Functional Anatomy Review – Key Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms from the Functional Anatomy Review lecture, covering anatomical orientation, movement, integumentary layers, skeletal and muscular systems, cardiovascular and lymphatic structures, and nervous system organization.

Anatomical Position

Standard body stance: head, eyes, toes forward; arms at sides with palms forward; feet together and parallel.

Anterior

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Toward the back of the body.

Ventral

Belly side (front) of the body.

Dorsal

Back side of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Superior

Toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior

Toward the feet or lower part of a structure.

Cranial

Toward the head (synonym of superior in the trunk).

Caudal

Toward the tail or feet.

Prone

Body lying face-down.

Supine

Body lying face-up.

Proximal

Nearer to the point of origin or trunk attachment.

Distal

Farther from the point of origin or trunk attachment.

Superficial

Closer to the surface of the body.

Dorsum

Back (posterior) surface of hand or top of foot.

Palm

Anterior surface of the hand.

Sole

Inferior surface of the foot.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Vertical plane dividing body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Plane dividing body into superior (cranial) and inferior (caudal) parts.

Sagittal Plane

Vertical plane dividing body into left and right portions.

Median Plane

Mid-sagittal plane that divides body into equal left and right halves.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the angle between body parts, bringing them anteriorly (except knee/ankle).

Extension

Movement that increases the angle between body parts, generally posteriorly.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of body or part.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of body or part.

Lateral Rotation

Rotating a limb so its anterior surface moves outward (away from midline).

Medial Rotation

Rotating a limb so its anterior surface moves inward (toward midline).

Pronation

Medial rotation of the forearm so palm faces posteriorly/inferiorly.

Supination (Movement)

Lateral rotation of forearm so palm faces anteriorly/superiorly.

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward.

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward toward midline.

Elevation

Moving a part superiorly (e.g., shrugging shoulders).

Depression

Moving a part inferiorly (e.g., lowering shoulders).

Circumduction

Circular movement combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

Opposition

Movement of thumb to touch other fingertips.

Retrusion

Posterior movement (pulling jaw backward).

Protrusion

Anterior movement (pushing jaw forward).

Integumentary System

Skin, hair, nails, subcutaneous tissue, and associated glands.

Sudoriferous Gland

Sweat-producing gland of the skin.

Sebaceous Gland

Oil-secreting gland associated with hair follicles.

Ceruminous Gland

Modified sweat gland in ear canal producing earwax.

Mammary Gland

Modified sweat gland that produces milk.

Epidermis

Superficial avascular keratinized epithelium renewing every 25-45 days.

Dermis

Deep layer of skin with collagen, elastic fibers, hair follicles, arrector pili, sebaceous glands.

Subcutaneous Tissue (Superficial Fascia)

Loose connective tissue and fat beneath dermis; houses sweat glands, vessels, nerves.

Deep Fascia

Dense, organized connective tissue with no fat; forms retinacula, bursae, investing fascia.

First-Degree Burn

Injury limited to superficial epidermis.

Second-Degree Burn

Damage to epidermis and superficial dermis; sweat glands/hair follicles intact.

Third-Degree Burn

Full-thickness burn through epidermis and dermis; may involve muscle, often requires grafting.

Axial Skeleton

Bones of head, neck, and trunk (cranium, vertebrae, ribs, sternum, sacrum).

Appendicular Skeleton

Bones of limbs plus pectoral and pelvic girdles.

Compact Bone

Dense outer layer providing strength and weight-bearing support.

Spongy (Cancellous) Bone

Trabecular bone with spaces; found at bone ends and interior.

Long Bone

Tubular bone such as humerus or phalanx.

Short Bone

Cuboidal bone found in wrist or ankle.

Flat Bone

Thin, protective bone like those of the cranium.

Irregular Bone

Complex-shaped bone such as vertebrae or facial bones.

Sesamoid Bone

Bone developing in a tendon (e.g., patella) to protect tendon and alter pull angle.

Periosteum

Fibrous connective tissue membrane surrounding bone.

Perichondrium

Fibrous membrane surrounding cartilage (except articular surfaces).

Articular Cartilage

Hyaline cartilage covering bone surfaces in synovial joints to reduce friction.

Condyle

Rounded articular area on a bone.

Crest

Prominent ridge of bone.

Epicondyle

Eminence superior to a condyle.

Facet

Smooth, flat area where bones articulate, usually covered with cartilage.

Foramen

Hole or passage through a bone.

Fossa

Shallow depression in a bone.

Line (Bone)

Linear elevation on a bone.

Malleolus

Rounded bony prominence (e.g., ankle).

Notch

Indentation at the edge of a bone.

Process

Projection or outgrowth of bone.

Protuberance

Bulging projection of bone.

Spine (Bone Marking)

Sharp, thorn-like projection of bone.

Trochanter

Large, blunt elevation on femur.

Tubercle

Small raised eminence on bone.

Tuberosity

Large, rounded elevation on bone.

Fibrous Joint

Bones united by fibrous tissue; little to no movement.

Syndesmosis

Fibrous joint with a sheet or cord of connective tissue (e.g., interosseous membrane).

Gomphosis

Peg-in-socket fibrous joint stabilizing a tooth in its socket.

Cartilaginous Joint

Bones united by cartilage; no synovial cavity.

Synchondrosis

Primary cartilaginous joint with hyaline cartilage (e.g., epiphyseal plate).

Symphysis

Secondary cartilaginous joint with fibrocartilaginous disc (e.g., pubic symphysis).

Synovial Joint

Freely movable joint with synovial cavity, capsule, and articular cartilage.

Hinge Joint

Uniaxial synovial joint permitting flexion/extension (e.g., elbow).

Pivot Joint

Uniaxial synovial joint allowing rotation (e.g., atlanto-axial).

Saddle Joint

Biaxial synovial joint with concave-convex surfaces (e.g., thumb CMC).

Condyloid Joint

Biaxial synovial joint permitting flexion/extension and abduction/adduction (e.g., MCP).

Plane Joint

Synovial joint with flat surfaces permitting gliding (e.g., acromioclavicular).

Ball-and-Socket Joint

Multiaxial synovial joint permitting movement in all planes (e.g., hip).

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary, striated muscle that moves bones and other structures.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary, striated muscle forming the heart walls.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle in walls of vessels and hollow organs.

Pennate Muscle

Feather-like arrangement of fibers attaching obliquely to tendon.

Fusiform Muscle

Spindle-shaped muscle with wide belly and narrow ends.

Parallel Muscle

Fibers run parallel to long axis, producing large range of motion.

Convergent Muscle

Broad origin converging to a single tendon.

Circular Muscle

Muscle fibers arranged concentrically around an opening (sphincter).

Origin

Proximal, usually fixed attachment of a muscle.