HumanBioLab Anatomical Terminology

Anatomical position

standing erect

upper limbs at sides

palms facing forwards

Supine

laying on back

Prone

Laying on stomach

Anterior/ventral (human)

Towards the front of the body (human)

Posterior/dorsal (human)

Towards the back of the body (human)

Caudal

towards tailbone

in rats, dorsal and ____ are in the same direction

superior

in a rat, superior and _____ are in the same direction

dorsal

In a rat, ventral and _____ are in the same direction

inferior

In a rat, inferior and ____ are in the same direction

ventral

in a rat, cranial and ____ are in the same direction

anterior

in a rat, anterior and ____ are in the same direction

cranial

In a rat, caudal and _____ are in the same direction

posterior

In a rat, posterior and _____ are in the same direction

caudal

In a rat, anterior and _____ are in the same direction

cranial

Cranial

towards cranium

Inferior

Lower on the body, further from the head

Ipsilateral

structures on the same side

ex: right arm and right leg

Contralateral

structures on opposite sides

ex: right arm and left leg

Superior

Higher on the body, nearer to the head

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

Distal

Further from the trunk of the body/point of attachment

Proximal

Nearer to the trunk of the body/point of attachment

Superficial

On or near the surface/closer to the skin/outside of the body

Deep

Away from the surface/ further from the skin/ further from the outside the body

Ventral

Toward the belly-side

Dorsal

Toward the back-side

Abdominal

Abdomen

Antecubital

Front/inside of elbow

Axillary

Armpit

Brachial

Upper arm

Carpal

Wrist

Cephalic

Head

Cephalic includes

cranial (skull)

facial (face)

Buccal

Cheek

Cervical

Neck

Digital

Fingers

Femoral

Thigh

Gluteal

Buttocks

Inguinal

Groin

Lumbar

Lower back

Nasal

Nose

Oral

Mouth

Orbital/ocular

Eye

Patellar

Front of knee

Pelvic

Pelvis

Popliteal

Back of knee

Sacral

Lower back, includes the sacrum

Tarsal

Ankle

Sural

Calf or posterior surface of the leg

Crural

Shin or anterior surface of the leg

Spinal (vertebral) cavity

Contains the spinal cord

Thoracic cavity

Cavity housing the pleural cavity (lungs) and pericardial cavity (heart)

Mediastinum

Separates the right and left pleural cavities

* upper portions filled with blood vessels, trachea, esophagus, and thymus
* lower portion contains the pericardial cavity

Pericardial cavity

Space between the visceral and parietal pericardium

* located within the mediastinum

Pleural cavity

Space between visceral and parietal pleural membrane

* houses left and right lung

visceral pleural membrane

Parietal pleural membrane

Abdominopelvic cavity

contains


1. Abdominal cavity
2. Pelvic cavity
3. retroperitoneal space

Abdominal cavity

superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity

• diaphragm to pelvic bones

• contains digestive organisms

• In rats, the reproductive system is here

Pelvic cavity

inferior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity

• deep to the pelvic bones

• In humans, contains reproductive organs, rectum, and bladder

Peritoneal cavity

Mesenteries

stacked peritoneum

* hold viscera in place (blood vessel/nerve supply)

\

Retroperitoneal space

Area posterior to *peritoneum* (behind the kidneys) and anterior to muscular body wall

* contains pancreas, kidneys, ureters, and parts of the digestive tract, cecum (not large in humans, large in rats to digest cellulose)

Cranial cavity

Cavity that contains the brain

Pubic

Genital region

Ureters

tubes from the kidney to the urethra

Thoracic

thorax, chest

Mammary

Breast

Cubital

Elbow

Palmar

Palm of the hand

Plantar

Sole of the foot

Transverse plane

Horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

Sagittal plane

Vertical division of the body into right and left portions

Median (midsagittal) plane

Divides the body into equal left and right halves

Parasagittal plane/section

divides the body into unequal right and left sides

Coronal (frontal) plane

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions

Acromial

Pertaining to the shoulder

Manual

Hand

Pedal

Foot

Mental

Chin

Frontal

Forehead

Otic

Ear

Cranial

Skull

Facial

Face

Digital or phalangeal

Fingers or toes

Umbilical

Navel (belly button)

Antebrachial

Forearm

Olecranal

Back of elbow

Membranes

line body cavities and secrete *serous fluid* to reduce friction

Parietal serous membrane

membrane layer lining wall of cavity

Visceral serous membrane

membrane layer lining organ

Function of integumentary system

* protects against environmental hazards
* regulates body temperature
* provides sensory information

Major organs of the integumentary system

* Skin
* Hair
* Sweat glands
* nails

Major organs of the skeletal system

* Bones
* Cartilages
* bone marrow
* ligaments

Functions of skeletal system

* support and protection for other tissues
* stores calcium and other minerals
* forms blood cells

Major organs of the muscular system

Skeletal muscles (muscles connected to the bone) and associated tendons

Functions of the muscular system

* Movement
* protection and support
* generates heat to maintain body temp

Major organs of the nervous system

* Brain
* Spinal cord
* peripheral nerves
* sense organs