Atlas A: General Orientation to Human Anatomy

Vocabulary practice flashcards based on Atlas A (General Orientation to Human Anatomy) covering directional terms, anatomical planes, body cavities and membranes, regions, and major organ systems.

Ventral

Toward the front or belly.

Dorsal

Toward the back or spine.

Anterior

Toward the ventral side.

Posterior

Toward the dorsal side.

Cephalic

Toward the head or superior end.

Rostral

Toward the forehead or nose.

Caudal

Toward the tail or inferior end.

Superior

Above.

Inferior

Below.

Medial

Toward the median plane.

Lateral

Away from the median plane.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body (right or left).

Contralateral

On opposite sides of the body (right and left).

Superficial

Closer to the body surface.

Deep

Farther from the body surface.

Anatomical planes

Imaginary flat surfaces passing through the body to slice or section it, including the frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes.

Sagittal plane

A plane that extends vertically through the body or an organ, dividing it into right and left portions.

Frontal plane

A plane that extends vertically, perpendicular to the sagittal plane, dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse plane

A plane that passes horizontally through the body or an organ, dividing it into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Cranial cavity

Body cavity enclosing the brain and lined by the meninges.

Vertebral canal

Body cavity enclosing the spinal cord and lined by the meninges.

Thoracic cavity

Body cavity located superior to the diaphragm containing the pleural cavities, mediastinum, and pericardial cavity.

Pleural cavity

Potential space between the parietal and visceral pleurae surrounding each lung.

Pericardial cavity

Potential space between the parietal and visceral layers of the pericardium surrounding the heart.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Subdiaphragmatic body cavity partitioned into the superior abdominal cavity and inferior pelvic cavity.

Abdominal cavity

Superior region of the abdominopelvic cavity containing digestive organs, spleen, and kidneys, lined by peritoneum.

Pelvic cavity

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

Meninges

Membranous lining of the cranial cavity and vertebral canal.

Pericardium

Two-layered serous membrane surrounding the heart, consisting of a parietal layer and a visceral layer.

Pleurae

Two-layered serous membrane wrapping each lung, consisting of parietal pleura and visceral pleura.

Peritoneum

Two-layered serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity and covering its viscera.

Visceral peritoneum

Layer of the peritoneum that covers the external surfaces of internal organs (also called serosa).

Parietal peritoneum

Outer layer of the peritoneum lining the wall of the abdominal cavity.

Mesentery

Translucent membrane that suspends abdominal viscera from the body wall and carries blood vessels and nerves.

Greater omentum

Fatty anterior mesentery hanging like an apron from the stomach over the small intestine.

Lesser omentum

Anterior mesentery extending from the stomach to the liver.

Abdominopelvic quadrants

Four divisions of the abdomen (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ) formed by two perpendicular lines intersecting at the umbilicus.

Abdominopelvic regions

Nine divisions of the abdomen defined by two vertical lines and two horizontal lines.

Integumentary system

System whose principal organs are skin, hair, nails, and cutaneous glands; functions include protection, thermoregulation, and cutaneous sensation.

Skeletal system

System whose principal organs are bones, cartilages, and ligaments; functions include support, movement, protective enclosure of viscera, and blood formation.

Muscular system

System whose principal organs are skeletal muscles; functions include movement, stability, communication, control of body openings, and heat production.

Lymphoid system

System whose principal organs are lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, thymus, spleen, and tonsils; functions include excess tissue fluid recovery, pathogen detection, and defense against disease.

Respiratory system

System whose principal organs are nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs; functions include absorption of oxygen, discharge of carbon dioxide, acid-base balance, and speech.

Urinary system

System whose principal organs are kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra; functions include elimination of wastes, blood volume and pressure regulation, and fluid/electrolyte balance.

Nervous system

System whose principal organs are brain, spinal cord, nerves, and ganglia; functions include rapid internal communication, coordination, motor control, and sensation.

Endocrine system

System whose principal organs include pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, thymus, adrenal glands, pancreas, testes, and ovaries; functions include hormone production and internal chemical coordination.

Circulatory system

System whose principal organs are heart and blood vessels; functions include distribution of nutrients, oxygen, wastes, hormones, electrolytes, heat, and immune cells.

Digestive system

System whose principal organs are teeth, tongue, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas; functions include nutrient breakdown and absorption.

Male reproductive system

System whose principal organs are testes, epididymides, spermatic ducts, seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral glands, and penis; functions include production and delivery of sperm and sex hormone secretion.

Female reproductive system

System whose principal organs are ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands; functions include production of eggs, site of fertilization and fetal development, birth, lactation, and sex hormone secretion.