Anatomy Terminology, Body Cavities, Integumentary, and Endocrine Systems

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical terminology, body cavities, membranes, integumentary system structures, and endocrine glands from the review sheets.

superior

Directional term referring to above or toward the upper part of a structure or the body.

inferior

Directional term referring to below or toward the lower part of a structure or the body.

anterior or ventral

Directional term referring to toward or at the front of the body or structure.

posterior or dorsal

Directional term referring to toward or at the back of the body or structure.

superficial

Directional term referring to toward or at the body surface.

deep

Directional term referring to away from the body surface; more internal.

medial

Directional term referring to toward or at the midline of the body.

lateral

Directional term referring to away from the midline of the body.

proximal

Directional term referring to closer to the origin of a body part or point of attachment of a limb.

distal

Directional term referring to farther from the origin of a body part or point of attachment of a limb.

sagittal

Anatomical plane running vertically that divides the body into right and left parts.

parasagittal or paramedian

Anatomical plane parallel to the sagittal plane that divides the body into unequal right and left parts.

midsagittal or median

Anatomical plane running vertically through the midline, dividing the body into equal left and right halves.

frontal or coronal

Anatomical plane that divides the body vertically into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

transverse or horizontal or cross-section

Anatomical plane that divides the body horizontally into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

oblique

Anatomical plane cut diagonally between horizontal and vertical planes.

cephalic

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the head.

cranial

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the skull or head.

orbital

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the eye socket or eye region.

buccal

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the cheek area.

nasal

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the nose.

otic

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the ear.

oral

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the mouth.

mental

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the chin.

vertebral

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the spinal column.

cervical

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the neck region.

thoracic

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the chest area.

lumbar

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the lower back between the ribs and hips.

sacral

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the sacrum region at the base of the spine.

coccygeal

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the tailbone or coccyx.

pectoral

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the chest or anterior thoracic area.

axillary

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the armpit area.

brachial

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the upper arm.

antecubital

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the anterior surface of the elbow.

cubital

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the elbow region.

antebrachial

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the forearm.

digital

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the fingers or toes.

umbilical

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the navel or belly button region.

inguinal

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the groin area.

pubic

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the genital region.

gluteal

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the buttock region.

femoral

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the thigh.

patellar

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the front of the knee (kneecap).

popliteal

Anatomical regional term pertaining to the posterior area of the knee.

dorsal cavity

Body cavity located along the posterior aspect of the body that includes the cranial and vertebral cavities.

cranial cavity

Sub-cavity of the dorsal cavity that encloses and protects the brain within the skull.

vertebral cavity or spinal cavity

Sub-cavity of the dorsal cavity that runs within the vertebral column and houses the spinal cord.

ventral cavity

Anterior body cavity containing the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

thoracic cavity

Superior subdivision of the ventral cavity enclosed by the ribs and chest muscles, housing the lungs and heart.

visceral pleura

Serous membrane layer directly covering the outer surface of the lungs.

parietal pleura

Serous membrane layer lining the thoracic cavity walls surrounding the lungs.

pleural cavity

Potential space between the visceral and parietal pleura that contains lubricating serous fluid.

mediastinum

Central tissue compartment of the thoracic cavity located between the lungs.

visceral pericardium

Serous membrane layer directly covering the external surface of the heart.

parietal pericardium

Outer layer of the serous pericardium lining the pericardial cavity surrounding the heart.

pericardial cavity

Fluid-filled potential space between the visceral and parietal pericardial layers.

(abdominal) diaphragm

Muscular wall separating the thoracic cavity superiorly from the abdominopelvic cavity inferiorly.

abdominopelvic cavity

Inferior division of the ventral cavity, subdivided into the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

abdominal cavity

Superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity containing digestive organs such as the stomach, liver, and intestines.

pelvic cavity

Inferior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity containing the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.

visceral peritoneum

Serous membrane layer covering the external surfaces of most abdominal organs.

parietal peritoneum

Serous membrane layer lining the internal walls of the abdominopelvic cavity.

peritoneal cavity

Fluid-filled potential space between the visceral peritoneum and parietal peritoneum.

right upper quadrant

Abdominopelvic quadrant located in the upper right section of the abdomen.

right lower quadrant

Abdominopelvic quadrant located in the lower right section of the abdomen.

left upper quadrant

Abdominopelvic quadrant located in the upper left section of the abdomen.

left lower quadrant

Abdominopelvic quadrant located in the lower left section of the abdomen.

cutaneous membrane

Organ system structure representing the skin, composed of epidermal and dermal layers.

epidermis

Superficial epithelial layer of the skin.

stratum corneum

Outermost layer of the epidermis consisting of dead, flat, keratinized cells.

stratum lucidum

Clear epidermal layer located only in thick skin between stratum corneum and stratum granulosum.

stratum granulosum

Epidermal layer containing granular cells, located between stratum lucidum/corneum and stratum spinosum.

stratum spinosum

Epidermal layer characterized by spiny-looking keratinocytes, located directly above the stratum basale.

stratum basale

Deepest layer of the epidermis where continuous cell division occurs.

dermis

Thick layer of connective tissue situated directly beneath the epidermis.

dermal papillae

Finger-like projections of the dermis extending up into the overlying epidermis.

sebaceous gland

Exocrine oil gland in the dermis that secretes sebum into hair follicles.

sudoriferous gland

Exocrine sweat gland situated in the skin that secretes sweat.

arrector pili muscle

Smooth muscle attached to a hair follicle that pulls the hair upright when contracted.

hair follicle

Tubular epithelial structure in the dermis surrounding the root of a hair.

hair root

Part of the hair located beneath the surface of the skin within the follicle.

hair shaft

Visible portion of hair that projects above the skin surface.

hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue

Layer of fatty connective tissue underlying the dermis.

hypothalamus

Brain structure that connects the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

pituitary gland

Endocrine gland located at the base of the brain, divided into anterior and posterior lobes.

anterior pituitary

Glandular anterior division of the pituitary gland that secretes multiple regulatory hormones.

posterior pituitary

Neural posterior division of the pituitary gland that releases hormones stored from the hypothalamus.

pineal gland or pineal body

Small endocrine gland in the brain that secretes melatonin.

thyroid gland

Endocrine gland located in the neck anterior to the trachea.

follicle

Microscopic spherical structure in the thyroid gland lined by thyroid follicular cells.

thyroglobulin

Precursor protein secreted by thyroid follicular cells into the follicle lumen.

lateral lobe

Major right or left lateral mass of the thyroid gland.

isthmus

Narrow band of tissue connecting the right and left lateral lobes of the thyroid gland.

parathyroid glands

Small endocrine glands embedded on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland.

thymus gland

Endocrine and immune gland located in the upper thoracic cavity behind the sternum.

pancreas

Glandular organ behind the stomach containing both exocrine acini cells and endocrine islet cells.

pancreatic islet cells or islet of Langerhans cells

Clusters of endocrine cells in the pancreas that produce blood sugar regulating hormones.

acini cells

Exocrine cells of the pancreas that produce and secrete digestive enzymes.

adrenal gland

Endocrine gland seated on top of each kidney, comprising a cortex and a medulla.

adrenal cortex

Outer steroid-producing layer of the adrenal gland.