Human Anatomy and Physiology Chapter 1

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

Ventral (anterior)

toward or at the front of the body; in front of

Dorsal (posterior)

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

toward or at the body surface

Deep (internal)

away from the body surface; more internal

Anatomical Position

erect, feet forward, arms at side with palms facing forward, head facing forward, internationally know

Directional Terms

allow us to explain where one body structure is in relation to another

Axial

fundamental division of our body. Makes up the main axis of our body, includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular

fundamental division of our body. relating to the limbs and their attachments to the axis.

Regional Terms

used to designate specific areas within major body divisions

Abdominal

pertaining to the anterior body trunk region inferior to the ribs

Acromial

pertaining to the point of the shoulder

Antebrachial

pertaining to the forearm

Antecubital

pertaining to the anterior surface of the elbow

Axillary

pertaining to the armpit

Brachial

pertaining to the arm

Buccal

pertaining to the cheek

Carpal

Pertaining to the wrist

Cephalic

pertaining to the head

Cervical

pertaining to the neck region

Coxal

pertaining to the hip

Crural

pertaining to the leg

Digital

pertaining to the fingers or toes

Femoral

pertaining to the thigh

Fibular (peroneal)

pertaining to the side of the leg

Frontal

pertaining to the forehead

Hallux

pertaining to the great toe

Inguinal

pertaining to the groin

Mammary

pertaining to the breast

Manus

pertaining to the hand

Mental

pertaining to the chin

Nasal

pertaining to the nose

Oral

pertaining to the mouth

Orbital

pertaining to the eye socket (orbit)

Palmar

pertaining to the palm of the hand

Patellar

pertaining to the anterior knee (kneecap) region

Pedal

pertaining to the foot

Pelvic

pertaining to the pelvis region

Pollex

pertaining to the thumb

Pubic

pertaining to the genital region

Sternal

pertaining to the region of the breastbone

Tarsal

pertaining to the ankle

Thoracic

pertaining to the chest

Umbilical

pertaining to the navel

Acromial

pertaining to the point of the shoulder

Calcaneal

pertaining to the heel of the foot

Dorsum

pertaining to the back

Gluteal

pertaining to the buttocks or rump

Lumbar

pertaining to the area of the back between the ribs and hips; the loin

Occipital

Back of the head

Otic

pertaining to the ear

Perineal

pertaining to the region between the anus and external genitalia

Plantar

pertaining to the sole of the foot

Popliteal

pertaining to the back of the knee

Sacral

pertaining to the region between the hips (overlying the sacrum)

Scapular

pertaining to the scapula or shoulder blade area

Sural

pertaining to the calf or posterior surface of the leg

Vertebral

pertaining to the area of the spinal column

Anterior/Ventral Body

Posterior/Dorsal Body

Sagittal

a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts

Median Plane (midsagittal plane)

sagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline

Parasagittal Planes

all other sagittal planes offset from the midline

Frontal Planes (Coronal Plane)

like sagittal plane lie vertically, divide body into anterior and posterior parts

Transverse/Horizontal Plane

runs horizontally from right to left, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts. (Transverse is perpendicular to long axis of an organ, horizontal is from front to back)

Oblique Sections

cuts made diagonally between the horizontal and the vertical planes

Dorsal Body Cavity

protects the fragile nervous system organs, has 2 subdivisions

Cranial Cavity

in the skull, encases the brain

Vertebral Cavity (Spinal Cavity)

runs within the bony vertebral column, encloses the delicate spinal cord

Ventral Body Cavity

the more anterior and larger of the closed body cavities, has 2 major subdivisions, houses internal organs called Viscera

Thoracic Cavity

surrounded by the ribs and muscles of the chest

Pleural Cavities

lateral subdivision of Thoracic Cavity, enveloping a lung, and the Medial Mediastinum

Medial Mediastinum

contains the pericardial cavity

Pericardial Cavity

encloses the heart and also surrounds the the remaining thoracic organs (esophagus, trachea, and others)

Abdominopelvic Cavity

seperated from thoracic cavity by the diaphram, a dome shaped muscle important in breathing. Has abdominal and pelvic cavities

Abdominal Cavity

Contains stomach, intestines, spleen, and liver, and other organs

Pelvic Cavity

Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

Serosa (Serous Membrane)

the walls of the ventral body cavity and the outer surfaces of the organs it contains are covered by this thin double layered membrane

Parietal Serosa

lines internal body walls

Visceral Serosa

covers the internal organs

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Divisions used primarily by medical personnel

Abdominopelvic Regions

Nine divisions used primarily by anatomists

Umbilical region

The centermost region, which includes the umbilicus

Epigastric Region

LOcater superior to the umbilical region

Right and Left Iliac or Inguinal Regions

located lateral to hypogastric regions, superior part of the hip bone

Right and Left Lumbar Regions

lie lateral to the umbilical region

Right and Left Hypochondriac Regions

Flank the epigastric region laterally

Oral and Digestive Cavities

aka mouth, teeth and tongue, this cavity is part of and continuous with the cavity of the digestive organs which opens to the exterior at the anus.

Nasal Cavity

located within and posterior to the nose, part of the respiratory system passageways

Orbital Cavities

in the skull house the eyes and present them in an anterior position

Middle Ear Cavities

carved into the skull lie just medial to the cardrums. contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to the hearing receptors in the inner ears.

Synovial Cavities

Are joint cavities, enclosed within the fibrous capsules that surround freely movable joints of the body i.e. elbow and knee joints.

Secreate a lubricating fl. tht reduces friction as the bones move acrossone another.

What is anatomy?

the study of structure of body parts and their relationship to one another

What is physiology?

the study of function of the body - how the body parts work and carry out their life sustaining activities