CHAPTER 1 A&P

What is the anatomical position?

Standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward, feet forward.

What does superior (cranial) mean in anatomical terms?

Towards the head or above.

What does inferior (caudal) mean in anatomical terms?

Towards the feet or below.

What is meant by anterior (ventral)?

Toward the front of the body.

What is the definition of posterior (dorsal)?

Toward the back of the body.

What does medial refer to in anatomy?

Toward the body's midline.

What does lateral mean in anatomical terms?

Away from the body's midline.

What is the definition of intermediate in anatomical terms?

Between a more medial and more lateral structure.

What does proximal mean?

Closer to the point of attachment/origin.

What does distal mean?

Farther from the point of attachment/origin.

What is the definition of superficial?

Toward/at the body's surface.

What does deep mean in anatomical context?

Farther from the body's surface.

What does ipsilateral mean?

On the same side of the body.

What is contralateral?

On opposite sides of the body.

What is the sagittal plane?

Divides the body into left and right portions.

What does midsagittal (median) plane refer to?

Divides the body into equal left and right halves.

What is the parasagittal plane?

Divides into unequal left and right portions.

What is the frontal (coronal) plane?

Divides the body into anterior/front and posterior/back portions.

What does transverse (horizontal) plane mean?

Divides the body into superior/top and inferior/bottom portions.

What is the definition of the oblique plane?

Cuts the body at an angle.

What is a body cavity?

Internal space that houses and protects organs.

What is the dorsal body cavity?

Cavity along the back/posterior body; contains the brain and spinal cord.

What does the cranial cavity contain?

Contains and protects the brain.

What is the vertebral (spinal) cavity?

Contains and protects the spinal cord.

What is the ventral body cavity?

Large anterior cavity containing many internal organs.

What is contained in the thoracic cavity?

Chest cavity superior to the diaphragm; contains heart and lungs.

What are pleural cavities?

Cavities surrounding the lungs. Each lung has its own pleural cavity.

What is the mediastinum?

Central region between the lungs; contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, etc.

What does the pericardial cavity surround?

Surrounds the heart, located within the mediastinum.

What is the abdominopelvic cavity?

Ventral cavity inferior to the diaphragm; includes abdominal and pelvic cavities.

What is contained in the abdominal cavity?

Contains organs such as the stomach, liver, spleen, kidneys, and most intestines.

What is found in the pelvic cavity?

Contains structures such as the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.

What is the diaphragm?

Muscle separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity.

What is histology?

Study of tissues under a microscope.

What is a tissue?

Group of similar cells working together for a particular function.

What are the four primary tissue types?

Epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous.

What is epithelial tissue?

Covers body surfaces, lines cavities/organs, and forms glands. Cells are usually tightly packed.

What does connective tissue do?

Supports, binds, protects, and connects structures. Usually has lots of extracellular matrix.

What is the function of muscle tissue?

Specialized to contract and create movement.

What is the role of nervous tissue?

Specialized for communication through electrical signals; found mainly in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

What is simple epithelium?

One layer of cells.

What is stratified epithelium?

Multiple layers of cells.

What are squamous cells?

Flat and thin cells.

What are cuboidal cells?

Roughly cube-shaped; height is approximately equal to width.

What are columnar cells?

Tall, rectangular cells.

What is simple squamous epithelium?

One layer of flat cells; good for rapid diffusion/filtration.

What is simple cuboidal epithelium?

One layer of cube-shaped cells; involved in secretion and absorption.

What is simple columnar epithelium?

One layer of tall cells; functions in absorption and secretion.

What is stratified squamous epithelium?

Many layers; surface cells are flat, protects against abrasion.

What is pseudostratified columnar epithelium?

Looks multilayered but every cell touches the basement membrane.