Anatomy & Physiology - chp1

Superior

Uppermost or above

Inferior

Lowermost or below

Anterior

Towards the front

Ventral

Can also be used for anterior. Means belly side

Posterior

Towards the back

Dorsal

Can also be used for posterior. Means back side

Cephalad/cranial

Towards the head

Caudal

Occasionally synonymous with inferior. Specifically teams towards the tail

Medial

nearest the midline of the body. The midline is the on the sagital plane

Lateral

Towards the side or away from the midline of the body

Proximal

Nearest the point of attachment or origin. IE the elbow is proximal to the wrist; the knee is proximal to the ankle.

Distal

Away from the point of attachment or origin. IE the wrist is distal to the elbow.

Midsagittal

Plane vertically divides the body through the midline into two equal parts left and right halves.

Sagitattal

Plane that is parallel to the midsagittal plane

Horizonal or transverse

Plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts

Frontal or coronal

Plane that divides the anterior (or ventral) and posterior (or dorsal) portions and forms a right angle with the midsagittal plane

Viscera

Organs of any cavity

Dorsal cavity

One of two major cavities, the other being the central cavity. Contains organs of the nervous systems. It is divided into the cranial cavity and spinal cavity

Ventral cavity

One of two major cavities, the other being the dorsal cavity. Contains organs that are involved in maintaining homeostasis. It contains the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity.

Thoracic cavity

The first sub cavity of the ventral cavity. Contains the heart in a pericardial sac known as the pericardial cavity.

Abdomenopelvic cavity

The second sub cavity of the central cavity. Contains kidneys, stomach, liver, gallblader, small intestines, spleen, pancreas, ovaries and uterus in women.

Perietal

The walls of a cavity. IE parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal walls

Visceral

Covering on an organ. IE viseral peritoneum covers the abdominal organs

mediastinum

The space between two pleural cavities

Pleura

Membrane in the thoracic cavity

Peritoneum

Membrane found in the abdomenopelvic cavity

Protoplasm

The liquid part of the cell

Epithalial tissue

One of four type categories of tissues. Covers surfaces and protects (both the outer surfaces like the skin and inner surfaces organs like intestine), forms glands, and line cavities of the body.

Connective tissue

One of four categories of tissues. Binds together and supports other tissues and organs.

Muscle tissue

One of four categories of tissues. Also known as muscle fibers that generate movement by shortening or contracting in a forcible manner. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal or voluntary (muscle pulls on bones and causes movement), smooth of involuntary (in the intestine where it pushes food along), and cardiac (also involuntary)

Nervous tissue

Composed of nerve cells forming a coordinating system of fibers connecting numerous sensory (touch, sight) and motor (muscular) structures of the body.

Integumentary system

Made of the dermis and epidermis layer. Includes skin, hair, nails, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands.

Skeletal system

Composed of bones, cartilage, and membranous structures associated with bones.

Musclar system

Consists of muscle, fascaie(fibrous connective tissues), tendon sheaths, and bursae (fibrous scas).

Endocrine system

Consists of master gland, or pituitary, controls the other glands — thyroid, adrenal, ovaries, and testes.

Cardiocasvular system

Blood circulatory system. Heart, arteries (moves blood away from heart), veins (moves blood back to the heart), and capillaries.

Lymphatic or immune system

Lymph nodes, the thymus gland, the spleen, and lymph vessels

Respiratory system

nasal cavaties, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs

Digestive system

alimentary canal (mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines) with its associated glands (salivary, liver, and pancreas).

Urinary system

Two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, and the urethtra

Reproductive system

Ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina/testes.