BSCI 103 - Exercise 1: The Language of Anatomy

Flashcards testing concepts of anatomical position, planes, sections, axes, directional terms, regional landmarks, and body cavities.

What is the standard human anatomical position?

It refers to the position where the person is standing upright, feet slightly apart at shoulder width and parallel, toes directed forward, arms hanging at the side with palms facing up, and thumbs pointing away from the body.

What is a plane in human anatomy?

A flat surface along which the body can be divided, to show internal structures at different views, forming a three-dimensional perspective.

What is an axis in human anatomy?

An imaginary line at right angles to the plane, about which the body can rotate.

What is a section in human anatomy?

A two-dimensional surface of a three-dimensional structure that runs parallel to a plane.

How does the frontal or coronal plane divide the body?

It divides the body or organ into the back (posterior) and anterior (front) portions.

What are frontal sections?

Cuts parallel to the frontal plane.

How does the sagittal plane divide the body?

It divides the body or organ into left and right sides.

What is the median or midsagittal plane?

A plane that runs down the middle of the body.

What are parasagittal sections?

Cuts parallel to the sagittal plane.

How does the transverse plane divide the body?

It divides the body or organ into upper and lower portions; also known as a cross-section.

What is a transverse section?

A cut parallel to the transverse plane.

What is the anteroposterior axis?

An imaginary line that runs from head to sacral.

What is the dorsoventral axis?

An imaginary line that runs from the upper side (backside) to the lower side.

What is the transverse or medio-lateral axis?

An imaginary line that runs from side to side.

What is the purpose of directional terms in anatomy?

They allow a precise description of the location of a specific body part in reference to another body part.

What does the directional term anterior (ventral) describe?

t describes the front surface or toward the front of the body.

What does the directional term posterior (dorsal) describe?

It describes the back surface or directed towards the back.

What does the directional term superior (cranial or cephalic) describe?

It describes a position above or higher than another part of the body.

What does the directional term inferior (caudal) describe?

It describes a position below or lower than another part of the body.

What does the directional term medial describe?

It describes a position towards the midline of the body.

What does the directional term lateral describe?

It describes a position away from the midline of the body.

What does the directional term intermediate describe?

A position between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

What does the directional term proximal describe?

A position close to the origin of the part or near its point of attachment.

What does the directional term distal describe?

It describes a structure that is away from the point of attachment.

What does the directional term superficial describe?

It describes a position closer to the surface of the body.

What does the directional term deep describe?

It describes a position farther from the surface of the body.

What is a body cavity?

Compartments that separate different structures in the body.

Which two cavities make up the dorsal body cavity?

The cranial cavity (houses and protects the brain) and the spinal cavity (protects the spinal cord).

What anatomical structures are located inside the thoracic cavity, and what separates the left and right lung?

It contains the heart, lungs, etc. inside the rib cage, and the mediastinum separates the left and right lung.

What structure separates the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity?

The diaphragm.

What two sub-cavities form the abdominopelvic cavity?

The abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity.

What four quadrants divide the abdominal cavity in this diagram?

1. Right upper quadrant (RUQ), 2. Left upper quadrant (LUQ), 3. Right lower quadrant (RLQ), 4. Left lower quadrant (LLQ).

What are the nine regions of the abdominal cavity shown in this diagram?

1. Right Hypochondriac, 2. Epigastric, 3. Left Hypochondriac, 4. Right Lumbar, 5. Umbilical, 6. Left Lumbar, 7. Right Iliac/Inguinal, 8. Hypogastric, 9. Left Iliac/Inguinal.

What are five additional body cavities listed in the lecture?

Oral cavity, Orbital cavities, Nasal cavity, Middle ear cavities, and Digestive cavity.

What is the regional term for the front of the elbow?

Antecubitis (antecubital).

What is the regional term for the back of the elbow?

Olecranon (olecanal).

What is the regional term for the armpit?

Axilla (axillary).

What is the regional term for the arm?

Brachium (brachial).

What is the regional term for the forearm?

Antebrachium (antebrachial).

What is the regional term for the wrist?

Carpus (carpal).

What is the regional term for the kneecap?

Patella (patellar).

What is the regional term for the back of the knee?

Popliteus (popliteal).

What is the regional term for the calf?

Sura (sural).

What is the regional term for the heel of the foot?

Calcaneus (calcaneal).

What is the regional term for the sole of the foot?

Planta (plantar).