M1

Anatomy

refers to the internal and external

structures of the body and their physical

relationships (what things are and where they are

Physiology

study of the functions of

those structures.

Gross (Macroscopic) Anatomy

study of structures visible to the naked eye

Surface Anatomy

External body

feature

Regional Anatomy

All structures in a

specific body area (e.g., the head).

Systemic Anatomy

Structure of specific organ

systems.

Microscopic Anatomy

Structures requiring a

microscope.

Cytology

The study of individual cells.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Developmental Anatomy

Structural changes

across a lifespan, including embryology (prenatal

development).

Specialized Anatomy

Focuses on medical

applications, such as pathological anatomy

(diseased tissues) and radiographic anatomy

(internal structures viewed via imaging).

Cell Physiology

Processes occurring within

and between cells.

System Physiology

functions of specific

organ systems (e.g., cardiovascular or respiratory

physiology).

Pathological Physiology

functional

changes associated with disease or injury.

Special Physiology

The study of specific

organs, such as renal or cardiac physiology

Anatomical Position

person standing erect with face and palms

forward

Fundamental Position

Used to initiate motion

Fundamental position

When initiating a motion, all motions come from

midline

Supine

lying on back, facing upward

Prone

lying on front, facing downward

Superior

above

Inferior

below

Anterior/ventral

front

Posterior/dorsal

back

Medial

close to midline

lateral

away from midline

Proximal

close to point of attachment

Distal

far point of attachment

Superficial

structure close to the surface

Deep

structure toward the inferior of the body

Sagittal plane

separates the body into right and left parts

Median plane

a sagittal plane along the midline that divides the body into equal left and right halves

Transverse plane

a horizontal plane that separates the body into superior and inferior parts

Frontal plane

a vertical plane that separates the body into anterior and posterior parts

Sagittal plane

Longitudinal plane

Medial plane

Mid-sagittal plane

Transverse plane

Horizontal/axial plane

Frontal plane

Coronal plane

Dorsal body cavity

encloses the organs of the nervous system

Cranial cavity

contains the brain

Vertebral cavity

contains the spinal cord

Ventral body cavity

contains the majority of internal organs (viscera)

Thoracic cavity

space within chest wall and diaphragm

Thoracic cavity

contains heart, lungs, thymus gland, esophagus, trachea

Mediastinum

space between lungs, contains heart, thymus gland, esophagus, trachea

Abdominal cavity

space between diaphragm and pelvis

Abdominal cavity

contains stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney

Pelvic cavity

space within pelvis

Pelvic cavity

contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, part of large intestine