MT - Lesson 3: BODY STRUCTURES

Anterior (ventral)

toward the front of the body

posterior (dorsal)

toward the back of the body

medial

Toward the midline of the body

lateral

toward the side of the body

proximal

nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point

distal

farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point

superior

above

inferior

below

cephalad (cranial)

toward the head

caudal or caudad

toward the tail or the lower end of the spine (latin cauda means tail)

superficial (external)

close to the surface of the body

deep (internal)

close to the center of the body

appendicular portion

upper and lower limbs

axial portion

head, neck, trunk

frontal or coronal plane

divides the body into anterior and posterior sections

sagittal plane

divides body into left and right portions

transverse plane

divides the body into superior and inferior parts

small cavities within the head

oral, nasal, orbital, middle ear

serous membranes (yung tatlo)

pleura, peritoneum, pericardium

anatomical position

standing erect, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms forward, legs parallel, toes pointed forward

decubitus position

lying down, specifically according to the part of the body resting on a flat surface, as in left or right lateral decubitus, or dorsal or ventral decubitus

dorsal recumbent position

on back, with legs bent and separated, feet flat

fowler position

on back, head of bed raised about 18 inches, knees elevated

kraske (jackknife) position

prone with the buttocks raised

lateral recumbent position

on the side with one leg flexed, arm position may vary

lithotomy position

on back, legs flexed on abdomen, thighs apart

prone

lying face down

sims position

on left side, right leg drawn up high and forward, left arm along back, chest forward resting on bed

supine

lying face up

Trendelenburg position

on back with head lowered by tilting bed back at 45-degree angle

abdominal cavity

the large ventral cavity below the diaphragm and above the pelvic cavity

abdominopelvic cavity

The large ventral cavity between the diaphragm and pelvis that includes the abdominal and pelvic cavities

cranial cavity

the dorsal cavity that contains the brain

diaphragm

muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities

pelvic cavity

the ventral cavity that is below the abdominal cavity

peritoneum

the large serous membrane that lines the abdominopelvic cavity and covers the organs within it

spinal cavity (canal)

dorsal cavity that contains the spinal cord

thoracic cavity

the ventral cavity above the diaphragm, the chest cavity

cephal/o

head

microcephaly

abnormal smallness of the head

cervic/o

neck

cervicofacial

pertaining to the neck and face

thorac/o

chest, thorax

extrathoracic

outside the thorax

abdomin/o

abdomen

intra-abdominal

within the abdomen

celi/o

abdomen

celiac

pertaining to the abdomen

lapar/o

abdominal wall

laparoscope

instrument for viewing the peritoneal cavity through the abdominal wall

lumb/o

lumbar region, lower back

thoracolumbar

pertaining to the chest and lumbar region

periton, peritone/o

peritoneum

peritoneal

pertaining to the peritoneum

acro

extremities

acrodermatitis

inflammation of the skin of the extremities

brachi/o

arm

antebrachium

forearm

dactyl/o

fingers, toes

polydactyl

having more than the normal number of fingers or toes

ped/o

child, foot

dextropedal

using the right foot in preference to the left

pod/o

foot

podiatrics

the study and treatment of the foot

circum-

around

circumoral

around the mouth

peri-

around

perivascular

around a vessel

intra-

in, within

intrauterine

within the uterus

epi-

on, over

epithelium

tissue that covers surfaces

extra-

outside

extracellular

outside the cell

infra-

below

infrapatellar

below the kneecap

sub-

under, below

sublingual

under the tongue

inter-

between

intercostal

between the ribs

juxta-

near, beside

juxtaposition

location near or beside another structure

para-

near, beside, behind

parasagittal

near or beside a sagittal plane

retro-

backward

retroperitoneal

behind the peritoneum

supra-

above

suprascapular

above the shoulder blade

digits

fingers, toes

epigastrium

epigastric region

fundus

the base or body of a hollow organ, the area of an organ farthest from its opening

hypochondrium

The hypochondriac region (left or right)

lumen

the central opening within a tube or vessel

meatus

passage, opening

orifice

the opening of a cavity

os

mouth

septum

wall dividing two cavities

sinus

cavity within a bone

sphincter

a circular muscle that regulates an opening

oblique plane

divides body at an angle (paling)