Cross-Sectional Anatomy & Imaging Essentials

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical planes, directional terms, body cavities, cardiac anatomy, major vessels, cerebrovascular structures, abdominal vasculature, and central nervous system membranes & ventricles.

Sagittal Plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into right and left portions.

Coronal Plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Axial (Transverse) Plane

Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Oblique Plane

Plane that passes diagonally between the axes of two other planes.

Superior

Above; at a higher level.

Inferior

Below; at a lower level.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front or anterior surface of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back or posterior surface of the body.

Medial

Toward the midsagittal plane.

Lateral

Away from the midsagittal plane.

Proximal

Toward the reference point or source within the body.

Distal

Away from the reference point or source within the body.

Superficial

Near the body surface.

Deep

Farther into the body, away from the surface.

Cranial (Cephalic)

Toward the head.

Caudal

Toward the feet.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body.

Cranial Cavity

Body cavity that houses the brain.

Thoracic Cavity

Body cavity containing pleural cavities (lungs) and the pericardial cavity (heart).

Abdomino-pelvic Cavity

Body cavity composed of the abdominal cavity (digestive organs, kidneys, spleen, liver) and pelvic cavity (bladder, uterus, rectum).

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Abdominal region containing liver, gallbladder, and part of large intestine.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Abdominal region containing appendix, small intestine, fallopian tube, and ovary.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Abdominal region containing stomach, spleen, pancreas, and part of large intestine.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Abdominal region containing small & large intestine, fallopian tube, and ovary.

CT (Computed Tomography)

Imaging modality that produces cross-sectional X-ray images.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Imaging modality using magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images.

Heart

Hollow four-chambered muscle that sits at a 45° angle, two-thirds left of midline.

Base of Heart

Superior, posterior aspect of the heart near the manubrium-sternal angle.

Apex of Heart

Inferior tip formed by the left ventricle at the 5th intercostal space.

Sternocostal Surface

Anterior surface of the heart formed by right atrium & right ventricle.

Diaphragmatic Surface

Inferior surface of the heart formed by both ventricles.

Pulmonary Surface

Left surface of the heart formed mainly by the left ventricle.

Right Border of Heart

Contour formed primarily by the right atrium.

Pericardial Sac

Fibro-serous sac enclosing the heart.

Fibrous Pericardium

Tough outer layer attached to the central tendon of the diaphragm.

Epicardium

Thin outer layer of the heart wall.

Myocardium

Thick muscular middle layer of the heart wall.

Endocardium

Thin inner lining of the heart chambers.

Right Atrium

Superior right chamber receiving deoxygenated blood from SVC, IVC, & coronary sinus.

Left Atrium

Superior left chamber receiving oxygenated blood from four pulmonary veins.

Interatrial Septum

Wall separating right and left atria; location of fossa ovalis (closed foramen ovale).

Right Ventricle

Inferior right chamber that pumps deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary trunk.

Left Ventricle

Inferior left chamber that pumps oxygenated blood into the ascending aorta.

Interventricular Septum

Muscular wall dividing the two ventricles.

Tricuspid Valve

Valve between right atrium and right ventricle.

Bicuspid (Mitral) Valve

Valve between left atrium and left ventricle.

Right Ventricular Outflow Tract (RVOT)

Pathway from right ventricle through pulmonary semilunar valve to pulmonary trunk.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (LVOT)

Pathway from left ventricle to ascending aorta.

Pulmonary Semilunar Valve

Valve controlling flow from right ventricle into pulmonary trunk.

Superior Vena Cava (SVC)

Large vein formed by right & left brachiocephalic veins; returns blood from head, neck, thorax, and arms to right atrium.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC)

Large vein formed by common iliac veins; returns blood from below diaphragm to right atrium.

Pulmonary Trunk

Artery arising from RVOT that bifurcates into right & left pulmonary arteries.

Pulmonary Arteries

Vessels carrying deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs.

Pulmonary Veins

Four veins (R & L superior/inferior) returning oxygenated blood to left atrium.

Ascending Aorta

Initial portion of aorta arising from LVOT.

Aortic Arch

Curved segment of aorta arching superior & posterior over pulmonary trunk.

Descending Aorta

Portion of aorta that passes through thorax and diaphragm to become abdominal aorta.

Brachiocephalic (Innominate) Artery

First branch of aortic arch supplying right head, neck, and arm; gives rise to right common carotid and right subclavian.

Left Common Carotid Artery

Second branch of aortic arch supplying head & neck.

Left Subclavian Artery

Third branch of aortic arch supplying left upper limb.

Common Carotid Artery (CCA)

Neck artery with no branches that bifurcates into external and internal carotid arteries at thyroid cartilage.

Internal Carotid Artery (ICA)

Lateral branch of CCA, enters skull via carotid canal; major supplier to brain with no extracranial branches.

External Carotid Artery (ECA)

Medial branch of CCA supplying face & scalp; first branch is superior thyroid artery.

Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA)

Largest cerebral artery, branch of ICA supplying lateral cerebral surfaces & temporal lobe.

Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA)

Branch of ICA supplying anterior frontal lobe & medial parietal lobe.

Anterior Communicating Artery

Short vessel joining right & left anterior cerebral arteries.

Vertebral Arteries

Branches of subclavian arteries ascending through transverse foramina (C6-C1) to form basilar artery.

Basilar Artery

Single midline artery formed by merging vertebral arteries; divides into posterior cerebral arteries.

Posterior Cerebral Arteries (PCA)

Branches of basilar artery supplying posterior brain regions.

Circle of Willis

Arterial ring at brain base formed by ICAs, basilar artery branches, ACAs, PCAs, and communicating arteries.

Internal Jugular Vein (IJV)

Largest neck vein; joins subclavian vein to form brachiocephalic vein.

External Jugular Vein (EJV)

Smaller superficial neck vein providing collateral drainage.

Abdominal Aorta

Continuation of descending aorta beginning at diaphragm; lies slightly left of midline.

Celiac Trunk (Axis)

First major abdominal aortic branch (2–3 cm long) arising just below L1; divides into left gastric, common hepatic, and splenic arteries.

Left Gastric Artery

Superior branch of celiac trunk supplying stomach (often not seen on ultrasound).

Common Hepatic Artery

Branch of celiac trunk that gives rise to proper hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries.

Proper Hepatic Artery

Continuation of common hepatic artery dividing into right, middle, and left hepatic arteries for liver supply.

Gastroduodenal Artery

Branch of common hepatic artery supplying stomach & duodenum; courses through pancreatic head (ultrasound landmark).

Splenic Artery

Tortuous branch of celiac trunk running superior to pancreas; supplies spleen, pancreas, & stomach.

Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA)

Abdominal aortic branch just below celiac axis; supplies small bowel, cecum, and colon; landmark for pancreatic body.

Inferior Mesenteric Artery (IMA)

Small aortic branch near umbilicus supplying colon & rectum; often difficult to visualize.

Renal Arteries

Paired lateral branches of aorta below SMA traveling horizontally to kidneys; right passes posterior to IVC.

Common Iliac Arteries

Terminal branches of abdominal aorta at L4 supplying pelvis & lower limbs.

Portal Vein

Vein formed by SMV and splenic vein that carries nutrient-rich blood to liver.

Hepatic Veins

Three veins (right, middle, left) draining liver into IVC.

Renal Veins

Paired veins draining kidneys into IVC; left passes anterior to aorta & posterior to SMA.

Meninges

Three protective membranes surrounding brain & spinal cord: dura mater, arachnoid membrane, pia mater.

Dura Mater

Strong outer meningeal layer adhering to cranial periosteum; forms falx cerebri and falx cerebelli.

Epidural (Extradural) Space

Potential space between dura mater and cranium containing venous drainage.

Falx Cerebri

Dural fold separating right and left cerebral hemispheres.

Falx Cerebelli

Dural fold separating the two cerebellar hemispheres.

Arachnoid Membrane

Delicate, transparent middle meninge separated from dura by the subdural space.

Subdural Space

Potential space between dura mater and arachnoid membrane.

Pia Mater

Highly vascular inner meninge adhering closely to brain surface.

Subarachnoid Space

Space between arachnoid and pia filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Ventricular System

Series of cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavities within the brain.

Lateral Ventricles

Paired cavities within cerebral hemispheres; each has body and frontal, occipital, temporal horns.

Septum Pellucidum

Thin membrane separating the two lateral ventricles at midline.

Interventricular Foramen (Foramen of Monro)

Paired channels connecting each lateral ventricle to the third ventricle.