Intro to Anatomy

Anatomy

the study of the structure of an organism

Physiology

the study of the function of the living organism and its parts, as well as the chemical process involved

Anatomical Position

Terms of direction assume this position, with the body upright, and the palms, arms, and hands facing forward

frontal section

divides the body into front and back

Sagittal Section

divides the body into left and right

Transverse Section

divides the body into top and bottom sections.

Anterior

the front structure of the body

ventral

pertaining to the belly or anterior surface

Posterior

toward the back

dorsal

pertaining to the back of the body

superficial

on or near the surface

deep

further from the surface

lateral

toward the side

medial

toward the middle

Ipsilateral

on the same side as something else

contralateral

on the opposite side of something else

unilateral

on one side

bilateral

on both sides

Inferior

toward the bottom

superior

toward the top

Epithelial tissue

the skin making up the skin and the superficial layer of mucous membranes, as well as the linings of cavities of the body

Cartilage

Connective tissue capable of withstanding significant compressive and tensile forces because of its strength and elasticity

muscular tissue

specialized contractible tissue; generally classified as being striated, smooth, or cardiac.

striated muscle

commonly known as skeletal muscle, it is used to move skeletal structures.

somatic muscle

muscle moves in response, to conscious, voluntary processes

autonomic muscle

muscles outside of voluntary control, thus regulated to an involuntary nervous system

nervous tissue

highly specialized communicative tissue consisting of neuronsn

neurons

nerve cell tissue whose function is to transmit information from one neuron to another, from neurons to muscles, or from sensory receptors to other neural structures

Ligament

connective tissue that binds bone to bone, bone to cartilage, or cartilage to cartilage

tendon

connective tissue that binds muscle to bone or muscle to cartilage

joint

the union of bones with other bones, or cartilage with other cartilage, classified based on the degree of movement they permit

origin

the end of muscle attachment with the least movement upon muscle contraction

Insertion

the end of muscle attachment that moves the most upon muscle contraction

agonist

muscle contracted for the purpose of a specific motor act

antagonist

a muscle that opposes the contraction of another muscle

fixator

muscles that stabilize structures through contraction

Innervation

simulation of a muscle, gland, or structure by means of a nerve

afferent

sensory innervation

efferent

motor innervation

motor unit

consists of one efferent nerve fiber and the muscle fibers to which it attaches

Respiratory System

the physical system involved in respiration, including the lungs, bronchial passageway, trachea, larynx, pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity.

Phonatory System

the system including the laryngeal structures through which phonation is achieved

Articulatory System

in speech science, the system of structures involved in shaping the oral cavity for production of the sounds of speech

Resonatory System

the portion of the vocal tract through which the acoustical product of vocal fold vibration resonates, usually the oral, pharyngeal, and nasal cavities combined

Auditory System

the system of hearing that includes the outer and inner ear components and the neural pathways to cortical processing centers

Nervous System

the system of nervous tissue comprised of the central and peripheral nervous systems