Cross-Sectional Anatomy & Vascular Systems – Master Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of 600 English vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical planes, directional terms, body cavities, cardiovascular anatomy, cerebrovascular structures, abdominal vasculature, brain meninges and ventricular system, plus clinically relevant vascular, cardiac, endocrine, and systemic terms derived from the lecture notes.

Sagittal Plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into right and left portions.

Coronal Plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Axial (Transverse) Plane

Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior portions.

Oblique Plane

Plane that passes diagonally between the axes of two other planes.

Superior (Directional Term)

Above; at a higher level.

Inferior (Directional Term)

Below; at a lower level.

Anterior / Ventral

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior / Dorsal

Toward the back of the body.

Medial

Toward the midsagittal plane.

Lateral

Away from the midsagittal plane.

Proximal

Toward the reference point within the body.

Distal

Away from the reference point within the body.

Superficial

Near the body surface.

Deep

Farther from the body surface.

Cranial / Cephalic

Toward the head.

Caudal

Toward the feet.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body.

Cranial Cavity

Houses the brain.

Thoracic Cavity

Contains pleural cavities and pericardial cavity.

Pleural Cavity

Space surrounding each lung.

Pericardial Cavity

Space enclosing the heart.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Combined abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal Cavity

Contains digestive organs, kidneys, spleen, liver.

Pelvic Cavity

Contains bladder, uterus, rectum.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Contains liver, gallbladder, part of large intestine.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Contains appendix, small intestine, right fallopian tube & ovary.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Contains stomach, spleen, pancreas, part of large intestine.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Contains small and large intestine, left fallopian tube & ovary.

CT (Computed Tomography)

Imaging method using X-ray slices to create cross-sectional views.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Imaging method using magnetic fields and radio waves to visualize tissues.

Water Attenuation on CT

Appears gray to white; tissues denser than water are brighter.

Air Attenuation on CT

Appears black; represents material less dense than water.

Heart

Hollow four-chamber muscular pump.

Heart – Chamber Count

Four chambers: 2 atria, 2 ventricles.

Heart Position Angle

Sits at approximately a 45-degree angle in thorax.

Heart – Two-Thirds Position

Two-thirds of the heart lies left of midline.

Heart Base

Superior, posterior aspect near manubrium.

Heart Apex

Inferior, anterior tip formed by left ventricle at 5th intercostal space.

Sternocostal Surface

Anterior surface of heart formed mainly by right atrium & right ventricle.

Diaphragmatic Surface

Inferior heart surface formed by both ventricles.

Pulmonary Surface (Left)

Lateral surface of heart formed by left ventricle.

Fibrous Pericardium

Tough outer pericardial sac attached to diaphragm’s central tendon.

Epicardium

Thin outer layer of heart wall.

Myocardium

Thick muscular middle layer of heart wall.

Endocardium

Thin inner lining of heart chambers.

Right Atrium

Superior collecting chamber on right border of heart.

Left Atrium

Superior collecting chamber receiving oxygenated blood from lungs.

Interatrial Septum

Partition separating right and left atria.

Foramen Ovale

Fetal atrial opening that becomes fossa ovalis after birth.

Fossa Ovalis

Depression in interatrial septum marking closed foramen ovale.

Right Ventricle

Inferior chamber that pumps blood into pulmonary trunk.

Left Ventricle

Inferior chamber that pumps blood into ascending aorta.

Interventricular Septum

Muscular wall dividing the two ventricles.

Superior Vena Cava (SVC)

Returns deoxygenated blood from head, neck, thorax & arms to right atrium.

SVC Formation

Created by merger of right and left brachiocephalic veins.

SVC Position

Posterolateral to ascending aorta.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC)

Returns blood from below diaphragm to right atrium.

IVC Formation

Formed by confluence of common iliac veins.

IVC Thoracic Section

Short segment before entering right atrium.

Caval Hiatus

Diaphragmatic opening through which IVC passes.

Right Ventricular Outflow Tract (RVOT)

Pathway from right ventricle to pulmonary trunk.

Pulmonary Trunk

Artery carrying deoxygenated blood from RV to lungs.

Pulmonary Trunk Location

Courses beneath aortic arch before bifurcating.

Pulmonary Arteries

Right & left branches of pulmonary trunk delivering blood to lungs.

Pulmonary Veins

Four veins returning oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium.

Pulmonary Veins Orientation

Run horizontally; typically inferior to pulmonary arteries.

Tricuspid Valve

Valve between right atrium and right ventricle.

Pulmonary Semilunar Valve

Valve between RV and pulmonary trunk.

Bicuspid (Mitral) Valve

Valve between left atrium and left ventricle.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (LVOT)

Pathway from left ventricle to ascending aorta.

Ascending Aorta

First section of aorta arising from LVOT.

Aortic Arch

Curves superiorly & posteriorly over pulmonary trunk.

Brachiocephalic (Innominate) Artery

First branch of aortic arch; gives rise to right CCA & right subclavian.

Left Common Carotid Artery

Second branch of aortic arch.

Left Subclavian Artery

Third branch of aortic arch.

Descending Aorta

Continuance of aortic arch through thorax into abdominal aorta.

Carotid Arteries

Paired vessels supplying head & neck; divide into internal & external branches.

Circle of Willis

Arterial ring at brain base providing collateral circulation.

Internal Jugular Vein

Largest neck vein, lateral to carotids; drains brain & deep face.

External Jugular Vein

Smaller superficial vein providing collateral drainage.

Common Carotid Artery (CCA)

Ascends neck without branches then bifurcates at thyroid cartilage.

Right CCA Origin

Branches from brachiocephalic artery.

Left CCA Origin

Arises directly from aortic arch.

Internal Carotid Artery (ICA)

Lateral/posterior branch of CCA supplying brain; no neck branches.

ICA Skull Entry

Enters skull via carotid canal of temporal bone.

External Carotid Artery (ECA)

Medial/anterior branch of CCA supplying face & scalp.

First ECA Branch – Superior Thyroid

Supplies thyroid gland & larynx.

ECA Branch – Ascending Pharyngeal

Supplies pharynx & meninges.

ECA Branch – Lingual

Supplies tongue.

ECA Branch – Facial

Supplies face via angular artery.

ECA Branch – Occipital

Supplies posterior scalp.

ECA Branch – Posterior Auricular

Supplies ear & scalp behind auricle.

ECA Terminal Branch – Superficial Temporal

Supplies scalp anterior to ear.

ECA Terminal Branch – Maxillary

Supplies deep facial structures.

ICA Intracranial Branches

Divide into MCA and ACA.

Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA)

Largest cerebral artery; supplies lateral cerebrum.

Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA)

Supplies medial frontal & parietal lobes.

Anterior Communicating Artery

Connects right & left ACAs.

Vertebral Arteries

Posterior circulation branches of subclavian arteries.