Anatomy - Anatomical terms (Relative Position, Cavities, Main Systems)

Includes: Terms of relative position, Cavities, and main systems

Superior

Towards the head

Inferior

Away from the head

Anterior/Ventral

Towards the front

Posterior/Dorsal

Towards the back

Medial

Towards the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment on the body (Limbs)

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment on the body (Limbs)

Superficial

Towards the surface

Deep

Away from the surface

Anatomical Position

Position: Body standing upright, facing forward, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing forward

Anatomy

• Structures (morphology)

• Form

• Arrangement - Where things are and what they look like

Physiology

“Physics of biology”

• Functions - What they do and how they do it

• Form follows function

• Structure is always related to function

Axial

Head, Neck, Trunk, Vertebral Column

Appendicular

Upper and lower limbs + the pectoral and pelvic girdles they attach to.

Dorsal Cavity

Made up of the

Cranial Cavity - Houses Cranium

Vetebral Canal - Spinal Cavity, Houses Spine

Ventral Cavity

Thoracic Cavity, Abdominopelvic Cavity

Digestive system

Main Components: Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, anus

Main Functions: Food processing (Ingestion, digestion, absorption, elimination)

Circulatory/cardio-vascular system

Main Components: Heart, blood vessels, blood

Main Functions: Internal distribution of materials (movement of o2, co2, and nutrients)

Respiratory system

Main Components: Lungs, trachea, other breathing tubes

Main Functions: Gas exchange (uptake of oxygen; disposal of carbon dioxide)

Immune and lymphatic system

Main Components: Bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, lymph vessels, white blood cells

Main Functions: Body defense (fighting infections and cancer)

Excretory (Urinary) system

Main Components: Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra

Main Functions: Disposal of metabolic (nitrogen containing) wastes; regulation of osmotic (water) balance of blood

Endocrine system

Main Components: Pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, and other hormone-secreting glands

Main Functions: Coordination of body activities (such as digestion and metabolism)

Reproductive system

Main Components: Ovaries or testes, and associated organs

Main Functions: Reproduction (offspring)

Nervous system

Main Components: Brain, spinal cord, nerves, sensory organs

Main Functions: Coordination of body activities; detection of stimuli and formulation of responses to them

Integumentary system

Main Components: Skin and its derivatives (such as hair, claws, skin glands)

Main Functions: Protection against mechanical injury, infection, drying out; thermoregulation

Skeletal system

Main Components: Skeleton (bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage)

Main Functions: Body support, protection of internal organs, movement

Muscular system

Main Components: Skeletal Muscles

Main Functions: Locomotion and other movement

Homeostasis

The active process of keeping a stable internal environment for enzymes to function at their best.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

The effector eliminates or opposes the stimulus. This is an automatic response to correct a variation from the proper range.