CBIO2200L: Practical Terms

atom

the basic unit of a chemical element

molecule

two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds

organelle

a tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell

cell

the basic unit of structure and function in living things

tissue

made up of many similar cells; performs a function

organ

made up of 2 or more tissues that perform a certain function

organ system

group of organs that work together to perform a specific function

organism

the most complex form; contain systems that allow the organism to survive and function

anatomical position

stand erect with arms at side, palm facing forward, feet slightly apart, toes forward

gross anatomy

the study of macroscopic structures of the body

microscopic anatomy

study of bodily structures that require a microscope to be seen

ex. cytology, histology

cytology

study of cells

histology

study of tissue

regional anatomy

study of all of the relationships between the structures of a certain area in the body

ex. muscles, nerves, and blood vessels

systemic anatomy

study of the structures that serve a specific purpose (a discrete body system)

ex. all the skeletal muscles in the body

anatomical variation examples

Kidneys, parathyroid gland, vertebral column

organ systems

integumentary (skin, hair, nails), skeletal, muscular, nervous

prone

body lying down, face down

supine

body lying down, face up

frons

forehead region

oculus

eye region

cranium

skull region

bucca

cheek region

facles

face region

auris

ear region

nasus

nose region

cervicis

neck region

oris

mouth region

mentis

chin region

thorcis/thorax

chest region

axilla

armpit region

mamma

breast region

brachium

arm region

antecubitis

front elbow region

antebrachium

forearm region

umbilicus

navel region

carpus

wrist region

abdomen

abdominal region

coxal

hip region

pollex

thumb region

palma

palm region

digits (phalanges)

finger/toe region

patella

front of knee region (kneecap)

crus

leg region (lower leg, anterior view, between knee and ankle)

tarsus

ankle region

hallux

big toe region

pres

foot region

femur

thigh region

pubis

pubic region

inguen/groin

groin region

pelvis

pelvic region

cephalon

head region

acromial

shoulder region

dorsum

back region

olecranon

back of elbow region

lumbus

loin region (bottom of back, right above sacrum and gluteus)

sacrum

middle, lower back region

manus

hand region (posterior view)

gluteus

buttock region

popliteus

back of knee region

sura

calf region (posterior view)

calcaneus

heel of foot region

planta

sole of foot region

anterior/ventral

front

posterior/dorsal

back

superior/cranial

higher

inferior/caucal

lower

lateral

closer to the side

medial

closer to the middle

proximal

a position in a limb that is closer to the point of attachment (trunk)

distal

a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment (the trunk)

superficial

shallow (closer to the surface)

deep

farther from the surface of the body

contralateral

structures found on different sides of the body (right vs left)

ipsilateral

structures on the same side of the body (right and right; left and left)

sagittal plane

divides the body/organ into left and right segments

midsagittal

divides right down the middle (left and right)

parasagittal

divides the half into halves again; adjacent/parallel to the midsagittal region

frontal (coronal) plane

divides the body/organ into a front and back portion (anterior and posterior portion)

transverse plane

divides the body/organ into a top and bottom half

oblique plane

diagonal cut (uneven distribution; ex. right eye visible, left eye is not)

dorsal body cavity

contains cranial and spinal cavities

ventral body cavity

contains thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

cranial cavity

brain (protection: bones, cerebrospinal fluid)

spinal cavity

spinal cord

thoracic cavity

protected by ribcage; contains pericardial cavity (heart), pleural cavities (lungs); floor: diaphragm

abdominopelvic cavity

contains the abdominal cavity (digestive organs) and the pelvic cavity (reproductive organs)

-largest cavity in the body

-no membrane physically divides abdomen and pelvis

cytosol

the gel-like fluid between the nucleus and the plasma membrane that cell organelles are suspended in

cytoplasm

the space inside the cell that includes the cytosol, organelles, and the sytoskeleton

cytoskeleton

fibrous proteins (including microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules) that maintain the structure of ht ecell

-important for cell motility, reproduction, and transportation of things across the cell membrane

nucleus

contains cellular DNA; “control center” of the cell (directs cellular functions)

mitochondria

powerhouse of the cell; produces ATP by converting energy storage into usable energy (ATP) to power cellular function

ribosomes

protein synthesis; found free in cytosol, found on rough ER, made in nucleolus

rough endoplasmic reticulum

surrounds the nucleus; has ribosomes so it can function to synthesize and modify protein

smooth endoplasmic reticulum

synthesizes lipids

golgi apparatus

packages things and sends it out to different parts of the cell; sorts, modifies, and SHIIPS products of the ER

lysosome

breaks down waste sent to it from the golgi apparatus; uses digestive enzymes to break down materials

glycocalyx

fuzzy coating on outside of cell (around plasma membrane) that helps the cell attach to other things and is another protective layer

peroxisome

organelle that contains enzymes for metabolizing lipids; chemically detoxifies

cell cycle

interphase, mitosis, cytokinesis