Fall 2025 Introduction to Anatomy: Planes, Regions, Cavities, and Serous Membranes (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering Planes of Reference, Directional Terms, Body Regions, Body Cavities, and Serous Membranes from the lecture notes.

Anatomic position

Upright posture with feet parallel, eyes forward, and palms facing forward.

Sagittal plane

Imaginary plane dividing the body into left and right portions.

Midsagittal plane

Sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves along the midline.

Coronal (frontal) plane

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

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Imaginary plane dividing the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Anterior

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Toward the back of the body.

Superior

Above or toward the head (cranial).

Inferior

Below or toward the feet (caudal).

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or to a specified reference point.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or from a reference point.

Superficial

Near the surface of the body.

Deep

Away from the body surface; internal.

Cephalic region

Head region of the body.

Orbital

Region around the eye sockets.

Nasal

Region associated with the nose.

Oral

Region associated with the mouth.

Mental

Chin region.

Frontal

Forehead region.

Occipital

Back of the head region.

Cervical region

Neck region.

Thoracic region

Chest region.

Pectoral region

Region around the chest, near the pectoral muscles.

Mammary region

Breast region.

Sternal region

Area over the sternum (breastbone).

Axillary region

Area around the armpit.

Abdominal region

Region between the diaphragm and pelvic brim.

Pelvic region

Region inferior to the abdominal region, within the pelvic bones.

Deltoid region

Shoulder region.

Brachial region

Upper arm region.

Antecubital (cubital) region

Front of the elbow area.

Antebrachial

Forearm region.

Carpal

Wrist region.

Palmar

Palm region of the hand.

Dorsum

Dorsal (back) surface; typically the back of the hand or the top of the foot.

Femoral region

Thigh region.

Patellar region

Knee cap area.

Popliteal region

Back of the knee area.

Crural region

Leg region (shin area).

Plantar

Sole of the foot.

Cranial cavity (endocranium)

Space inside the skull that houses the brain.

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity that houses lungs and mediastinal structures.

Pleural cavities

Two cavities around the lungs.

Mediastinum

Central compartment of the thoracic cavity between the pleural cavities.

Pericardial cavity

Cavity within the mediastinum that encloses the heart.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Cavity combining the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal cavity

Space within the abdomen containing digestive organs.

Pelvic cavity

Space within the pelvis containing organs of reproduction and excretion.

Serous membrane

Membranes that line closed body cavities and cover organs, secreting serous fluid to reduce friction.

Parietal layer

Membrane layer that lines the cavity walls.

Visceral layer

Membrane layer that covers the organs.

Serous cavity

Potential space between parietal and visceral serous membranes.

Serous fluid

Lubricating fluid secreted by serous membranes to reduce friction.