Anatomical Terminology for Lab Exam - BIO 1314

anatomical position

stand erect with feet flat on the floor, feet forward, arms at side with palms facing forward, head facing forward

sagittal plane

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

midsagittal plane

divides the body into equal left and right halves

frontal (coronal) plane

extends vertically, but is perpendicular to the sagittal plane and divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions

Contents of the _________ and __________ cavities are most commonly shown as frontal sections

thoracic; abdominal

transverse (horizontal) plane

passes across the body or an organ perpendicular to its long axis; it divides the body or organ into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions

Directional Terms

Terms used to explain where one body structure is in relation to another

Ventral

Toward the belly or front

Dorsal

toward the back

Anterior

toward the ventral side

Posterior

toward the dorsal side

Cephalic

toward the head

Rostral

toward the forehead or nose

Caudal

toward the tail or inferior end

Superior

Higher on the body, nearer to the head

Inferior

Lower on the body, farther from the head

Medial

toward the median plane

Lateral

Away from the midline (median) of the body

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

Ipsilateral

on the same side of the body as another structure

Contralateral

on the opposite side of the body from another structure

superficial

closer to the surface of the body

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

dorsum

the back

upper surface of the foot and back of the hand

axial region

Head, neck, and trunk

Forms the main vertical axis of the body

Abdominopelvic quadrants

right upper quadrant (RUQ)

right lower quadrant (RLQ)

left upper quadrant (LUQ)

left lower quadrant (LLQ)

abdominopelvic regions

right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac, right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar, right iliac, hypogastric, left iliac

The abdomen is divided into nine regions defined by four lines that intersect like tic tac toe; each vertical line is called a _____________ line because it passes through the midpoint of the clavicle.

The superior horizontal line is called the __________ line because it connects the inferior borders of the lowest costal cartilages

midclavicular; subcostal

Intertubercular lines

the inferior horizontal line that passes from left to right between the tubercles (anterior superior spines) of the pelvis- two points of bone located about where the front pockets open on most pants

What are the three lateral regions of the abdominopelvic region grid?

hypochondriac, lumbar, and inguinal

What are the three medial regions from upper to lower on the abdominopelvic region grid?

epigastric, umbilical, and hypogastric (pubic)

dorsal cavity

includes the cranial and spinal cavities.

cranial cavity

contains the brain

vertebral cavity

contains the spinal cord

ventral cavity

thoracic and abdominopelvic cavity

located along the front of the body, contains the body organs that sustain homeostasis

thoracic cavity

contains heart and lungs

mediastinum cavity

a thick median wall dividing the thoracic cavity. This is the region between the lungs, extending from the base of the neck to the diaphragm

It is occupied by the heart, the major blood vessels connected to it, the esophagus, the trachea and bronchi, and a gland called the thymus

pleural cavity

a fluid filled space that surrounds the lungs. It is found in the thorax, separating the lungs from its surrounding structures such as the thoracic cage and intercostal spaces, the mediastinum and the diaphragm.

It is bounded by a double layered serous membrane called pleura.

pericardial cavity

an anatomical space located between the outside surface of the heart and the pericardium of the heart, which is a tough fibrous membrane that surrounds and protects the muscle of the heart. Usually this cavity is deflated and only contains a small amount of fluid.

diaphragm

Large, flat muscle at the bottom of the chest cavity that helps with breathing

What are the 10 regions and structures of the head and neck?

1. Cephalic

2. Frontal

3. Orbital

4. Otic

5. Nasal

6. Buccal

7. Oral

8. Mental

9. Occipital

10. Cervical

Cephalic

pertaining to the head; superior in position

Frontal

pertaining to the forehead

Orbital

eye area

Otic

pertaining to the ear, also called auricular

Nasal

pertaining to the nose

Buccal

pertaining to the cheek

Oral

pertaining to the mouth

Mental

pertaining to the chin

Occipital

base of skull

Cervical

pertaining to the neck

What are the 15 regions and structures of the Torso?

1. Thoracic

2. Sternal

3. Mammary

4. Vertebral

5. Dorsum

6. Scapular

7. Abdominal

8. Umbilical

9. Pelvic

10. Coxal

11. Inguinal

12. Pubic

13. Lumbar

14. Perineal

15. Sacral

thoracic region

chest area above the diaphragm

sternal region

the area in the middle of the chest over the sternum

mammary region

the portion of the chest that contains the breasts

vertebral region

overlies spinal column or vertebrae; on posterior side of trunk

dorsum region

The back

scapular region

shoulder blade region

abdominal region

one of nine equal areas of the abdomen that are named and used as reference points when discussing the body

umbilical region

The centermost region, which includes the umbilicus

pelvic region

area of the pelvis below the abdomen

coxal region

hip region

inguinal region

right and left lower regions near the groin

pubic region

genital region, pubis

lumbar region

to the right and left of the umbilical region, near the waist

perineal region

Area between anus and genitals

sacral region

the area where the sacrum is located; forms the tail end of the spinal column

What are the 12 regions/structures of the Arm/Wrist/Hand?

1. Acromial

2. Axillary

3. Brachial

4. Antecubital

5. Olecranal

6. Antebrachial

7. Carpal

8. Manus

9. Pollex

10. Palmar

11. Dorsum

12. Digital

Acromial region

the area over the lateral part of the shoulder that contains the acromion of the scapula

Axillary region

the area in and around the axilla (armpit)

Brachial region

arm (shoulder to elbow)

Antecubital Region

the anterior upper limb between the forearm and arm, over the elbow joint

Olecranal region

posterior elbow

Antebrachial region

forearm (elbow to wrist)

Carpal region

carpus (wrist)

Manus region

hand region

Pollex region

pertaining to the thumb

Palmar region

the anterior hand (the palm of the hand)

Dorsum region

back of hand

Digital region

fingers, toes

What are the 12 regions of the Leg/Ankle/Foot?

1. Gluteal

2. Femoral

3. Popliteal

4. Patellar

5. Peroneal

6. Pedal

7. Tarsal

8. Calcaneal

9. Hallux

10. Digital

11. Plantar

12. Dorsum

Gluteal region

buttocks; on posterior side of trunk

Femoral region

thigh region (hip to knee)

Popliteal region

the posterior side of the knee joint

Patellar region

front of knee

Peroneal region

lateral side of leg-knee to ankle

also called fibular

Pedal region

foot region

Tarsal region

(tarsus) ankle- the union of the crural region with the foot. Tarsal bones are considered part of the foot.

Calcaneal region

heel of foot

Hallux region

big toe

Plantar region

sole of the foot, actually on the inferior body surface

abdominal cavity

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

pelvic cavity

contains urinary bladder, portions of large intestine, and internal organs of reproduction

visceral pleura

the inner layer of pleura that surrounds each lung

pleura

double-layered membrane surrounding each lung

parietal pleura

outer layer of pleura lying closer to the ribs and chest wall

visceral peridcardium

covers the heart

parietal pericardium

outer layer of pericardium surrounding heart

Percardium

the membrane enclosing the heart, consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an inner double layer of serous membrane.