unit 1 anatomy — body orientation & planes

anatomy

study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts

physiology

study of how the body and its parts work for function

gross anatomy

study of large structures that are easily observable

microscopic anatomy

study of very small structures that can only be viewed with a microscope

chemical or molecular level

atoms combine to form molecules

cellular level

cells are made up of molecules

tissue level

tissues consist of similar types of cells

organ level

organs are made up of different types of tissues

organ system level

organ systems consist of different organs that work closely together

organismal level

organisms are made up of organ systems that work together

terminology

special terms used to prevent misunderstanding

position

anatomical term used to describe location

direction

anatomical term used to describe where a structure is located

region

anatomical area of the body

structure

a specific body part or anatomical component

anterior

front side of the body

ventral

front or anterior side of the body

posterior

back side of the body

dorsal

back or posterior side of the body

superior

toward the head or upper part of the body

inferior

away from the head or toward the lower part of the body

lateral

away from the midline of the body

medial

toward or nearer to the midline of the body

proximal

toward or nearest to the point of origin

distal

away from or farthest from the point of origin

cranial

toward the head

caudal

toward the lower end of the body

nasal

region of the nose

oral

region of the mouth

cervical

neck region

orbital

eye region

buccal

cheek region

acromial

shoulder region

sternal

breastbone region

thoracic

chest region

axillary

armpit region

brachial

upper arm region

antecubital

front of the elbow region

olecranal

back of the elbow region

abdominal

abdomen region

umbilical

navel region

pelvic

pelvis region

coxal

hip region

inguinal

groin region

carpal

wrist region

digital

finger or toe region

pubic

region over the pubic bone

femoral

thigh region

patellar

front of the knee region

popliteal

back of the knee region

crural

lower leg region

fibular

lateral side of the lower leg

sur​al

calf region

tarsal

ankle region

calcaneal

heel region

plantar

sole of the foot

gluteal

buttock region

scapular

shoulder blade region

vertebral

spinal column region

lumbar

lower back region

sacral

region over the sacrum

cephalic

head region

occipital

back of the head

deltoid

rounded shoulder region

midsagittal plane

vertical plane that divides the body exactly into equal left and right halves

parasagittal plane

vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions but not necessarily equal halves

sagittal plane

vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions

frontal plane

vertical plane that divides the body into front anterior and back posterior sections

coronal plane

another name for the frontal plane

transverse plane

horizontal plane that divides the body into upper superior and lower inferior sections

body planes

imaginary lines used to section the body for viewing structures in 2D slices

cranial cavity

cavity containing the brain

spinal cavity

cavity containing the spinal cord

thoracic cavity

cavity containing the heart and lungs

diaphragm

muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity

abdominal cavity

cavity containing many digestive organs

pelvic cavity

cavity containing organs in the pelvic region

dorsal body cavity

body cavity that includes the cranial and spinal cavities

ventral body cavity

body cavity that includes the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

abdominopelvic cavity

cavity consisting of the abdominal and pelvic cavities

left and right sections

division created by a sagittal plane

front and back sections

division created by a frontal or coronal plane

upper and lower sections

division created by a transverse plane

top-down view

view commonly produced by a transverse plane

bilateral symmetry

symmetry involving matching structures on both sides of the body

medical imaging

use of imaging planes such as sagittal frontal and transverse views to examine body structures

radiologist

medical professional who interprets diagnostic images

coronal MRI

imaging view that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections and can show relationships between organs

transverse MRI

imaging view that shows horizontal top-down sections of the body

sagittal MRI

imaging view that shows left-right sections and the depth of organs

multiple plane imaging

using different body planes to create a more complete 3D understanding of a region

misunderstanding body planes

can cause inaccurate interpretation of images and less accurate surgical planning

body planes in physical therapy

help identify the correct movements and body areas to exercise

body planes in surgery

help surgeons plan accurate incisions and reach correct tissues with minimal damage

body planes in medical school

used during cadaver dissections to systematically study anatomy

why radiologists use multiple planes

to understand orientation and interpret images more accurately

why surgeons use body planes

to plan incisions and reach the correct tissues with minimal collateral damage

why frontal plane was useful in the case study

it showed that the mass was encroaching on the left atrium

why multiple planes helped the medical team

they provided a complete 3D understanding that helped the team plan surgery

frontal plane in the case study

showed an abnormal mass pushing toward the mediastinum and encroaching on the left atrium