Anatomical Terminology Flashcards

Flashcards based on lecture notes about anatomical positions, directions, planes, cavities, and the abdomen.

What are the four components of the Anatomical Position?

Standing upright, facing forward, arms at your side with palms facing forward, and feet slightly apart.

What is the supine position?

The position of the hands in the anatomical position.

Why do the palms face forward in the anatomical position?

It causes the bones of the forearm to be parallel instead of crossed.

What does the combining form 'ventr/o' mean?

Front (belly)

What does the combining form 'dors/o' mean?

Back

What does the combining form 'anter/o' mean?

Front

What does the combining form 'poster/o' mean?

Back

What does the prefix 'supra-' mean?

Above

What does the prefix 'infra-' mean?

Below

What does the combining form 'cephal/o' mean?

Towards the head

What does the combining form 'caud/o' mean?

Towards the tail

What does the combining form 'proxim/o' mean?

Near

What does the combining form 'dist/o' mean?

Far

What does the combining form 'medi/o' mean?

Towards the middle

What does the combining form 'later/o' mean?

Towards the side

What does 'superficial' mean?

On the surface

What does 'deep' mean in anatomical terms?

Away from the surface

What is a Body Plane?

An imaginary line or flat surface that separates the body into two pieces.

What does the Frontal Plane do?

Separates the body into anterior and posterior portions.

What does the Sagittal Plane do?

Separates the body into left and right sides.

What does the Transverse Plane do?

Separates the body into superior and inferior portions.

What does 'anterior' mean?

Front

What does 'posterior' mean?

Back

What does 'superior' mean?

Upper or above

What does 'inferior' mean?

Lower or below

What are Body Cavities?

Spaces that contain and protect the internal organs, lined with membranes.

What are the two major body cavities?

Dorsal and Ventral cavity

What is contained in the Cranial Cavity?

Contains the brain.

What is contained in the Vertebral Cavity?

Encloses the spinal cord.

What cavities does the Dorsal Body Cavity include?

Cranial and Vertebral cavities.

What cavities does the Thoracic Cavity divided into?

Pleural cavity and Pericardial cavity, separated by the diaphragm.

What organs does the Abdominal Cavity contain?

Contains digestive organs.

What organs does the Pelvic Cavity contain?

Contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.

What does the Thoracic cavity include (Anterior View)?

Includes the superior mediastinum, pleural cavity, pericardial cavity within the mediastinum, and diaphragm.

What does the Ventral body cavity include?

Includes both the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

What surrounds the dorsal cavity?

Surrounded by the skull and spinal column.

What is the dorsal cavity made up of?

Cranial cavity and the spinal cavity.

What sections is the ventral cavity divided into?

Thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity.

What are the boundaries and components of the thoracic cavity?

Bounded by the ribs and the diaphragm; consists of the mediastinum and the pleural cavity.

What are the boundaries and components of the abdominal cavity?

Bounded by the diaphragm and abdominal muscles; surrounded by the peritoneum and contains many of the organs.

What are the boundaries of the pelvic cavity?

Bounded by the pelvic bones.

What is the peritoneum?

A double-folded membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.

What does 'parietal' mean?

Pertaining to walls.

What does 'visceral' mean?

Pertaining to organs.

What does the combining form 'cephal/o' mean?

Head

What does the combining form 'caud/o' mean?

Tail; lower part of the body

What does the combining form 'crani/o' mean?

Skull

What does the combining form 'spin/o' mean?

Spine

What does the combining form 'proxim/o' mean?

Near

What does the combining form 'dist/o' mean?

Far

What does the combining term 'medi/o' mean?

Middle

What does the combining form 'later/o' mean?

Side

What does the combining form 'thorac/o' mean?

Chest

What does the combining form 'abdomin/o' mean?

Abdomen

What does the combining forms 'pelvi/o' and 'pelv/i' mean?

Pelvis

What does the combining form 'pariet/o' mean?

Wall

What does the combining form 'viscer/o' mean?

Internal organs

What does the combining form 'gastr/o' mean?

Stomach

What does the combining form 'peritone/o' mean?

Peritoneum

What does the combining form 'chondr/o' mean?

Cartilage

What does the combining form 'lumb/o' mean?

Lower back

What does the combining form 'umbilic/o' mean?

Umbilicus, navel

What does the combining form 'inguin/o' mean?

Groin

What does the prefix 'epi-' mean?

Above; upon

What does the prefix 'supra-' mean?

Above; superior

What does the prefixes 'infra-' and 'sub-' mean?

Below; inferior

What does the prefix 'mid-' mean?

Middle

What does the prefix 'hypo-' mean?

Deficient; below

What does the prefix 'hyper-' mean?

Excessive; above

What do the suffixes '-al', '-ior', '-ic', '-ac' and '-ar' mean?

Pertaining to

The hand is … to the elbow, which directional term is used here?

The hand is distal to the elbow.

The nose is … to the ears, which directional term is used here?

The nose is medial to the ears.

The head is … to the abdomen, which directional term is used here?

The head is superior to the abdomen.

The knee is … to the foot, which directional term is used here?

The knee is proximal to the foot.

What is the function of the peritoneum?

It covers the inside walls of the cavity and the external surfaces of the organs in the cavity.

Why are body planes useful?

Helps in visualizing the interior of the body and describing the location of body structures.

What cavities is the thoracic cavity divided into?

The pleural cavity and the pericardial cavity.

What are the two major body cavities?

The ventral and dorsal body cavities.

What is the definition of proximo?

Near

What is contained in the pelvic cavity?

Contains the reproductive organs, bladder and rectum

What structures surrounds the dorsal cavity?

The skull and spinal column

What three section is the ventral cavity divided into?

Thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities

How would you describe the body in the anatomical position?

Standing upright, facing forward, arms at your sides with palms facing forward, and feet slightly apart

In anatomical terms what does superficial mean?

Near the surface

What is the formal term for front?

Anterior, also known as ventral

What does Cephalic mean?

Towards the head

Explain body planes

Imaginary flat surfaces which divide the body

List out the different body planes

Frontal, sagittal, transverse

What does superior mean in regards to anatomical position

Above or upper

Name the two mains human body cavities

Dorsal and ventral

What makes up the dorsal body cavity

Cranial and Vertebral cavities

Name a major structure of the cranial cavity

The cranium which holds the brain

Where is the plureal cavity located and what does it contain?

Located in the chest cavity, it holds the lungs

Where is the pericardial cavity located and what does it contain?

Located in the chest cavity as well, houses heart

What are the boundries which make up the boundaries of the abdominal cavity

Diaphragm and abdominal muscles

What does the word parietal mean?

Pertaining to walls

What does the term viscero mean

Internal organs

Ventr/o

Front; belly

Poster/o

Posterior, back

Cephal/o means…

Head