Anatomical Terms of Location – Chapter 4

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major anatomical terms of location from Chapter 4, including directional terms, structural distinctions, and body/brain planes.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All the nerves in the body that lie outside the brain and spinal cord.

Anatomical Position

Standard reference stance: body upright, palms forward, thumbs pointing away from the body, feet facing forward.

Dorsal

Toward the surface of the back or the top of the head.

Ventral

Toward the stomach or bottom of the head; toward the feet.

Anterior (Rostral)

Toward the nose; the front end of the body or structure.

Posterior (Caudal)

Toward the tail end; the rear of the body or structure.

Superior

Above; toward the dorsal surface of the head.

Inferior

Below; toward the ventral surface of the head.

Medial

Toward the midline or middle of a structure.

Lateral

Toward the side of a structure; away from the midline or midsagittal plane.

Proximal

Relatively near the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Relatively far from the point of attachment or origin.

Ipsilateral

Located or occurring on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Located or occurring on opposite sides of the body.

Unilateral

Pertaining to or affecting only one side of the body.

Bilateral

Pertaining to or affecting both sides of the body.

Lamina

A horizontal layer of cells within the nervous system.

Column

A vertical arrangement (column) of cells within the nervous system.

Tract

Bundle of axons located in the central nervous system (CNS).

Nerve

Bundle of axons located in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Nucleus (Neural)

Cluster of neuron cell bodies located in the central nervous system.

Ganglion

Cluster of neuron cell bodies located in the peripheral nervous system.

Gyrus

A ridge or raised convolution on the surface of the brain.

Sulcus

A groove or shallow indentation on the brain surface, separating gyri.

Fissure

A deep sulcus or prominent groove on the brain surface.

Coronal Plane

An anatomical plane that divides the body or brain into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Sagittal Plane

An anatomical plane that divides the body or brain into left and right portions; the midsagittal plane cuts exactly at the midline.

Horizontal (Transverse) Plane

An anatomical plane that divides the body or brain into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.