Anatomy & Physiology Lab Study Guide

Practice flashcards covering anatomical planes, sections, major body cavities, serous membranes, abdominopelvic quadrants, and the nine abdominopelvic regions based on the lab study guide.

What is an anatomical plane?

An imaginary flat surface passing through the body or an organ.

What is the difference between an anatomical plane and a section?

An anatomical plane is an imaginary flat surface passing through the body or organ, whereas a section is the actual cut or view produced along a plane.

How does a sagittal plane divide the body?

It runs longitudinally from front-to-back, dividing the body into right and left portions.

What defines the median (midsagittal) plane?

It is the sagittal plane located exactly at the midline, producing equal right and left halves.

How does a frontal (coronal) plane divide the body?

It runs longitudinally, dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

How does a transverse (horizontal) plane divide the body?

It divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions, producing a cross-sectional view.

What is a longitudinal section?

A cut made along the long axis of a structure.

What is a cross section (x.s.)?

A cut made perpendicular to the long axis of a structure.

What are serial sections and why are they used?

Serial sections are a sequence of successive slices used to help reconstruct the three-dimensional shape of an organ.

What are the two major cavity groups of the body?

The dorsal body cavity and the ventral body cavity.

What are the two major subdivisions of the dorsal body cavity and their contents?

The cranial cavity (enclosed by the skull; contains the brain) and the vertebral (spinal) cavity (enclosed by the vertebral column; contains the spinal cord).

What are the two major subdivisions of the ventral body cavity?

The thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity.

What anatomical structure separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity?

The muscular diaphragm.

What cavities and regions are located within the thoracic cavity?

The pleural cavities (each surrounding a lung), the mediastinum (central thorax region), and the pericardial cavity (surrounding the heart).

What is the mediastinum?

The central region of the thorax between the lungs that contains the pericardial cavity and other structures.

What are the subdivisions and contents of the abdominopelvic cavity?

The abdominal cavity (superior part containing many digestive organs) and the pelvic cavity (inferior part containing the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum).

What are serous membranes (serosae)?

Thin, double-layered membranes that cover the walls of the ventral body cavity and the outer surfaces of many organs.

What is the difference between the parietal layer and the visceral layer of a serous membrane?

The parietal layer lines the wall of the body cavity, whereas the visceral layer directly covers the external surface of an organ.

What is the function of serous fluid in the serous cavity?

It acts as a lubricant to reduce friction as organs move and change shape.

What serous membranes cover and surround the lungs?

The pleura, consisting of the visceral pleura covering the lung surface and the parietal pleura lining the cavity wall.

What serous membranes cover and surround the heart?

The pericardium, consisting of the visceral pericardium covering the heart surface and the parietal pericardium lining the outer serous sac.

What serous membranes are associated with the abdominopelvic organs?

The peritoneum, consisting of the visceral peritoneum covering organs and the parietal peritoneum lining the body wall.

What does retroperitoneal mean, and what organ is given as an example?

It refers to organs located posterior to the peritoneal cavity rather than suspended within it, such as the kidney.

How are the four abdominopelvic quadrants formed?

By two imaginary lines—one vertical and one horizontal—intersecting at the umbilical area.

When evaluating body quadrants and regions, whose right and left are referenced?

The patient's/body's right and left, not the observer's.

Which organs are classically located in the Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)?

A large portion of the liver and the gallbladder.

Which organs are located in the Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)?

The stomach and the spleen.

Which structures are located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)?

The cecum and the appendix.

Which structures are located in the Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)?

Portions of the descending and sigmoid colon.

What regions make up the upper row of the nine abdominopelvic regions?

Right hypochondriac, epigastric, and left hypochondriac regions.

What regions make up the middle row of the nine abdominopelvic regions?

Right lateral (lumbar), umbilical, and left lateral (lumbar) regions.

What regions make up the lower row of the nine abdominopelvic regions?

Right inguinal (iliac), pubic (hypogastric), and left inguinal (iliac) regions.

What are the three regions of the center column from superior to inferior?

Epigastric region, umbilical region, and hypogastric (pubic) region.

What do the terms hypochondriac, epigastric, and hypogastric mean?

Hypochondriac means beneath the costal cartilages/ribs; epigastric means above the stomach; hypogastric means below the stomach.

In which abdominopelvic region is the spleen located?

The left hypochondriac region.

In which abdominopelvic region is the ascending colon primarily located?

The right lateral (lumbar) region.

In which abdominopelvic region is the urinary bladder primarily located?

The hypogastric (pubic) region.