Language of Anatomy and Physiology

Section

actual cut that exposes internal anatomy 

Plane

imaginary flat surface passing through body; 3 types 

Coronal (frontal) plane

vertical plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts

Transverse (cross-sectional) plane

horizontal plane dividing the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts

Midsagittal (median) plane

vertical plane dividing the body into equal left and right halves  

Sagittal plane

parallel to midsagittal, but left or right of midsagittal; divides structure into unequal portions

Oblique plane

passes through structure at an angle

Axial region

head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular

upper and lower limbs

Posterior aspect

completely encased in bones, contains cranial cavity and vertebral canal

Cranial cavity

formed by the bones of the cranium, houses the brain

Vertebral canal

formed by the bones of the vertebral column, houses the spinal cord

Ventral cavity

not completely encased in bones, contains superior thoracic cavity and inferior abdominopelvic cavity

Superior thoracic cavity

contains mediastinum, pleural cavity, and pericardial cavity

Inferior abdominopelvic cavity

contains abdominal and pelvic cavity

Serous membranes

parietal layer lines internal surface of body wall

visceral layer covers external surface of organs

Serous cavity

space between membranes

Serous fluid

liquid secreted by cell in serous membrane, lubricant

Mediastinum

median space in the thoracic cavity; contains heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, major vessels

Pericardium

two-layered serous membrane (hearts)

Parietal pericardium

sac around the heart

Visceral pericardium

heart’s external surface

Pericardial cavity

PERICARDIAL, space between parietal and visceral layers containing serous fluid

Pleura

two-layered serous membrane (lungs)

Parietal pleura

outer layer lines internal surface of thoracic wall

Visceral pleura

inner layer covers external surface of lungs

Pleura cavity

PLEURA, space between parietal and visceral layers containing serous fluid

Abdominal cavity

superior area, contains most of the digestive system organs, kidneys, and most of the ureters

Pelvic cavity

inferior area between hip bones, contains distal part of large intestine, remainder of ureters and urinary bladder, and internal reproductive organs

Peritoneum

two-layered serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity

Parietal peritoneum

outer layer, which lines the internal walls of the abdominopelvic cavity

Visceral peritoneum

inner layer, which covers the external surface of most abdominal and pelvic organs

Peritoneal cavity

PERITONEUM, space between parietal and visceral layers containing serous fluid

RUQ

Right upper quadrant of abdominopelvic cavity

LUQ

Left upper quadrant of abdominopelvic cavity

RLQ

Right lower quadrant

LLQ

Left lower quadrant of abdominopelvic cavity

Umbilical region

middle region where umbilicus or navel lies in the center

Epigastric region

superior to umbilical

Hypogastric region

inferior to umbilical

Right and Left hypochondriac regions

inferior ro costal cartilages
lateral to epigastric

Right and Left lumbar regions

lateral to umbilical

Right and Left iliac regions

lateral to hypogastric

Anterior

in front of

Posterior

in back of

Dorsal

at the back side of the human body

Ventral

at the belly side of the human body

Superior

closer to the head

Inferior

Closer to the feet

Cranial

at the head end

Caudal

at the rear or tail end

Rostral

toward the nose or mouth

Medial

toward the mid-line of the body

Lateral

away from the mid-line of the body

Deep

on the inside, internal to another structure

Superficial

on the outside

Proximal

closer to point of attachment to trunk

Distal

farther away from point of attachment to trunk