Basic Anatomical Terms & Movements (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key anatomical terms, planes, positions, movements, regions, cavities, and body cavity subdivisions from the notes.

Anatomy

The structural make-up of an organism (the body's form and parts).

Morphology

AKA: morphology; the study of form/structure, often noted in medical reports to describe differences.

Microscopic anatomy

Study of tiny structures seen with a microscope.

Gross anatomy

Study of large body structures visible to the naked eye.

Embryology

Anatomical changes that occur during human growth and development.

Physiology

The science of how anatomical features function and the chemical reactions involved.

Pathology

A&P studies of human diseases and disease processes.

Anatomical position

Standard erect body position with face forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

Midline

Imaginary line running vertically through the center of the body.

Coronal plane

Plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

Supine

Position where the body lies on the back, facing up.

Prone

Position where the body lies face down, on the stomach.

Flexion

Bending a joint so the distal end moves closer to the body.

Extension

Bending a joint so the distal end moves away from the body; straightening.

Abduction

Movement of a limb away from the midline.

Adduction

Movement of a limb toward the midline.

Circumduction

Movement that combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction in a circular path (360 degrees).

Supination

Rotation of the forearm so the palm faces upward.

Pronation

Rotation of the forearm so the palm faces downward.

Eversion

Sole of the foot turns away from the midline.

Cervical region

Neck region.

Orbital region

eyes

Clavicular region

collarbones

Deltoid region

Shoulder region.

Axillary region

Armpit region.

Brachial region

Arm region.

Cubital region

Elbow region.

Carpal region

Wrist region.

Abdominal region

Stomach/abdomen region.

Thoracic region

Chest region.

Inguinal region

Hip bone/groin region.

Patellar region

Knee region.

Pedal region

Foot region.

Superficial

Near the skin or body surface.

Deep

Away from the surface; toward the inside of the body.

Bilateral

Structures located on both sides of the body.

Unilateral

A single body part located on one side.

Parietal

Outer wall or thin lining of a hollow body part (e.g., parietal wall) and the parietal membranes lining body cavities.

Visceral

Inner wall of a body organ; the covering found directly on a body part; visceral structures are located deeper than parietal ones.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Cavity combining the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal cavity

Contains liver, stomach, gallbladder, intestines, kidneys, and spleen.

Pelvic cavity

Contains rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs.

Thoracic cavity

Contains heart and lungs; includes subcavities such as pericardial and pleural cavities.

Pericardial cavity

Cavity that holds the heart.

Pleural cavities

Left and right cavities that hold the lungs.

Mediastinum

Cavity in the thorax holding the pericardial cavity and major blood vessels.

Cranial cavity

Cavity that holds the brain.

Oral cavity

Cavity that holds the mouth.

Nasal cavity

Cavity behind and within the nose.

Ethmoidal cavity

Cavity behind the nose; part of the paranasal sinuses.

Paranasal sinuses

Small cavities around the cranial cavity (e.g., frontal and sphenoidal sinuses).

Cervical vertebrae

Neck vertebrae (7).

Thoracic vertebrae

Mid-back vertebrae (12).

Lumbar vertebrae

Lower back vertebrae (5).

Sacrum

Fused vertebrae at the base of the spine (5 fusing).

Coccyx

Tailbone; fused vertebrae (4).

Frontal sinus

Paranasal sinus located in the frontal bone.

Sphenoidal sinus

Paranasal sinus located near the sphenoid bone.

Orbital cavities

Eye sockets; cavities that contain the eyeballs.

Middle ear cavity

Cavity within the temporal bone containing the ossicles of hearing.