Anatomic Descriptors and Fundamental Body Structure

Anatomy

The study of the physical structure of the body and its organs.

Physiology

The science of the function of cells, tissues, and organs of the body.

Anatomical Position

Patient standing erect, arms down at sides, palms facing forward.

Medial

Toward the midline or midsagittal plane.

Lateral

Away from the midline.

Proximal

Nearest the point of attachment.

Distal

Farthest from the point of attachment.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front or belly side.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back.

Superior (Cranial)

Above the transverse plane, toward the head.

Inferior (Caudal)

Below the transverse plane, toward the tail or feet.

Diaphragm

Large dome-shaped muscle separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Abdominal Quadrants

The abdomen divided into four areas: right/left upper and right/left lower.

Diffusion

Gas, solids, or liquids distributed evenly through a medium.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water or another solvent through a selectively permeable membrane.

Filtration

Movement of solutes and water across a semipermeable membrane via force like blood pressure.

Active Transport

Molecules move across a membrane from an area of low to high concentration.

Phagocytosis

White blood cells engulf bacteria, cell fragments, or damaged cells.

Pinocytosis

Cells engulf large molecules of liquid materials ("cell drinking").

Mitosis

Cell division controlled by the nucleus, resulting in two new daughter cells.

Homeostasis

A stable condition of the internal environment functioning properly.

Epithelial Tissue

Forms the body's glands, covers the surface, and lines cavities.

Connective Tissue

Forms the supporting structure of the body, connecting other tissues to form organs.

Nerve Tissue

Communication network throughout the body; basic structural unit is the neuron.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue that contracts; classified as skeletal (voluntary), smooth, or cardiac (involuntary).

Cleft Lip and Palate

Structural defects in upper lip or roof of mouth from failure of tissues to unite during 8th-12th week of gestation.

Color Vision Deficiency

Inability to distinguish between red and green; no treatment to correct.

Cystic Fibrosis

Generalized dysfunction of exocrine glands affecting multiple systems; no cure.

Down Syndrome

Genetic syndrome caused by an extra chromosome 21.

Dwarfism

Condition resulting in an abnormally short person; achondroplastic accounts for 70% of cases.

Galactosemia

Inherited metabolic disorder involving improper processing of simple sugar galactose into glucose.

Hemochromatosis

Genetic condition of iron overload in the body, most prevalent in northern European descent.

Hemophilia

Sex-linked inherited pattern caused by a defect in gene for blood clotting factor VIII or IX.

Klinefelter's Syndrome

Sex-linked disorder caused by one or more extra X chromosomes in males.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Genetic metabolic disease characterized by failure to oxidize amino acid phenylalanine.

Spina Bifida

Structural malformation of the spine where posterior spinal tissues fail to close.

Talipes

Structural deformity of one or both feet, commonly called clubfoot.

Turner's Syndrome

Sex-linked defect in females with only 45 chromosomes; underdeveloped ovaries and genitalia.