Lab 1 Checklist: Anatomical Terms and Body Regions

Vocabulary-based flashcards for Lab 1 covering anatomical positions, orientations, planes, cavities, membranes, and abdominopelvic regions.

Anatomical Position

The standard body orientation where the person is face forward, feet forward and parallel, arms at side, and palms forward with thumbs pointed away from the body; always refer to the patient's right or left.

Supine

An alternate body position where the individual is lying face up.

Prone

An alternate body position where the individual is lying face down.

Lateral Decubitus (Recumbent)

An alternate body position involving lying down on one side.

Anterior (Ventral)

Orientation or relative direction referring to the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Orientation or relative direction referring to the back of the body.

Superior (Cranial)

Orientation or relative direction referring to a position above or toward the head.

Inferior (Caudal)

Orientation or relative direction referring to a position below or toward the feet.

Medial

Orientation or relative direction referring to a position toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Orientation or relative direction referring to a position away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Superficial

Relative direction meaning toward or at the body surface.

Deep

Relative direction meaning away from the surface; more internal.

Unilateral

Relative direction referring to only one side of the body.

Bilateral

Relative direction referring to both sides of the body.

Ipsilateral

Relative direction meaning on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Relative direction meaning on the opposite side of the body.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions; includes Midsagittal (Median) and Parasagittal.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior (front and back) portions.

Transverse (Horizontal or Axial) Plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior (top and bottom) portions.

Dorsal Cavity

Body cavity located at the posterior of the body, containing the Cranial and Vertebral (Spinal) cavities.

Ventral Cavity

Body cavity located at the anterior of the body, subdivided into the Thoracic and Abdominopelvic cavities.

Thoracic Cavity

Subdivision of the ventral cavity containing the Pleural, Pericardial, and Mediastinum regions.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Subdivision of the ventral cavity containing the Abdominal and Pelvic cavities.

Viscera Layer

The layer of a serous body membrane that covers the actual surface of the organ.

Parietal Layer

The layer of a serous body membrane that lines the wall of the body cavity.

Specific Serous Membranes

Includes the Pleura (lungs), Pericardium (heart), and Peritoneum (abdominopelvic).

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Division of the abdominopelvic area into four sections: Right Upper, Left Upper, Right Lower, and Left Lower Quadrants.

Abdominopelvic Regions

Division of the abdominopelvic area into nine regions: Umbilical, Epigastric, Hypogastric/Pubic, Iliac/Inguinal (Right/Left), Lumbar (Right/Left), and Hypochondriac (Right/Left).