Anatomy and Physiology: Body Regions, Planes, and Cavities

These vocabulary flashcards cover directional terms, body regions, subdivisions, abdominal quadrants and regions, anatomical planes and sections, body cavities, and serous membranes as detailed in the lecture slides.

Superior

A structure above another.

Inferior

A structure below another.

Cephalic

Closer to the head than another structure (usually synonymous with superior).

Caudal

Closer to the tail than another structure (usually synonymous with inferior).

Anterior

The front of the body.

Posterior

The back of the body.

Ventral

Toward the belly (synonymous with anterior).

Dorsal

Toward the back (synonymous with posterior).

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment to the body than another structure.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Superficial

Toward or on the surface.

Deep

Away from the surface, internal.

Central Region

The region of the body that includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Thorax

A subdivision of the trunk that contains the heart and lungs.

Abdomen

A subdivision of the trunk that contains the liver, stomach, and intestines.

Pelvis

A subdivision of the trunk that contains the bladder and reproductive organs.

Anatomical names for the Head

Frontal (forehead), Orbital (eye), Nasal (nose), Oral (mouth), Otic (ear), Buccal (cheek), and Mental (chin).

Anatomical names for the Upper Limb

Axillary (armpit), Brachial (arm), Antecubital (front of elbow), Antebrachial (forearm), Carpal (wrist), Palmar (palm), and Digital (fingers).

Anatomical names for the Lower Limb

Coxal (hip), Femoral (thigh), Patellar (kneecap), Crural (leg), Talus (ankle), Dorsum (top of foot), and Digital (toes).

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Abdominal quadrant containing parts of the liver, gallbladder, duodenum, and right kidney.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Abdominal quadrant containing parts of the stomach, spleen, pancreas, and left kidney.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Abdominal quadrant containing parts of the cecum, appendix, small intestine, and right ovary (in females).

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Abdominal quadrant containing parts of the descending colon, sigmoid colon, and left ovary (in females).

Epigastric Region

The central superior abdominal region containing the stomach, part of the liver, pancreas, and first part of the duodenum.

Umbilical Region

The central abdominal region containing the small intestine, transverse colon, and part of the stomach.

Hypogastric (Pubic) Region

The central inferior abdominal region containing the urinary bladder, small intestine, and part of the sigmoid colon.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into right and left halves.

Median (Midsagittal) Plane

A special sagittal plane that runs exactly through the midline, creating equal right and left halves.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts, running parallel to the ground.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

Longitudinal Section

A cut along the length of an organ.

Transverse (Cross) Section

A cut perpendicular to the length of an organ.

Oblique Section

A cut at an angle other than $90^\circ$ to the length of an organ.

Cranial Cavity

A dorsal body cavity that contains the brain.

Vertebral Canal

A dorsal body cavity that contains the spinal cord.

Meninges

Protective layers of the vertebral canal consisting of the Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, and Pia mater.

Mediastinum

Part of the thoracic cavity containing the heart, thymus, trachea, and esophagus.

Serous Membranes

Double-layered membranes that reduce friction; includes the Parietal (lining walls) and Visceral (covering organs) layers.

Pericardium

The serous membrane associated with the heart; includes the Parietal Pericardium and Visceral Pericardium.

Pleura

The serous membrane associated with the lungs; includes the Parietal Pleura and Visceral Pleura.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane associated with the abdominopelvic cavity; includes the Parietal Peritoneum and Visceral Peritoneum.

Mesenteries

Double folds of visceral peritoneum that anchor organs and provide pathways for blood vessels and nerves.

Retroperitoneal Organs

Organs located behind the peritoneum, such as the kidneys, pancreas, and adrenal glands.