Gross Anatomy and Microscope Terminology

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical orientation, directional terminology, anatomical position, and compound microscope components and functions.

Anatomical position

A common visual reference point where a person stands erect with feet together and eyes forward, with palms facing anteriorly and thumbs pointed away from the body.

Directional terminology

Language that refers to the body in anatomical position to describe the locations of anatomical structures.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Ventral (anterior)

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Dorsal (posterior)

Toward or at the back of the body; behind.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of.

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Ventral surface (in four-legged animals)

Refers specifically to the belly of a vertebrate animal, which corresponds to the inferior surface in four-legged animals.

Dorsal surface (in four-legged animals)

Refers specifically to an animal's back, which corresponds to the superior surface in four-legged animals.

Base (microscope)

The bottom of the microscope, which provides a sturdy flat surface to support and steady the microscope.

Substage light

Light source located in the base of the microscope from which light passes directly upward through the microscope.

Light control

A dial located on the base or arm of the microscope that adjusts the intensity of the light passing through the specimen.

Stage (microscope)

The platform that the slide rests on while being viewed, featuring a hole to allow light to pass through the stage and through the specimen.

Mechanical stage

Mechanism that holds the slide in position for viewing and has two adjustable knobs controlling the precise movement of the slide.

Condenser

Small nonmagnifying lens located beneath the stage that concentrates the light on the specimen.

Iris diaphragm lever

A lever controlling a shutter within the condenser to adjust the amount of light passing through the condenser and alter contrast.

Coarse adjustment knob

Knob that allows large adjustments to the height of the stage to initially focus the specimen.

Fine adjustment knob

Knob used for precise focusing once initial coarse focusing has been completed.

Head (microscope)

Component that attaches to the nosepiece to support the objective lens system and provides attachment for the eyepieces housing ocular lenses.

Arm (microscope)

Vertical portion of the microscope that connects the base and the head.

Nosepiece

Rotating mechanism connected to the head carrying three or four objective lenses and permitting positioning of these lenses over the hole in the stage.

Objective lenses

Lenses attached to the nosepiece typically comprising scanning ($4\times$), low-power ($10\times$), high-power ($40\times$), and oil immersion ($100\times$) lenses.

Ocular lens(es)

Lenses located in the eyepieces at the superior end of the head, typically providing a magnification power of $10\times$.

Working distance

The distance between the bottom of the objective lens and the slide when the object on the slide is in focus, which decreases as magnification increases.