Week One Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering sectional anatomy concepts, planes, orientations, body cavities, regional anatomy, and standard anatomical terminology drawn from the provided notes.

Dimensional thinking in medical imaging

Understanding anatomy in three dimensions (length, width, depth) and interpreting 2D images to reveal 3D relationships.

Gross anatomy

Anatomy studied visually without magnification, focusing on body systems and overall structure.

Microscopic anatomy

Study of cells and tissues observed under a microscope.

Sectional anatomy

Study of anatomy by examining regions in slices/sections to analyze three-dimensional relationships.

Planes

Imaginary flat surfaces that cut through the body to reveal anatomical relationships (sagittal, transverse, coronal are major orthogonal planes).

Sagittal plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into right and left portions.

Midsagittal plane

Sagittal plane that passes through the midline, creating equal right and left sides.

Parasagittal plane

Sagittal plane that divides the body into unequal right and left portions.

Transverse plane

Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior parts; also called axial or short axis.

Coronal plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior sections; also called frontal.

Oblique plane

A plane that passes through the body at an angle between the standard planes (sagittal, transverse, coronal).

2D vs 3D imaging

2D imaging shows height and width; 3D imaging includes height, width, and length, enabling better spatial relationships.

Ultrasound 3D interpretation

Sonographers interpret anatomy in 3D by obtaining multiple 2D images in different planes.

Sagittal/Longitudinal vs Transverse/Short axis

Sagittal/longitudinal planes show length and height; transverse/short axis show width and height.

Acoustic window

Location from which an ultrasound transducer scans; determines which structures lie beneath the beam.

Scanning planes vs anatomical planes

Scanning planes are the image planes used by the sonographer and may not coincide with anatomical planes.

Anatomical position

Standard reference position: erect, facing observer, feet flat forward, arms at sides, palms forward, thumbs away from body.

Planes orthogonal

Major planes that intersect at right angles (90°) to each other in anatomical position.

Transducer marker

Indicator on the ultrasound probe used to orient the image; directs how anatomy is displayed on screen.

Orientation on monitor

The marker orientation determines which body side appears on the left side of the ultrasound monitor.

Right/Left (directional term)

Terms describing structures relative to the patient’s right or left side, not the observer.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head or upper part of the body.

Inferior (caudal)

Toward the feet or lower part of the body.

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 trunk or point of attachment.

Distal

Farther from the trunk or point of attachment.

Superficial

Near the body surface.

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Ipsilateral

Structures on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Structures on opposite sides of the body.

Visceral

Related to the internal organs (viscera).

Parietal

Related to the walls of a cavity.

Dorsal cavity

Posterior and superior body cavity containing the CNS; subdivided into cranial and spinal cavities.

Cranial cavity

Cavity that houses the brain, enclosed by the skull.

Spinal (Vertebral) cavity

Cavity that contains the spinal cord and nerves, protected by the vertebrae.

Ventral cavity

Large anterior body cavity subdivided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities by the diaphragm.

Thoracic cavity

Superior ventral cavity containing the lungs and heart; subdivided into pleural cavities and the mediastinum; diaphragm forms its inferior boundary.

Pleural cavities

Right and left cavities containing the lungs; lined by the pleura.

Mediastinum

Midline chest cavity between pleural spaces; contains heart, great vessels, thymus, trachea, esophagus, nerves, lymph nodes.

Pericardial cavity

Cavity within the mediastinum that contains the heart.

Abdominal cavity

Upper portion of the abdominal part of the abdominopelvic cavity; contains liver, pancreas, stomach, spleen, gallbladder, intestines.

Pelvic cavity

Lower portion of the abdominopelvic cavity; contains bladder, reproductive organs, distal small bowel, rectum.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Large cavity formed by the abdominal and pelvic cavities; separated by the diaphragm.

True pelvis

Pelvic inlet area; region below the pelvic brim containing bladder and reproductive organs.

False pelvis

Area above the pelvic brim and below the iliac crests; contains portions of small intestine and colon.

Quadrant method

General location system dividing the abdomen into four quadrants (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ) using lines through the umbilicus.

Nine-region method

Regional method dividing the abdomen into nine regions with vertical and horizontal planes; names: right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac, right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar, right iliac, hypogastric, left iliac.

Right hypochondriac region

Region that contains the liver.

Epigastric region

Region that contains the stomach.

Left hypochondriac region

Region that contains the spleen.

Right lumbar region

Region that contains the right kidney.

Umbilical region

Region that contains the bowel.

Left lumbar region

Region that contains the left kidney.

Right iliac (inguinal) region

Region that contains the appendix.

Hypogastric (pubic) region

Region that contains the bladder.

Left iliac (inguinal) region

Region that contains the bowel.

Diaphragm

Muscular boundary separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Serous membrane

Membrane that lines body cavities and secretes serous fluid; in thorax, the pleura lines the pleural cavities.

Retroperitoneal

Some abdominal organs lie posterior to the peritoneum (behind the peritoneal lining).