flat sheet of connective tissue that anchors a muscle or connects a muscle to the part it moves

origin

The point of attachment of a muscle that moves the least when the muscle is contracted

Insertion

The point of attachment of a muscle that moves the most when the muscle is contracted