Anatomy- Lecture 1: Basic and fundamental terminology

Anatomic Position

Upright, feet parallel, eyes and palms forward.

Planes of reference

imaginary lines or actual dissecting cuts (sections) which may be used to "section" the body or an organ

Sagital Plane

divides the body into left and right halves

midsagittal plane

divides the body into equal right and left sides

Coronal Plane

divides into anterior and posterior portions

Transverse plane

divides body into superior and inferior portions

Anterior

Relative to front or back of body- In front of; toward the front surface. The stomach is anterior to the spinal cord.

Posterior

Relative to front or back of body- In back of; toward the back surface. The heart is posterior to the sternum.

Dorsal

Relative to front or back of body- Toward the back side of the human body. The spinal cord is on the dorsal side of the body.

Ventral

Relative to front or back of body- Toward the belly side of the human body. The umbilicus is on the ventral side of the body.

Superior

Relative to front or back of body- Closer to the head. The chest is superior to the pelvis.

Inferior

Relative to front or back of body- Closer to the feet. The stomach is inferior to the heart.

Cranial

Relative to front or back of body- At the head end. The shoulders are cranial to the feet.

Caudal

Relative to front or back of body- At the real of tail end. The abdomen is caudal to the head.

Rostral

Relative to front or back of body- Toward the nose or mouth. The frontal lobe is rostral to the occipital lobe.

Medial

Relative to front or back of body- Toward the midline of the body. The lungs are medial to the shoulders.

Lateral

Relative to front or back of body- Away from the midline of the body. The arms are lateral to the heart.

Ipsilateral

Relative to front or back of body- On the same side. The right arm is ipsilateral to the right leg.

Contralateral

Relative to front or back of body- On the opposite side. The right arm is contralateral to the left leg.

Deep

Relative to front or back of body- On the inside internal to another structure. The heart is deep to the rib cage.

Superficial

Relative to front or back of body- On the outside external to another structure. The skin is superficial to the biceps brachii muscle.

Proximal

Relative to point of attachment of the appendage- Closest to point of attachment to trunk. The elbow is proximal to the hand.

Distal

Relative to point of attachment of the appendage- Furthest from point of attachment to trunk. The wrist is distal to the elbow.

Cephalic Region

Head

Nasal

Nose

Oral

Mouth

Orbital

Eye

Mental

Chin

Frontal

Forehead

Occipital

Back of head

Cervical Region

Neck

Thoracic Region

thorax (chest)

Pectoral Region

Chest

Mammary Region

Breast

Sternal Region

Area between the left and right pectoral regions

Axillary Region

Armpit

Abdominal Region

inferior to diaphragm and superior to pelvic brim of the hip bones. (below chest)

Pelvic Region

inferior to the abdominal region, between the hip bones.

Upper extremity/appendage

arm

Deltoid Region

shoulder

Brachial Region

Arm-Between shoulder/elbow

Antecubital region or cubital

Elbow

Antebrachium region

forearm- between elbow and wrist

Carpal Region

Wrist

Hand

Manus

Palmar

Palm (front side) of hand (anterior)

Dorsum

Back of hand (posterior)

Lower extremity/appendage

Includes regions such as femoral, patellar, popliteal, crural, and foot.

Femoral region

Thigh- from hip to knee

Patellar region

Anterior (front) of knee

Popliteal region

posterior of knee

Crural region

leg- knee to ankle

Foot

pedal region

Plantar

Sole (bottom) of foot

Dorsum

top of foot

Body Cavities

enclosed spaces within the body

Cranial cavity (endocranium)

contains the brain

Vertebral Canal

opening formed by vertebral column

thoracic cavity (chest cavity)

bounded inferiorly by the diaphragm

2 pleural cavities

associated with the lungs

Mediastinum

between lungs

Pericardial cavity

associated with heart

abdominopelvic cavity

abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity

abdominal cavity

Contains stomach, intestines, spleen, and liver, and other organs

pelvic cavity

Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

Serous membranes

composed of tissue and either cover or support organs or line the walls of some body cavities and secrete serous fluid.

parietal layer

lines the internal surface of the body wall

visceral layer

covers organ

serous cavity

space between membranes

The ___ region refers to the area around the armpit.

Axillary