Anatomy & Neuroscience: Introductory Lecture and Terminology

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical terminology, body positions, planes, directional terms, skeletal divisions, body cavities, and the integumentary system based on introductory lecture slides.

Supine

A body position in which the patient is lying down on their back, face upwards.

Prone

A body position in which the patient is lying down on their abdomen, face downwards.

Anatomical Position

The standard reference standing position with feet together and toes facing forward, upper limbs hanging vertically by the sides, and forearms rotated so that the palms of the hands face forward.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane parallel to the median plane that divides the body into right and left parts.

Median Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that passes directly through the center of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves.

Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane)

A vertical plane at right angles to the median plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Transverse Plane (Horizontal or Axial Plane)

A plane lying at right angles to both sagittal and coronal planes (parallel to the ground in the anatomical position) that divides the body into upper and lower parts.

Anterior (Ventral)

Relating to the front surface of the body, or situated nearer to the front of the body (e.g., the nose is anterior to the ears).

Posterior (Dorsal)

Relating to the back surface of the body, or situated nearer to the back of the body.

Superior (Cephalic)

Situated closer to the head end of the body (e.g., the head is superior to the neck).

Inferior (Caudal)

Situated closer to the lower end or feet of the body.

Medial

Situated closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Situated further away from the midline of the body (e.g., the shoulder is lateral to the sternum).

Proximal

Situated closer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk.

Distal

Situated further away from the attachment of a limb to the trunk (e.g., the wrist is distal to the elbow).

Superficial

Situated closer to the surface of the body relative to deeper structures (e.g., the ribs are superficial to the heart).

Deep

Situated further away from the surface of the body (e.g., bone is deep to the skin).

Palmar Surface

The anterior surface corresponding to the palm of the hand.

Plantar Surface

The inferior surface corresponding to the sole of the foot.

Brachium

The anatomical term for the upper arm.

Antebrachium

The anatomical term for the forearm.

Axial Skeleton

The central bony framework consisting of the skull (neurocranium and facial skeleton), vertebral column, and rib cage.

Appendicular Skeleton

The bones of the upper and lower limbs that attach to the axial skeleton via the pectoral and pelvic girdles.

Pectoral Girdle

The upper limb girdle consisting of the clavicle and scapula that attaches the upper limb to the axial skeleton.

Pelvic Girdle

The lower limb girdle consisting of the sacrum and two hip bones that attaches the lower limb to the axial skeleton.

Vertebral Column

The spine, composed sequentially of 7 cervical vertebrae (neck), 12 thoracic vertebrae (chest/thorax), 5 lumbar vertebrae (abdomen), sacral vertebrae/sacrum (pelvis), and coccygeal vertebrae/coccyx (tail).

True Ribs

Ribs 1 through 7, which articulate directly with the sternum via costal cartilage.

False Ribs

Ribs 8 through 12, which do not articulate directly with the sternum.

Floating Ribs

Ribs 11 and 12, which are false ribs that remain free at their anterior ends.

Costal Margin

The lower border of the thoracic cage formed by the costal cartilages of ribs 7 through 10.

Diaphragm

The muscle separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity, containing three major openings: the aorta, inferior vena cava, and oesophagus.

Serous Membranes

Double-layered membranes providing lubrication around mobile viscera, including the pleura (lungs), pericardium (heart), and peritoneum (gut).

Epidermis

The avascular outer layer of the skin composed of stratified squamous epithelium arranged in differentiating layers.

Keratinization

The process by which epidermal cells move through layers toward the surface, fill with keratin protein, and die.

Desquamation

The shedding of older, dead cells from the outer surface of the epidermis.

Melanocytes

Pigment-producing cells located in the deep layer of the epidermis that secrete melanin to provide skin color.

Dermis

The connective tissue layer of the skin beneath the epidermis, divided into a superficial papillary layer and a deeper, thicker reticular layer of dense connective tissue.

Dermal Papillae

Projections of the papillary dermis arranged in parallel rows that produce fingerprints and footprints.

Psoriasis

A skin condition characterized by red inflamed skin and silver scales composed of keratin and immature cells, caused by an accelerated epidermal cell transit time of days rather than weeks.

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)

A severe, rare hereditary blistering condition ('Butterfly Children') caused by mutations in collagen or keratin genes that lead to separation of skin layers within the epidermis or at the basement membrane upon minor injury.

Arrector Pili

Smooth muscle extending from the dermis to a hair follicle whose contraction causes hair to stand on end.

Sebaceous Glands

Oil glands situated in the dermis whose ducts empty into hair follicles to secrete sebum, which lubricates hair and collects dirt.

Eccrine Sweat Glands (Merocrine)

The most common sweat glands, located at the junction between the dermis and hypodermis, with ducts opening directly onto pores of the epidermis to produce true sweat.

Apocrine Sweat Glands

Sweat glands confined mainly to the axillary and genital areas that become active at puberty and empty into hair follicles above the sebaceous duct.

Nail Matrix

The proliferative region located under the nail root that gives rise to the hard keratin nail plate.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The most common and least malignant form of skin cancer, typically managed via surgical excision.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A malignant skin tumor arising from keratinizing epidermal cells, treated by surgical removal or radiation therapy.

Melanoma

A malignant neoplasm of melanocytes and the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

ABCDE Melanoma Warning Signs

A clinical mnemonic for assessing suspicious moles: Asymmetry, Border (irregular or ragged), Color (uneven brown, black, red, or pink), Diameter ($> 6\,\text{mm}$), and Evolving (changing size, shape, or color).