Anatomy Unit 1

Anatomical Terms

anatomy

the study and science of the structure of the human body

body cavities

the organization of the internal body into spaces

anatomical sections

body’s cavities and organs with specific cuts

organ systems

functional groups that the body’s organs are combined into

anatomical position

how most specimens are presented in a standard position - body is facing forward with toes pointing forward, and palms facing forward

directional terms

makes communication easier and less prone to errors - to which they define the location of body parts and markings

anterior position (ventral)

refers to the front of the body or of a body part

posterior position (dorsal)

the opposite of anterior - it can refer to the back side of the body, or the back of a body part, or to a structure that travels toward the back side of the body

superior position

describe structures that are toward or closer to the head

inferior position

means away from the head or toward the tail

proximal position

refers to the closeness (proximity) of a structure to its point of origin

appendicular region

limbs in the upper and lower part of the body

distal position

the farness (distance) of a structure from the shoulder or the hip

medial position

when a structure’s position is closer to the midline

lateral position

when a structure’s position moves further away from the midline

superficial position

a position that is closer to the surface of the body or closer to the skin

deep position

structure’s that are further away from the skin’s surface

regional terms

more specific words used to another standard practice used to make descriptions as specific as possible and to reduce the potential for errors in communication

abdominal region

the area over the abdomen that is inferior to the diaphragm and superior to the bony pelvis

acromial region

the area over the lateral part of the shoulder that contains the acromion of the scapula

antebrachial region

the anterior forearm

antecubital region

the anterior upper limb between the forearm and arm over the elbow joint

axillary region

the area in and around the axilla (armpit)

brachial region

the anterior and posterior arm (between the elbow and the shoulder)

buccal region

the lateral portions of the face corresponding to the cheeks

calcaneal region

the heel of the foot

carpal region

the wrist

cephalic region

the entire head from the chin to the top of the head

cervical region

the neck

cranial region

the top of the head, or the portion of the skull that encases the brain

crural region

the anterior leg (or the shin)

digital region

the fingers or the toes

femoral region

the thigh

frontal region

the forehead

gluteal region

the buttock

inguinal region

the area along the inguinal ligament that divides the pelvis from the thigh

lumbar region

the lower back

mammary region

the area around the breast

manual region

the general area of the hand

mental region

the chin

nasal region

the nose

nuchal region

the ridge that runs along the back of the skull at the superior boundary of the occipital region

occipital region

the general area of the back of the skull

oral region

the mouth

orbital region

the area around the eye

otic region

the area around the ear

palmar region

the anterior hand (the palm of the hand)

patellar region

the anterior part of the knee over the patella (kneecap)

pedal region

the foot

pelvic region

the anterior pelvis

plantar region

the bottom of the foot

popliteal region

the posterior side of the knee joint

pubic region

the area over the pubic bone of the pelvis

scapular region

the area over the scapula in the superior back

sternal region

the area in the middle of the chest over the sternum

sural region

the posterior part of the leg (the calf)

tarsal region

the proximal foot and ankle region

thoracic region

the general chest area

umbilical region

the area around the umbilicus (belly button)

vertebral region

the area over the vertebral column (spine)

arm

the portion of the upper limb from the elbow to the shoulder

forearm

the portion of the upper limb from the elbow to the wrist

leg

the portion of the lower limb from the knee to the ankle

lower limb

the entire portion of the body from the hip to the digits of the foot

thigh

the portion of the lower limb from the hip to the knee

upper limb

the entire portion of the body from the shoulder to the digits of the hand

serous membranes

• several of the fluid-filled body cavities are formed by thin sheets of tissue

• composed of 2 layers

serous fluid

cells of the serous membranes produce a thin, and watery fluid

parietal layer

1 of the 2 layers of the serous membrane that is an outer layer that’s attached to the body wall and surrounding structures

visceral layer

2 of the 2 layers of the serous membrane that is an inner layer that is attached to specific organs

posterior body cavity

largely on the posterior side of the body and is divided into 2 smaller cavities

cranial cavity (posterior body cavity)

the area encased by the skull. contains the brain and a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid

vertebral (spinal) cavity (posterior body cavity)

the area encased by the vertebrae. contains the spinal cord and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid

anterior body cavity

largely on the anterior side of the body and has 2 main divisions

thoracic cavity (anterior body cavity)

• located superior to a muscle called the diaphragm and encompasses the area encased by the ribs

• there are smaller cavities within the thoracic cavity

pleural cavity

surrounds one of the lungs - located between 2 layers of a serous membrane called the pleural membrane

parietal pleurae

attached to the body wall and the surface of the diaphragm

visceral pleurae

attached to the surface of the lungs - between the 2 layers is a thin layer of serous fluid

abdominopelvic cavity (anterior body cavity)

• is located inferior to the diaphragm and extends into the bony pelvis

• there are 3 subcavities within this cavity

abdominal cavity

• the 1st subcavity of the abdominopelvic cavity

• the area superior to the bony pelvis

• houses many organs including the liver, gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, spleen, and much of the colon (large intestine)

pelvic cavity

• the 2nd cavity of the abdominopelvic cavity

• the cavity housed within the bony pelvis

• contains certain sex organs, the urinary bladder, the rectum, and part of the colon

peritoneal cavity

• the 3rd subcavity of the abdominopelvic cavity

• is formed by a serous membrane called the peritoneal membrane

peritoneal membrane

forms the peritoneal cavity by this serous membrane

parietal peritoneum

the outer parietal peritoneum is attached to the body wall and surrounding structures

visceral peritoneum

the inner visceral peritoneum is attached to the surface of many of the abdominal and pelvic organs

peritoneal cavity

between the parietal and visceral peritoneum and is filled with serous fluid

retroperitoneal

organs that are posterior to the peritoneal cavity and includes the kidneys, adrenal glands, the sex organs, the urinary bladder, part of the colon, and part of the pancreas

parietal pleurae (cavity and structure)

cavity: thoracic

structure: lung

visceral pleurae (cavity and structure)

cavity: thoracic

structure: lung

parietal pericardium (cavity and structure)

cavity: thoracic

structure: heart

visceral pericardium (cavity and structure)

cavity: thoracic

structure: heart

parietal peritoneum (cavity and structure)

cavity: abdominopelvic

structure: small intestine, and others

visceral peritoneum (cavity and structure)

cavity: abdominopelvic

structure: small intestine, and others

anatomical section

different views of the internal structure of an organ or a body cavity. these views are obtained by making this along a specific plane

sagittal plane

• a section along here divides the specimen into right and left parts

• has 2 different variations

midsagittal sections (sagittal plane)

divides the specimen into equal right and left halves

parasagittal sections (sagittal plane)

divides the specimen into unequal right and left parts

frontal plane (coronal plane)

divides the specimen into an anterior (front) part and a posterior (back) part

transverse plane (cross section) (horizontal plane)

divides the specimen into a superior (or proximal) part and an interior (or distal) part

organ systems

organs that are put into functional groups