Anatomy Terminology, Body Cavities, and Organ Systems Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terminology, body regions, body cavities, and organ systems based on lecture notes.

Cranial Cavity

Formed by cranium; houses brain.

Vertebral Canal

Formed by vertebral column; contains spinal cord.

Thoracic Cavity

Chest cavity; bordered anteriorly and laterally by chest wall and inferiorly by diaphragm.

Mediastinum

Contains the pericardial cavity, thymus, trachea, esophagus, and major blood vessels.

Pericardial Cavity

Contains the heart.

Pleural Cavity

Contains the lungs.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Composed of two parts: abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal Cavity

Bordered superiorly by the diaphragm and inferiorly by a horizontal plane between the superior ridges of the hip bones.

Pelvic Cavity

Region located between the hip bones and interior to a horizontal plane between the superior ridges of the hip bones.

Integumentary System

Provides protection, regulates body temperature, site of cutaneous receptors, synthesizes vitamin D, prevents water loss.

Skeletal System

Provides support and protection, site of hemopoiesis (blood cell production), stores calcium and phosphorus, provides sites for muscle attachments.

Muscular System

Produces body movement, generates heat when muscles contract.

Nervous System

A regulatory system that controls body movement, responds to sensory stimuli, and helps control all other systems of the body. Also responsible for consciousness, intelligence, memory.

Endocrine System

Consists of glands and cell clusters that secrete hormones, some of which regulate body and cellular growth, chemical levels in the body, and reproductive functions.

Cardiovascular System

Consists of the heart (a pump), blood, and blood vessels; the heart moves blood through blood vessels in order to distribute hormones, nutrients, and gases, and pick up waste products.

Lymphatic System

Transports and filters lymph (interstitial fluid transported through lymph vessels) and initiates an immune response when necessary.

Respiratory System

Responsible for exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between blood and the air in the lungs.

Digestive System

Mechanically and chemically digests food materials, absorbs nutrients, and expels waste products.

Urinary System

Filters the blood and removes waste products from the blood, concentrates waste products in the form of urine, and expels urine from the body.

Female Reproductive System

Produces female sex cells (oocytes) and female hormones (e.g., estrogen and progesterone), receives sperm from male, site of fertilization of oocyte, site of growth and development of embryo and fetus.

Male Reproductive System

Produces male sex cells (sperm) and male hormones (e.g., testosterone), transfers sperm to the female.

Anterior

In front of; toward the front surface.

Posterior

In back of; toward the back surface.

Dorsal

At the back side of the human body.

Ventral

At the belly side of the human body.

Superior

Closer to the head.

Inferior

Closer to the feet.

Caudal

At the rear or tail end.

Cranial (Directional Term)

At the head end.

Rostral

Toward the nose.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Deep

On the inside, underneath another structure.

Superficial

On the outside.

Proximal

Closest to point of attachment to trunk.

Distal

Furthest from point of attachment to trunk.

Antebrachial

Forearm (the portion of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist).

Antecubital

Region anterior to the elbow; also known as the cubital region.

Auricular

Ear (visible surface structures of the ear and the ear's internal organs).

Axillary

Armpit.

Brachial

Arm (the portion of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow).

Buccal

Cheek.

Calcaneal

Heel of the foot.

Carpal

Wrist.

Cephalic

Head.

Cervical

Neck.

Coxal

Hip.

Crural

Leg (the portion of the lower limb between the knee and the ankle).

Deltoid

Shoulder.

Femoral

Thigh.

Fibular

Lateral aspect of the leg.

Gluteal

Buttock.

Hallux

Great toe.

Inguinal

Groin (sometimes used to indicate just the crease in the junction of the thigh with the trunk).

Lumbar

Relating to the loins, or the part of the back and sides between the ribs and pelvis.

Manus

Hand.

Mental

Chin.

Occipital

Posterior aspect of the head.

Olecranal

Posterior of the elbow.

Orbital

Eye.

Palmar

Palm of the hand.

Patellar

Kneecap.

Perineal

Diamond-shaped region between the thighs that contains the anus and selected external reproductive organs.

Pes

Foot.

Plantar

Sole of the foot.

Pollex

Thumb.

Popliteal

Area posterior to the knee.

Pubic

Anterior region of the pelvis.

Radial

Lateral aspect of the forearm.

Sacral

Posterior region between the hip bones.

Scapular

Shoulder blade.

Sternal

Anterior middle region of the thorax.

Sural

Calf (posterior part of the leg).

Tarsal

Root of the foot.

Tibial

Medial aspect of the leg.

Ulnar

Medial aspect of the forearm.

Umbilical

Navel.

Vertebral

Spinal column.