Introduction to Human Anatomy Terminology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on Chapter 1 including anatomical roots, directional terms, planes, joint movements, and system fundamentals.

Epigastric

Anatomical term meaning above the stomach.

Hypodermic

Anatomical term meaning below the dermis or below the skin.

Arthritis

Joint inflammation, derived from the roots "arthro" (joint) and "-itis" (inflammation).

Adipocyte

A fat cell, derived from "adipose" (fat) and "site/cyte" (cell).

Gastroenterologist

A doctor who studies and treats the stomach and small intestine.

Zygomaticus

A muscle that attaches to the zygomatic bone.

Malleus

A small bone located inside the middle ear.

Malleolus

One of the bone prongs that holds the ankle.

Anatomical Position

The standard human reference position standing upright with feet on the floor, arms extended at the sides, and palms facing forward.

Sagittal Plane

A plane positioned on the midline that divides the body into equal right and left halves.

Parasagittal Plane

A plane off the midline that cuts the body into two unequal right and left halves.

Frontal Plane

Also called the coronal plane; a plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) halves.

Transverse Plane

A plane dividing the body into top and bottom (superior and inferior) halves, commonly used in CT and MRI cross-sectional imaging.

Oblique Section

A section cut at an eccentric angle through a limb or body structure to image angled ligaments or tendons.

Superior

Directional term meaning up or toward the upper portion of the body.

Inferior

Directional term meaning down or toward the lower portion of the body.

Cranial

Directional term meaning up toward the head.

Caudal

Directional term meaning down toward the tail.

Superficial

Directional term describing a structure located closer to the surface or external relative to another structure.

Deep

Directional term describing a structure located further internal or deeper inside the body relative to another structure.

Palmar

Relating to the palm surface of the hand, which faces anteriorly in anatomical position.

Plantar

Relating to the sole surface of the foot.

Medial

Directional term describing a structure that is closer to the midline of the body relative to another.

Lateral

Directional term describing a structure that is farther away from the midline of the body relative to another.

Proximal

Directional term describing a position on a limb closer to the trunk or origin.

Distal

Directional term describing a position on a limb farther from the trunk or origin.

Supination

Rotation occurring at the elbow positioning the palm forward or upward, like holding a bowl of soup.

Pronation

Rotation occurring at the elbow positioning the palm backward or downward, like pouring out a bowl of soup.

Abduction

Movement of a structure or limb away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement of a structure or limb toward the midline of the body (adding it back to the body).

Dorsal Flexion

Ankle movement where the toes point upward toward the nose, corresponding to true anatomical extension of the foot.

Plantar Flexion

Ankle movement where the toes point downward or flex into a fist, corresponding to true anatomical flexion of the foot.

Protraction

Moving a structure forward or outward, such as pushing the jaw forward or pushing the scapula forward across the back.

Retraction

Pulling a structure backward or inward, such as pulling the jaw back or pulling the scapulae back toward the midline.

Fascia

Connective tissue in the most general sense that surrounds, binds, and encloses muscular compartments.

Bursitis

A condition involving swelling and inflammation of a bursal sac surrounding a tendon.

Visceral Layer

The inner layer of connective tissue directly lining the surface of an organ.

Parietal Layer

The outer layer of connective tissue lining a body cavity wall.

Peripheral Edema

The pooling of interstitial lymph fluid in the lower limbs resulting from a failure or breakdown of the lymphatic system.