anatomy lab general

anterior

front, before

posterior

back, behind

ventral

belly side (anterior in humans)

dorsal

back side (posterior in humans)

medial

towards midline

lateral

away from midline

proximal

closer to the torso or attatchment point

distal

further from the torso or attachment point

superior

above (toward head)

inferior

below (away from head)

cranial (rostral)

towards the head (cranium)

superficial

close to external surface

deep

closer to internal surface

frontal (coronal)

separates anterior and posterior portions of body

midsagittal (median)

passes through midline, dividing body into equal right and left halves

parasagittal

parallel to midsagittal (lateral to midline), right and left halves are unequal

transverse (horizontal)

separates superior and inferior portions of body

axial

head, neck, trunk

appendicular

limbs

orbital

eye

buccal

cheek

cervical

neck

acromial

shoulder

thoracic

chest

axillary

armpit

brachial

arm

antecubital

anterior side of elbow (elbow pit)

antebrachial

forearm

pollex

thumb/digit 1

umbilical

navel

inguinal

junction of trunk and thighs

pubic

genital region

femoral

thigh

popliteal

posterior side of knee (knee pit)

patellar

anterior side of knee

fibular (peroneal)

lateral side of leg

calcaneal

heel of foot

plantar

sole of foot

hallux

big toe

thigh

upper leg

leg

lower leg

arm

upper arm

forearm

lower arm

pericardium

serous membrane that surrounds heart

pleura(e)

serous membrane surrounds lungs

peritoneum

serous membrane surrounds abdominopelvic organs

dorsal body cavity

cranial cavity - brain

spinal cavity - spinal cord

ventral body cavity

thoracic cavity

• pleural cavities (2) - lungs

• mediastinum (area bw lungs)

  • pericardial cavity - heart

  • also: thymus, trachea, esophagus, aorta

abdominopelvic cavity

abdominal cavity - stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen, kidney, large intestine, colon

pelvic cavity - bladder, reproductive organs, rectum, etc

long bone

cylindrical, diaphysis, epiphysis, marrow cavity

• elongated limb bones - femur, tibia, humerus

short bone

cube shaped, outer surface compact bone with spongy bone inside

• wrist, ankle bones (carpals and tarsals)

flat bone

thin parallel layers of compact bone with spongy bone between, strong and light

• skull, sternum, ribs, scapula

irregular bones

complex shape, short, flat, notched, ridged surfaces

sesamoid

small, round, flat, develop within tendons —> a type of short bone

sutural (wormian)

small, flat, variable shape; structurally identical to flat bones

tuberosity

a raised rough projection

crest

prominent ridge

trochanter

large, blunt, and rough projection

tubercle

small and rounded projection

epicondyle

raised area on or above a condyle

condyle

smooth rounded bump at end of a bone that connects with another bone to form a joint

line

a low ridge (less prominent than a crest)

process

any bony prominence

spine

sharp, slender or pointed process

head

expanded articular end of an epiphysis

ramus

angular extensions of the main body of the bone

fossa

shallow depression

foramen

rounded opening or hole for blood vessels and or nerves

meatus

canal leading through bone

fissure

elongate cleft (narrow slit like opening)

groove

furrow in bone

sinus

air filled cavity