Human Anatomy: Head, Neck, Spine, Back, Thorax, Abdomen, and Inguinal Areas

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key anatomical terms of the head, neck, spine, back, thorax, abdomen, and inguinal areas.

Skull

Bones of the head, face, and mandible united by sutures.

Sutural ligament

Connective tissue between the bones united by sutures.

Cranium

Bones of the head and face only.

Vault

Upper part of the cranium.

Base of the Skull

Lowest part of the cranium.

Calvaria

Bones of head only.

Coronal Suture

Unites the frontal bone with the parietal bones.

Sagittal Suture

Unites the 2 parietal bones in the midline.

Lambdoid Suture

Connects the occipital and parietal areas of the head.

Squamosal Suture

Unites the squamous portion of the temporal bone with the parietal bones.

Glabella

Between the superciliary arches of the frontal bone.

Nasion

Depression in the midline at the root of the nose.

Inion

Lies in the midline at the junction of the head and neck; squamosal part of the occipital bone.

Vertex

Highest point on the skull in the sagittal plane.

Fontanelle

Only present in developing skulls & is a cartilaginous model.

Superciliary Ridges

Two prominent ridges on the frontal bones above the upper margin of the orbit.

Mastoid Process of the Temporal Bone

Projects downward and forward from behind the ear.

Stylomastoid Foramen

Between styloid and mastoid; CN VII supplies the facial muscles.

Occipital condyle

Base found at the occipital bone.

Zygomatic Arch

Extends forward in front of the ear and ends in front in the zygomatic bone.

Suprameatal Triangle

On the surface of the temporal bone just superior to the external auditory canal used to locate the level of the mastoid antrum.

Temporomandibular Joint

Can be easily palpated in the front of the auricle.

Mandible (body of the mandible)

Best examined by having one finger inside the mouth and another on the outside.

Masseter (anterior border)

Can easily be felt by the clenching of the teeth.

Orbital Margin

Formed by the frontal, zygomatic, and maxillary bones.

Infraorbital Foramen

Lies 5mm below the lower margin of the orbit.

Maxillary Air Sinus

Situated within the maxillary bone and lies below the infraorbital foramen on each side.

SCALP

Layers of the scalp (Skin, subCutaneous tissue, Aponeurosis, Loose areolar tissue, Periosteum / pericranium).

Olfactory (CN I)

Loss of smell is the first non-motor sign of Parkinson’s disease.

Oculomotor (CN III)

All extraocular muscles EXCEPT superior oblique & lateral rectus.

Trochlear (CN IV)

Superior Oblique.

Abducens (CN VI)

Lateral Rectus.

Facial (CN VII)

MM of the face, taste sensation, and anterior ⅔ of the tongue.

Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)

Pharyngeal mm, taste sensation, & posterior ½ of the tongue.

Vagus (CN X)

Visceral sensation, gag, swallowing, vocal chords, larynx.

Hypoglossal (CN XII)

Tongue mm, except the palatoglossus because it comes from the pharyngeal plexus.

Bell's Palsy

Affectation to the ipsilateral ½ of the face.

Tensor Tympani

Dampens down vibrations of tympanic membrane.

Stapedius

Dampens down vibrations of stapes.

Conjugate Gaze

Movement of both eyes in the same vertical or horizontal direction

Diplopia

Double vision; usually an affectation of CN III

Neck

Between the lower margin of the mandible and the superior margin of the clavicle.

Spinal cord

Lodged at the vertebral canal.

Scalene triangle

Between scalenus anticus & medicus; opening to thoracic outlet.

Sternocleidomastoid

Divides the lateral aspect of neck into posterior and anterior triangles.

Anterior Triangle of the Neck

Subdivided by the digastric and omohyoid muscles

Laryngeal Prominence (Adam’s Apple)

Projects superior angular process of thyroid cartilage w/ thyroid membrane.

Thyroid Cartilage

Largest cartilage of the larynx.

Prevertebral muscles

Deep head & neck flexors.

Suboccipital muscles

Deep neck extensors.

Transverse foramen

Where the vertebral vessel will pass through from the aorta; present in all cervical vertebrae.

Atlas

C1; does not have a body and spine; has posterior & anterior tubercles instead.

Typical Vertebra

Articular facet, orientation determines the movement of the spine.

Intervertebral disc

Center is the nucleus pulposus, a gel-like matrix that moves within the disk with changes in posture.

Nutation

Nodding of sacrum (lumbar motion).

Alar Ligament

Attached on the dens and on C1; limits rotation.

Cruciate Ligament

Attached on the dens; forms like a cross.

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Limits flexion and hyperflexion; traverses the spine but tapers inferiorly.

Ligamentum Flavum

Flavum – yellow ligament.

Erector Spinae

SILo; Spinalis, Iliocostalis, Longissimus.

Transversospinalis

RMS; Rotatores, Multifidus, Semispinalis.

Bucket handle mechanism

Expansion of thorax anterolaterally; increases transverse and vertical diameter.

Midsternal Line

Runs vertically down the middle of the sternum

Midclavicular Line

Runs vertically downward from the midpoint of the clavicle.

Male Inguinal Canal

Contains femoral sheath containing femoral veins and arteries; femoral nerve is from L1 & L2.

Dermatomes

Areas of skin that rely on specific spinal sensory nerves.