A&P Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Terms

Anatomy

study of the structure and shape of the body and it’s parts
- observation is used to see sizes and relationships

Physiology

study of how the body and its parts function

Atoms

tiny building blocks of matter

Cells

smallest unit of living things

Tissues

groups of similar cells that have a common function (there are 4 types)

Organ

structure composed of two (or more) tissue types that performs a specific function for the body

Organ system

group of organs working together to a common purpose

Organism

highest level of structural organization

Integumentary system

external covering of the body/skin (including hairs and fingernails)

• protect deeper tissue from injury

• skin

Skeletal system

bones, cartilages, and joints

• protection

• C6 Vertebra

Muscular system

movement (walk, jump, grab, facial expressions)

• function

• rep. organ

Nervous system

fast-acting control system of the body

• function

• rep. organ

Endocrine system

controls body’s activities

• function

• rep. organ

Cardiovascular system

heart and blood vessels

Lymphatic system

complements cardiovascular; picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to blood

Respiratory system

keeps blood constantly supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide

Digestive system

breaks down food into absorbable nutrients that enter the blood for distribution to body cells

Urinary system

eliminates nitrogen-containing wastes from the body

Reproductive system

production of offspring

Anatomical position

body erect facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms forward

Coronal Plane

splits everything vertically into the front and back

Transverse Plane

divides the body top and bottom

Anterior

the part(s) that meet the environment when moving forwards

Posterior

the part(s) that meet the environment when moving backwards

Superior

upper i.e. eyes are [ ] to the mouth

Interior

lower i.e. knees are inferior to the hips

Proximal

part of structure closest to the trunk or to a main point of reference

i.e.

Distal

part of structure furthest to the trunk or to a main point of reference

Medial

to or toward the midline

Lateral

structures away from midline

Median

directly along the midline

Midsagittal (Sagittal)

a plane which divides a body/organ into right and left parts

Parasagittal

a plane which is parallel to the midsagittal

Frontal (Coronal)

a plane that divides the organism into dorsal and ventral parts

Transverse (or cross or horizontal)

a plane that divides the organisms into cranial and caudal portions

Axillary

armpit area

Brachial

upper arm

Femoral

upper leg or thigh

Mammary

breast

Patellar

knee

Pectoral

chest

Pubic

area where two hipbones meet on ventral aspect of body

Temporal

side of the head

Parietal

top of the head

Occipital 👀

back of the head

Frontal

front of the head

Cervical

neck

Deltoid

shoulder

Gluteal

buttocks area

Lumbar region of back

lower back

Sacral

region of back just caudal to the lumbar region

Popliteal

fat filled area just dorsal to the knee

Scapular

shoulder blade region

Mastoid

below and behind the ear

Palmar (volar)

palm of hand surface

Plantar

sole of foot

Epigastric

upper median region of abdomen; contains umbilicus or navel

Hypogastric

lower median region of the abdomen

Hypochondriacs

on either side of epigastric region

Lumbars

on either side of umbilical region

Iliacs (inguinals)

on either side of hypogastric region