The Human Body: An Orientation Part B Flashcards

Flashcards covering anatomical position, directional and regional terminology, body planes, and major body cavities based on the lecture material.

Anatomical Position

The standard body position where the body is erect, feet are slightly apart, palms face forward, and thumbs point away from the body.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward or at the back of the body; behind.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of.

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Axial

Relating to the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular

Relating to the appendages or limbs.

Cephalic

Regional term referring to the head.

Otic

Regional term referring to the ear.

Occipital

Regional term referring to the back of the head or base of the skull.

Acromial

Regional term referring to the point of the shoulder.

Vertebral

Regional term referring to the spinal column.

Scapular

Regional term referring to the shoulder blade.

Brachial

Regional term referring to the arm.

Olecranal

Regional term referring to the back of the elbow.

Lumbar

Regional term referring to the loin.

Sacral

Regional term referring to the area between the hips.

Gluteal

Regional term referring to the buttock.

Perineal

The region between the anus and external genitalia.

Femoral

Regional term referring to the thigh.

Popliteal

Regional term referring to the back of the knee.

Sural

Regional term referring to the calf.

Calcaneal

Regional term referring to the heel.

Plantar

Regional term referring to the sole of the foot.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts.

Midsagittal (medial) plane

A sagittal plane that lies exactly on the midline.

Frontal (coronal) plane

A plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

A plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts; also known as a cross section.

Oblique section

Cuts made diagonally across a structure.

Anatomical Variability

Observation that over $90\%$ of anatomical structures match textbook descriptions, though variations in nerves, vessels, or small muscles may occur.

Dorsal body cavity

Cavity that protects the nervous system; divided into the cranial and vertebral cavities.

Cranial cavity

Cavity within the skull that encases the brain.

Vertebral cavity

Cavity that runs within the vertebral column and encases the spinal cord.

Ventral body cavity

Cavity housing the internal organs (viscera); divided into thoracic and abdominopelvic subdivisions.

Thoracic cavity

The superior subdivision of the ventral cavity containing the pleural cavities, mediastinum, and pericardial cavity.

Pleural cavities

Subdivisions of the thoracic cavity, each housing a lung.

Mediastinum

Contains the pericardial cavity and surrounds the remaining thoracic organs.

Pericardial cavity

The cavity that encloses the heart.

Abdominopelvic cavity

The subdivision of the ventral cavity inferior to the diaphragm, containing the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal cavity

Segment of the abdominopelvic cavity containing the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and other organs.

Pelvic cavity

Segment of the abdominopelvic cavity containing the bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.

Parietal serosa

The membrane lining internal body walls of the ventral cavity.

Visceral serosa

The membrane covering the internal organs within the ventral cavity.

Serous fluid

Fluid that separates the parietal and visceral serosae.

Middle ear cavities

Cavities containing bones (ossicles) that transmit sound vibrations.

Synovial cavities

Cavities within joints.

Abdominopelvic Regions

The nine specific divisions including Umbilical, Epigastric, Hypogastric, Right/Left iliac, Right/Left lumbar, and Right/Left hypochondriac regions.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

The four divisions of the abdominopelvic area: Right upper, Left upper, Right lower, and Left lower.