Anatomy: Unit 1 Body Parts

Anatomy

study of the structure or form of the body and its parts.

Gross Anatomy

studies the larger body structures, ones that can be seen, measured, weighed, and dissected.

Microscopic anatomy

study of the smallest structures in the body: those that can only be seen and analyzed through a microscope.

Developmental anatomy

study of human growth and development and how the structure and functions of the body change across the lifespan.

physiology

the study of the functions of the body and its parts

homeostasis

steady state; the balance that is created in the body even when things change.

Atoms

building blocks of matter

molecules

larger and more intricate building blocks of matter than atoms (like water, a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom)

macromolecules

molecules that bind with other atoms and molecules to create complexes

cells

smallest structural units in the human body that contain the basic characteristics of living things.

tissues

groups of similar cells that have developed to work together to perform a specific function.

Epithelial tissues

the skin and the lining of the digestive tract, made up of cells that line surfaces, role is to protect the body and its organs, secrete hormones, and absorb nutrients.

Connective tissue

cartilage and bone, are comprised of cells that form the body's structure.

Muscle tissue

attached to bones by tendons that have the unique ability to contract to pull the bones and help the body move.

Nervous tissue

found in the brain, connects the brain to all the parts of the body, is made up of cells called neurons that carry electrical messages all over the body.

anatomical position

when the body is standing up straight, the eyes are looking forward, arms are at the sides, and he palms and toes are directed forward.

Superior

toward the head, upper, or above.

Inferior

toward the feet, lower, or below.

caudal

word used in place of inferior

cranial

word used in place of superior

Anterior

front or in front

Posterior

back or in back of.

Medial

midline of the body

Lateral

toward the side of the body

Proximal

when a body part is closer to the midline or when a body part is closer to a point of attachment to the trunk of the body.

distal

when a body part is farther from the midline, or the point of attachment to the trunk

superficial

Something that is closer to the body's surface (skin)

deep

something that is farther away from the surface

frontal plane

divides the body into the anterior and posterior parts, or front and back.

sagittal plane

runs lengthwise from front to back and top to bottom; divides the body into left and right sides.

coronal plane

another word for frontal plane

transverse plane

crosswise plane that divides the body into lower and upper (superior and inferior) segments. Sometimes this plane is called a horizontal plane.

dorsal cavity

includes the cranial and spinal cavities and runs along the back of the body.

posterior cavity

another word for dorsal cavity

anterior cavity

another word for ventral cavity

vental cavity

this cavity covers the anterior area from your neck to your stomach and intestines

this cavity divides further into the thoracic

abdominal, and pelvic cavities.

quadrants

the abdomen is divided into four sections using two imaginary lines that intersect at the umbilicus (belly button) on the midsagittal plane and the transverse plane.

regions

the abdomen is divided into nine sections using three imaginary lines on the sagittal plane and two on the transverse plane.