Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology: Planes, Regions and Surface Anatomy

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical nomenclature, structural organization levels, body planes, directional terminology, surface anatomy landmarks, and body cavities from the introductory anatomy and physiology lecture.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the human body, derived from the Greek word "Anatomia" ("ana" meaning up, and "tomia" meaning cutting).

Physiology

The study of how the body functions and works.

Chemical level

The structural level of organisation in the human body that includes atoms and molecules.

Cellular level

The level of structural organisation comprising the smallest living units in the human body.

Tissue level

The structural organisation level formed by groups of cells that work together to perform a particular function.

Organ level

The level of structural organisation where different types of tissues join together to form a structure that carries out a specific function.

Gross anatomy

The branch of anatomy dealing with what can be seen of a structure without using a microscope.

Microscopic anatomy (Histology)

The microscopic study of tissues.

Systemic anatomy

The study of the structure of specific organ systems of the body.

Regional anatomy

The study of specific regions of the body.

Surface anatomy

The study and use of external surface markings of the body to understand and locate internal anatomy.

Anatomical Body Position

The standardized point of reference for all movements: standing upright with feet together, toes pointing forward, face looking forward, mouth closed, hands by the sides with straight fingers, palms facing forward, and thumbs pointing away from the body.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional term meaning towards the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional term meaning towards the back of the body.

Medial

Directional term meaning nearest the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning farthest away from the midline of the body.

Superior

Directional term meaning towards the head or above.

Inferior

Directional term meaning away from the head or below.

Superficial (External)

Directional term meaning towards or at the body surface.

Deep (Internal)

Directional term meaning away from the body surface.

Proximal

Directional term meaning nearest to the trunk.

Distal

Directional term meaning furthest away from the trunk.

Palmar

Directional term belonging to or situated on the palm of the hand.

Plantar

Directional term belonging to or situated on the sole of the foot.

Dorsum

A term used to refer to the back of the hand or the upper surface of the foot.

Afferent

Describing a anatomical structure that passes towards an organ.

Efferent

Describing an anatomical structure that passes away from an organ.

Ipsilateral

Situated on or affecting the same side of the body (e.g., the right upper limb and right lower limb).

Contralateral

Situated on or affecting the opposite side of the body (e.g., the right upper limb and left lower limb).

Coronal (Frontal) plane

A vertically oriented body plane (from Latin "corona" meaning crown) that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Sagittal plane

A vertically oriented body plane (from Latin "sagitta" meaning arrow) that divides the body into right and left parts.

Transverse (Axial) plane

A horizontally oriented body plane (from Latin "transversus" meaning across) that divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

Oblique plane

A plane running at any non-standard slanting or crosswise angle; frequently used for imaging views and beam's eye views in radiotherapy treatment.

Anterior midline

The anterior vertical reference line running through the glabella, mental protuberance, suprasternal notch, xiphoid process, umbilicus, root of penis (RoP) or junction of labia (JoL), and symphysis pubis.

Posterior midline

The posterior vertical reference line running through the occipital protuberance, spinous processes, and sacrum.

Orbitomeatal Line (Radiographic baseline)

The cranial baseline connecting the outer canthus to the external auditory meatus (EAM).

Glabellomeatal Line

The cranial baseline connecting the superior orbital margin (SOM) to the external auditory meatus (EAM).

Reid’s baseline

The cranial baseline connecting the lower orbital margin to the external auditory meatus (EAM).

Cranial cavity

The body cavity that contains the brain, which accounts for one fiftieth of the body's weight.

Thoracic Cavity

The body cavity bounded superiorly by the thoracic inlet and inferiorly by the thoracic outlet; it is subdivided into two pleural cavities, the mediastinum, and the pericardial cavity.

Mediastinum

The central thoracic space extending from the sternum anteriorly to the vertebral column posteriorly, containing the heart, thymus, oesophagus, trachea, bronchi, blood vessels, and lymph vessels.

Abdominal cavity

The cavity extending between the diaphragm and the upper border of the pelvic cavity, containing the stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, and most of the large intestine.

Pelvic cavity

The cavity situated below the abdominal cavity, containing the urinary bladder, caecum, appendix, sigmoid colon, rectum, and internal reproductive organs.

Transpyloric plane

An upper transverse abdominal plane located halfway between the suprasternal (jugular) notch and the upper border of the symphysis pubis; it cuts through the pylorus, the tips of the ninth costal cartilages, and the lower border of $L_1$.

Transtubercular plane

A lower transverse abdominal plane located midway between the transpyloric plane and the upper border of the symphysis pubis, passing through the iliac tubercles and cutting the body of $L_5$.

Iliac crest

The pelvic topographic landmark that corresponds to the vertebral levels of $L_4, L_5$.

Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)

The pelvic topographic landmark that corresponds to the vertebral level of $S_2$.

Head of femur landmarking

Located by drawing a line between the greater trochanter and the crest of the symphysis pubis, finding the halfway point, and measuring $1\, \text{cm}$ inferiorly.