Anatomy Lecture: Orientation, Tissues & Skeletal System

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key anatomical terms, structures, tissues, movements, and joints from Chapters 1–2 lecture notes.

Anatomical position

Standard reference stance—standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward.

Median plane

Imaginary vertical plane dividing the body into equal right and left halves.

Frontal (coronal) plane

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

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Plane dividing the body into superior (toward head) and inferior (toward feet) sections.

Deep

Located farther from the body surface.

Superficial

Located closer to the body surface.

Anterior

Situated toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Situated toward the back of the body.

Medial

Closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Farther from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Nearer to a reference point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Farther from a reference point of attachment or origin.

Protraction

Anterior displacement of a body part without angular change.

Retraction

Posterior displacement of a body part without angular change.

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot medially (ankle inward).

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot laterally (ankle outward).

Plantarflexion

Pointing the toes; downward movement at the ankle.

Dorsiflexion

Lifting the foot upward at the ankle.

Supination

Rotating the forearm so the palm faces anteriorly or upward.

Pronation

Rotating the forearm so the palm faces posteriorly or downward.

Depression (movement)

Inferior movement of a body part.

Elevation (movement)

Superior lifting of a body part.

Extension

Movement increasing the angle of a joint.

Flexion

Movement decreasing the angle of a joint.

Medial rotation

Turning a limb inward toward the midline.

Lateral rotation

Turning a limb outward, away from the midline.

Adduction

Movement toward the body’s midline.

Abduction

Movement away from the body’s midline.

Golgi apparatus

Membranous organelle that modifies, packages, and ships proteins and lipids.

Peroxisome

Organelle containing enzymes that degrade hydrogen peroxide and fatty acids.

Plasma membrane

Protective lipid bilayer providing secretion, uptake, sensitivity, adhesion, and support.

Cytoplasm

Aqueous cell matrix outside the nucleus containing ions, molecules, and organelles.

Mitochondrion

Organelle that produces ATP—the cell’s energy currency.

Lysosome

Organelle filled with digestive enzymes for intracellular breakdown.

Endoplasmic reticulum

Membranous network for protein (rough ER) and lipid/steroid (smooth ER) synthesis.

Ribosome

RNA-protein complex that synthesizes proteins under mRNA direction.

Centriole

Cylindrical organelle that organizes chromosomes during cell division.

Nucleolus

Nuclear region where rRNA and ribosomal subunits are assembled.

Cell nucleus

Organelle containing chromosomes, enzymes, and RNA; governs cellular activities.

Microfilament

Actin filament providing cellular strength and support.

Microtubule

Cytoskeletal component aiding structure and intracellular transport.

Epithelial tissue

Tissue that covers surfaces, lines cavities, protects, secretes, and absorbs.

Simple epithelium

Epithelium one cell layer thick.

Stratified epithelium

Epithelium two or more cell layers thick.

Squamous cells

Thin flattened epithelial cells wider than tall.

Cuboidal cells

Cube-shaped epithelial cells with equal width, depth, and height.

Columnar cells

Tall cylindrical epithelial cells higher than wide.

Pseudostratified epithelium

Single cell layer appearing multilayered; often ciliated in airways.

Transitional epithelium

Stretchable epithelium lining the urinary tract.

Connective tissue

Tissue that supports, connects, stores energy, and transports substances.

Collagen fibers

Strong, flexible fibers providing tensile strength to connective tissue.

Elastic fibers

Stretchable fibers allowing tissues to return to shape.

Reticular fibers

Thin collagen fibers forming supportive networks.

Loose connective tissue

Connective tissue with loosely arranged fibers, abundant ground substance.

Dense connective tissue

Connective tissue with densely packed collagen fibers for strength.

Cartilage

Specialized connective tissue providing flexible support.

Bone (connective)

Rigid connective tissue forming the skeleton.

Adipose tissue

Connective tissue specialized for triglyceride storage.

Blood

Fluid connective tissue transporting gases, nutrients, and waste.

Lymph

Clear fluid connective tissue involved in immune and drainage functions.

Neutrophil

Phagocytic white blood cell responding rapidly to infection or injury.

Eosinophil

WBC combating allergens and parasites; phagocytic.

Myofibroblast

Contractile cell sharing features of fibroblasts and smooth muscle.

Fibroblast

Connective-tissue cell that synthesizes fibers and extracellular matrix.

Adipocyte

Fat cell storing and releasing triglycerides; secretes hormones.

Plasma cell

B-lymphocyte–derived cell producing immunoglobulins (antibodies).

Macrophage

Phagocytic cell derived from monocytes; key in immunity and cleanup.

Lymphocyte

Immune system cell (T, B, NK) mediating adaptive responses.

Mast cell

Connective-tissue cell releasing vasoactive and chemotactic mediators early in immune responses.

Axial skeleton

80 bones of skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.

Appendicular skeleton

134 bones of limbs and their girdles.

Long bone

Elongated bone (e.g., humerus) with shaft and two ends.

Short bone

Small, cube-like bone (e.g., carpal).

Flat bone

Thin, flattened bone (e.g., parietal).

Irregular bone

Bone with complex shape (e.g., vertebra).

Sesamoid bone

Bone embedded in tendon (e.g., patella).

Suture joint

Fibrous joint between skull bones allowing minimal movement.

Interosseous membrane

Fibrous joint sheet permitting limited movement between parallel bones (e.g., radius & ulna).

Epiphyseal plate

Cartilaginous growth plate; immovable joint during development.

Intervertebral disc

Fibrocartilaginous pad between vertebral bodies permitting some movement.

Synovial joint

Most common movable joint enclosed by capsule with synovial fluid.

Skeletal muscle

Striated muscle under voluntary control moving skeleton.

Fascicle

Bundle of skeletal muscle fibers surrounded by perimysium.

Myofibril

Longitudinal contractile unit within muscle fiber.

Myofilament

Actin or myosin filament that slides during contraction.

Fusiform muscle

Muscle thick in center, tapered at ends (e.g., biceps).

Quadrate muscle

Four-sided muscle (e.g., pronator quadratus).

Circular muscle

Sphincter muscle encircling an opening (e.g., orbicularis oris).

Pennate muscle

Feather-like muscle with oblique fibers (e.g., rectus femoris).

Flat muscle

Muscle with parallel fibers and broad attachment (e.g., oblique).

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord—the control centers.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Somatic, autonomic, and enteric nerves outside CNS.

Cortex

Outer brain layer responsible for high-level sensory and motor processing.

Frontal lobe

Brain lobe for motor control, speech, personality, reasoning.

Parietal lobe

Brain lobe processing somatic sensory information.

Temporal lobe

Brain lobe for language, hearing, and memory.

Occipital lobe

Brain lobe for visual processing.

Diencephalon

Brain region containing thalamus and hypothalamus.

Thalamus

Relay and processing center for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Center for emotions, autonomic control, and hormone production.