Module 1 – Topic 1.1a: Bone, Tissues & Development (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical hierarchy, tissue types, anatomical terminology, body cavities, skeletal organisation, bone structure, bone cells, and developmental concepts discussed in the lecture.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter; building block for molecules.

Molecule

A chemical combination of two or more atoms (e.g., water, proteins).

Organelle

Specialised cellular structure (e.g., mitochondrion, nucleus) formed from molecules.

Cell

Smallest functional unit of life; built from organelles and molecules.

Tissue

Group of similar cells performing a common function.

Organ

Structure composed of at least two tissue types that performs a specific function.

Organ System

Multiple organs working together for a common purpose (e.g., cardiovascular system).

Nervous Tissue

Tissue that transmits electrical impulses for rapid communication.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue responsible for movement; includes skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue that covers body surfaces and lines cavities.

Connective Tissue

Tissue consisting of living cells in a non-living matrix; provides support and protection.

Anatomical Position

Standing erect, feet slightly apart, arms at sides with palms forward; reference posture for anatomical descriptions.

Sagittal Plane

Vertical plane dividing body into left and right portions.

Mid-sagittal (Median) Plane

Sagittal plane that lies directly in the midline; splits body into equal left and right halves.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Vertical plane dividing body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Transverse (Horizontal/Axial) Plane

Plane dividing body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.

Superior

Toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior

Away from the head; toward the lower part of a structure.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline; on the outer side.

Proximal

Closer to the limb attachment or origin of a structure.

Distal

Farther from the limb attachment or origin of a structure.

Superficial

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Posterior cavity housing the cranial and vertebral cavities; protects nervous system organs.

Ventral Body Cavity

Anterior cavity containing thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Thoracic Cavity

Portion of ventral cavity containing heart and lungs, superior to diaphragm.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Large ventral cavity inferior to diaphragm; subdivided into abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal Cavity

Superior part of abdominopelvic cavity containing stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, etc.

Pelvic Cavity

Inferior part of abdominopelvic cavity containing urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum.

Four Abdominopelvic Quadrants

RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ; divisions used to localise abdominal organs.

Skeleton

Framework of bones and cartilage providing support, protection, movement, and mineral storage.

Endoskeleton

Internal skeleton characteristic of humans; allows agility and speed.

Exoskeleton

External skeleton in some animals; protective but restricts mobility.

Haemopoiesis (Hematopoiesis)

Formation of blood cells in red bone marrow.

Axial Skeleton

Bones of skull, vertebral column, and rib cage; mainly protective/supportive.

Appendicular Skeleton

Bones of limbs and girdles; primarily facilitate movement.

Long Bone

Elongated bone (e.g., humerus) with shaft and two ends; mainly in limbs.

Flat Bone

Thin, flattened bone (e.g., sternum, skull) providing protection.

Short Bone

Roughly cube-shaped bone (e.g., talus) providing stability with limited motion.

Irregular Bone

Bone with complex shape (e.g., vertebra) that doesn’t fit other categories.

Diaphysis

Shaft of a long bone; thick compact bone surrounding medullary cavity.

Epiphysis

End of a long bone; outer compact bone with internal spongy bone.

Medullary Cavity

Central cavity of long bone shaft containing marrow.

Periosteum

Dense connective tissue membrane covering external bone surfaces (except joints).

Endosteum

Delicate connective tissue lining internal bone surfaces and canals.

Compact Bone

Dense outer layer of bone; appears solid but contains passageways for vessels and nerves.

Spongy Bone (Trabecular Bone)

Internal honeycomb of trabeculae filled with marrow.

Diploe

Spongy bone layer between two thin layers of compact bone in flat bones.

Osteogenic (Stem) Cell

Bone stem cell that differentiates into an osteoblast.

Osteoblast

Bone-forming cell; synthesises bone matrix.

Osteocyte

Mature bone cell residing in lacunae; monitors and maintains bone matrix.

Osteoclast

Bone-resorbing cell; breaks down bone matrix during remodelling.

Osteon

Structural unit of compact bone; concentric layers (lamellae) around a central canal.

Haversian Canal (Central Canal)

Longitudinal canal in an osteon containing blood vessels and nerves.

Lamella

Ring of bone matrix in an osteon; collagen fibres in each lamella run in one direction.

Volkmann’s Canal

Canal running perpendicular to Haversian canals; connects blood and nerve supply of osteons.

Canaliculi

Tiny channels connecting lacunae; allow communication between osteocytes.

Primary Ossification Centre

First site of bone formation in the diaphysis of fetal long bone (around week 8).

Secondary Ossification Centre

Post-natal bone formation site in each epiphysis; supports length growth.

Epiphyseal Growth Plate

Hyaline cartilage plate at bone ends responsible for longitudinal growth until adulthood.

Mesenchymal Cell

Embryonic connective tissue cell that gives rise to bone, cartilage, and other tissues.

Osseous Tissue

Type of connective tissue making up bone; contains living cells within a mineralised matrix.