5/29/25 Intro to Anatomy

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terminology, movement terms, skin/fascia layers, skeletal structures, cartilage, joint types, vascular layers, and muscle classifications from the lecture notes.

Anatomical Position

Standard body stance: head and toes facing anteriorly, arms at sides with palms facing forward.

Regional Anatomy

Study of the body by specific areas or regions (e.g., head, neck).

Systemic Anatomy

Study of the body by organ systems (e.g., skeletal, nervous).

Clinical Anatomy

Application-oriented study of anatomy related to health sciences, blending regional and systemic approaches.

Surface Anatomy

Examination of structures beneath the skin through observation and palpation.

Median (Midsagittal) Plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into equal right and left halves.

Sagittal Plane

Vertical planes parallel to the median plane.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Vertical plane at right angles to the median, dividing body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Plane at right angles to median and frontal planes, dividing body into superior and inferior parts.

Medial

Closer to the median plane.

Lateral

Farther from the median plane.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Superior (Cranial)

Toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior (Caudal)

Toward the feet or lower part of a structure.

Proximal

Closer to trunk or point of origin.

Distal

Farther from trunk or point of origin.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body.

Unilateral

Present on only one side of the body.

Bilateral

Present on both sides of the body.

Flexion

Decreasing the angle between body parts; at ankle called dorsiflexion.

Extension

Increasing the angle between body parts; at ankle called plantarflexion.

Abduction

Movement away from the median plane (or 3rd digit/2nd toe axis in fingers & toes).

Adduction

Movement toward the median plane (or reference axis).

Medial (Internal) Rotation

Bone turns toward the body’s midline.

Lateral (External) Rotation

Bone turns away from the body’s midline.

Circumduction

Circular motion combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

Opposition

Thumb movement toward pads of other fingers.

Reposition

Return of thumb from opposition to anatomical position.

Protrusion

Anterior movement (e.g., mandible, lips).

Retrusion

Posterior movement returning from protrusion.

Elevation

Raising a part (e.g., scapula).

Depression

Lowering a part (e.g., scapula).

Inversion

Sole of foot turns medially.

Eversion

Sole of foot turns laterally.

Pronation

Forearm rotates so palm faces posteriorly/inferiorly.

Supination

Forearm rotates so palm faces anteriorly/superiorly.

Skin

Protective external covering; functions include protection, sensation, heat regulation, Vitamin D synthesis.

Epidermis

Avascular outer skin layer containing some nerve endings.

Dermis

Collagen- and elastic-fiber connective tissue deep to epidermis; houses follicles, glands, vessels.

Langer (Tension) Lines

Patterns of collagen in dermis dictating wrinkle lines; incisions parallel heal better.

Subcutaneous Tissue (Superficial Fascia)

Fat-containing layer under dermis; contains skin ligaments controlling skin mobility.

Deep Fascia

Dense connective tissue enveloping deeper structures; forms investing fascia, septa, retinacula.

Investing Fascia

Extensions of deep fascia that surround individual muscles or neurovascular bundles.

Intermuscular Septum

Sheet of deep fascia separating muscle compartments and attaching to bone.

Retinaculum

Thickened band of deep fascia holding tendons in place around joints.

Compartment

Group of muscles, nerves, and vessels surrounded by deep fascia; increased pressure can cause compartment syndrome.

Bursa

Closed serous-membrane sac reducing friction between moving structures.

Synovial Sheath

Elongated bursa wrapping around a tendon to facilitate gliding.

Axial Skeleton

Bones of head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Skeleton

Bones of limbs including pectoral and pelvic girdles.

Bone

Living connective tissue providing protection, support, blood cell formation, and leverage.

Periosteum

Innervated fibrous membrane covering bone surfaces except at cartilage.

Long Bone

Elongated bone with shaft and two ends (e.g., femur).

Short Bone

Cuboidal bone (e.g., carpal).

Flat Bone

Thin, protective bone (e.g., skull parietal bone).

Irregular Bone

Complex-shaped bone (e.g., vertebra).

Sesamoid Bone

Bone embedded in tendon (e.g., patella).

Condyle

Rounded articular prominence.

Tubercle

Small rounded projection for tendon or ligament attachment.

Crest

Ridge-like bone projection.

Fossa

Shallow depression in bone.

Foramen

Hole through bone for vessels/nerves.

White Fibrocartilage

Tough cartilage in IV discs and labra.

Elastic Cartilage

Flexible yellow cartilage in ear.

Hyaline Cartilage

Smooth articular cartilage covering bone ends at joints.

Fibrous Joint

Bones united by fibrous tissue; includes sutures, syndesmoses, gomphoses.

Suture

Immovable fibrous joint with interlocking bones of skull.

Syndesmosis

Partially mobile joint united by sheet of fibrous tissue (e.g., interosseous membrane).

Gomphosis

Peg-in-socket fibrous joint of teeth in alveoli.

Primary Cartilaginous Joint (Synchondrosis)

Temporary joint united by hyaline cartilage (e.g., growth plate).

Secondary Cartilaginous Joint (Symphysis)

Slightly mobile joint united by fibrocartilage (e.g., pubic symphysis).

Synovial Joint

Freely movable joint with capsule, synovial membrane, fluid, and articular cartilage.

Plane Joint

Flat surfaces permitting gliding (e.g., acromioclavicular).

Hinge Joint

Uniaxial joint allowing flexion/extension (e.g., elbow).

Saddle Joint

Biaxial joint with concave-convex surfaces (e.g., 1st CMC of thumb).

Condyloid Joint

Biaxial joint where motion in one plane exceeds other (e.g., MCP joints).

Ball and Socket Joint

Multiaxial joint permitting movements in all planes (e.g., hip).

Pivot Joint

Uniaxial joint allowing rotation around central axis (e.g., atlanto-axial joint).

Hilton’s Law

Nerves supplying a joint also supply muscles acting on it and overlying skin.

Articular Arteries

Periarticular vessels forming anastomoses to supply joints.

Tunica Intima

Innermost endothelial layer of a blood vessel.

Tunica Media

Middle muscular layer of a blood vessel.

Tunica Adventitia

Outer connective tissue layer of a blood vessel.

Skeletal (Striated) Muscle

Voluntary muscle; shapes include flat, pennate, fusiform, quadrate, circular.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary striated muscle of the heart and great-vessel roots.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary non-striated muscle in vessel walls and viscera.

Flat Muscle

Parallel fibers with aponeurosis (e.g., external oblique).

Pennate Muscle

Feather-like fiber arrangement (e.g., rectus femoris).

Fusiform Muscle

Spindle-shaped muscle with thick belly (e.g., biceps brachii).

Quadrate Muscle

Four-sided muscle with equal length sides (e.g., pronator quadratus).

Circular (Sphincter) Muscle

Surrounds body opening and constricts it (e.g., orbicularis oculi).