General Anatomy: The Essentials

Essential anatomical vocabulary flashcards covering basic definitions, anatomical planes, skeletal systems, bone classifications, cartilage types, joint structures, and blood supply to long bones.

Human Anatomy

The science that deals with the structure of the human body, derived from the Greek word anatome meaning cutting up.

Dissection

The Latin equivalent of the Greek word anatome; a technique used for body study, distinct from anatomy which is a wider field of study.

Cadaveric Anatomy

The study of human anatomy performed on dead human bodies, subdivided into regional anatomy (by parts) and systemic anatomy (by systems).

Osteology

The scientific study of the skeleton system and bones.

Myology

The scientific study of the muscular system.

Arthrology

The scientific study of joints and the articulatory system, also referred to as syndesmology.

Angiology

The scientific study of the vascular system.

Neurology

The scientific study of the nervous system.

Splanchnology

The scientific study of visceral organs, including the respiratory, digestive, urogenital, and endocrine systems.

Ontogeny

The developmental history of an individual organism.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of a species or group of organisms.

Histology

Microscopic anatomy studied with the aid of a microscope.

Surface Anatomy

The study of deeper structures of the body in relation to the skin surface, also known as topographic anatomy.

Applied Anatomy

The application of anatomical knowledge to medical or surgical practice, also called clinical anatomy.

Herophilus

Historically recognized as the Father of Anatomy.

Leonardo da Vinci

Historically recognized as the Father of Modern Anatomy.

Hippocrates

Historically recognized as the Father of Medicine.

Median Plane

Also known as the mid-sagittal plane; a vertical plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Coronal Plane

Also known as the frontal plane; a plane at right angles to the sagittal plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Transverse Plane

A plane at right angles to both sagittal and coronal planes, dividing the body into upper and lower parts.

Ipsilateral

Refers to being located on the same side of the body as another structure.

Contralateral

Refers to being located on the opposite side of the body relative to another structure.

-itis

A clinical suffix denoting inflammation of a body part (e.g., appendicitis, tonsillitis, arthritis).

-ectomy

A clinical suffix denoting surgical removal from the body (e.g., appendectomy, tonsillectomy, gastrectomy, nephrectomy).

-otomy

A clinical suffix denoting a surgical operation to open and then close a hollow organ (e.g., laparotomy, hysterotomy, cystotomy).

-ostomy

A clinical suffix denoting a surgical procedure to create an opening in a hollow organ and leave it open (e.g., cystostomy, colostomy, tracheostomy).

Inorganic Bone Minerals

Inorganic chemical substances in bone providing hardness and rigidity: calcium phosphate $Ca_3(PO_4)_2$ and calcium hydroxy-apatite $Ca_{10}(PO_4)_6(OH)_2$.

Periosteum

The vascular fibrous connective tissue membrane covering the outer surface of bones.

Axial Skeleton

The core skeleton consisting of $80$ bones: cranium ($8$), facial bones ($14$), chest ribs ($24$), sternum ($1$), vertebral column ($26$), auditory ossicles ($6$), and hyoid bone ($1$).

Appendicular Skeleton

The portion of the skeleton consisting of $126$ bones, comprising the upper extremities ($60$), lower extremities ($60$), pectoral girdle ($4$), and pelvic girdle ($2$).

Pneumatic Bones

Irregular bones containing large air spaces that make them lightweight and form major portions of the skull (e.g., sphenoid, ethmoid, maxilla).

Sesamoid Bones

Nodule-like bones embedded within tendons and joint capsules (e.g., patella, pisiform, fabella).

Structure of a Long Bone

Comprises an elongated shaft (diaphysis) containing a medullary cavity, and expanded ends (epiphysis) separated by an epiphyseal plate.

Cartilage

A connective tissue composed of chondrocytes and fibers embedded in a firm, elastic, gel-like matrix rich in mucopolysaccharides.

Perichondrium

A fibrous membrane surrounding cartilage that is similar in structure and function to periosteum; absent over articular cartilage.

Hyaline Cartilage

Smooth, translucent, glass-like cartilage with thin fibers and high elasticity, found on articular ends of long bones, epiphyseal plates, trachea, and costal cartilages.

Fibrocartilage

Firm, opaque, white-fiber-rich cartilage that lacks a perichondrium and is extremely strong; found in intervertebral discs, glenoid labrum, and pubic symphysis.

Elastic Cartilage

Flexible, yellowish cartilage containing abundant yellow elastic fibers; found in the ear pinna, external auditory meatus, Eustachian tubes, and epiglottis.

Classification of Joints

Categorization of joints structurally into Fibrous, Cartilaginous, and Synovial, and functionally into Synarthrosis, Amphiarthrosis, and Diarthrosis.

Fibrous Joints

Joints connected by dense fibrous connective tissue without a joint cavity, categorized into Suture, Syndesmosis, and Gomphosis.

Cartilaginous Joints

Joints united by cartilage, divided into temporary Synchondroses (connected by hyaline cartilage) and permanent Symphyses (connected by fibrocartilage).

Synovial Joint

A freely movable joint characterized by an articular capsule, synovial membrane, articular cartilage, and a joint cavity containing synovial fluid.

Types of Synovial Joints

Six main structural types based on motion: Pivot, Hinge, Saddle, Condyloid, Plane (Gliding), and Ball & Socket joints.

Functional Classification of Joints

Classification based on joint mobility: Synarthrosis (immovable), Amphiarthrosis (slight movement), and Diarthrosis (full movement).

Blood Supply of Long Bone

Vascular network supplying long bones via Nutrient Arteries (diaphysis and medullary cavity), Periosteal Arteries (outer cortex), and Epiphyseal/Metaphyseal Arteries.

Nutrient Artery

The major blood vessel supplying the diaphysis of long bones; enters through the nutrient foramen and supplies the medullary cavity and inner 2/3 of the cortex.

Periosteal Arteries

Small blood vessels originating from surrounding muscles and periosteum that penetrate to supply the outer 1/3 of the bone cortex.