Anatomy - Terminology, Arthrology, and Myology Flashcards

Vocabulary practice cards sourced from lecture notes on anatomical terminology, joint types (General Arthrology), muscle structure (General Myology), and regional anatomy of the spine and thorax.

Caput

Head

Collum

Neck

Anatomical position

Standing position with toes and palms (inside hand) in ventral position

Frontal plane / Coronal plane

Divides the body into a frontal and a dorsal part

Sagittal plane / median plane

Divides the body into a left and a right part, resulting in left-right symmetry

Transverse plane / horizontal plane

Divides the body into an upper and a lower part

Longitudinal axis

Formed where the frontal plane meets the sagittal plane, following a cranio-caudal direction

Sagittal axis

Formed where the sagittal plane meets the transverse plane, following an anterior-posterior direction

Transverse axis

Formed where the frontal plane meets the transverse plane, following a left-right direction

Cranial / Superior

Upwards toward the head

Caudal / Inferior

Downwards toward the feet

Proximal

Close to the trunk

Distal

Further away from the trunk

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Toward the side of the body

Superficial (external)

Close to the skin

Deep (internal)

Deep inside the body

Flexion / Extension

Movements occurring in the sagittal plane around a transverse axis

Abduction / Adduction

Movements occurring in the frontal plane around a sagittal axis

Internal / External rotation

Movements occurring in the transverse plane around a longitudinal axis

Circumduction

A multiaxial circling movement of the arms or legs

Supination

Movement where bones are parallel (e.g., 'eating soup')

Pronation

Movement where bones are crossed (e.g., 'thumb inwards')

Diarthroses

Freely movable joints

Amphiarthroses

Slightly movable joints

Synarthroses

Immovable joints

Synovial joint cavity

A fluid-containing space that separates bony ends covered in hyaline cartilage, permitting substantial freedom of movement

Capsula fibrosa

The outer fibrous joint capsule that provides protection and limits Range of Motion (ROM)

Capsula synovialis

The inner synovial membrane that produces fluid important for joint stability

Close-packed position

Position where ligaments are under maximal tension, the joint cavity has its smallest volume, and no movement is possible (e.g., stretched knee)

Loose-packed position

Position with maximal relaxation of the capsule and ligaments, where the joint cavity has its highest volume (e.g., knee $30^{\circ}$ flexed)

Spin

Movement where one bone rotates around its longitudinal axis while the contact area rotates but the center remains the same

Slide (translation / glide)

Movement where one bone end slips over another bone end

Roll

Angular movement characterized by a roll and a slide

Origin

Muscle attachment to bone close to the trunk that hardly moves

Insertion

Distal tendon attachment of a muscle that moves

Sarcomere

The structural unit of a muscle fiber from $Z-disc$ to $Z-disc$

Endomysium

Connective tissue that surrounds muscle fibers and separates them into fascicles

Perimysium

Connective tissue that surrounds bundles of muscle fibers to separate the fascicles

Epimysium

Dense connective tissue that surrounds a whole muscle and fuses with the tendon

Muscle shortening capacity

When a muscle contracts, it can shorten to about $\frac{2}{3}$ to $\frac{1}{2}$ of its resting belly length

Concentric contraction

Muscle contraction where strength is produced from active tension

Eccentric contraction

Muscle contraction where strength is produced from both active and passive tension

External intercostal muscles

Muscles with fibers running from superior posterior to inferior anterior, used for inspiration

Internal intercostal muscles

Muscles with fibers running from superior anterior to inferior posterior, used for expiration

Mediastinum

The space between the lungs in the thorax containing the heart, esophagus, trachea, and large vessels

Diaphragm

A dome-shaped muscle that flattens downwards during contraction to increase thoracic space for inhalation

Active insufficiency

Occurs when a biarticular muscle contracts and cannot produce a complete active movement in both joints simultaneously

Passive insufficiency

Occurs when a muscle cannot be stretched further, preventing additional movement in the joints it crosses

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, which has no spinous process and supports the skull

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra, characterized by a dens on top of its body

Vertebra prominens

The $C7$ vertebra, known for its large spinous process and acting as a transitional form between $C6$ and $T1$

Glenoid cavity

An unstable, small cavity in the shoulder joint where the head of the humerus rests, deepened by the labrum