Comprehensive Human Anatomy: General Anatomy, Locomotor System, and Viscera

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terminology, osteology, arthrology, myology, neurology, angiology, and splanchnology based on lecture notes and the Pocket Atlas of Human Anatomy.

Terminologia Anatomica

The international standard for macroscopic anatomical nomenclature published in 1998, which contains approximately $7500$ official terms based in Latin with English counterparts.

Anatomical Position

The standard reference posture in which the body is upright, the head and feet face forward toward the observer, and the upper limbs are at the sides with the palms facing forward so that the radius and ulna remain parallel.

Transpyloric plane (planum transpyloricum)

A transverse plane passing through the pylorus of the stomach that corresponds to the vertebral level of $\text{L1}$, situated midway between the jugular notch and the pubic symphysis.

Supracristal plane (planum supracristale)

A transverse horizontal plane passing through the highest points of the iliac crests that intersects the vertebral column at the level of the $\text{L4}$ vertebra.

Intramembranous (desmal) ossification

The direct formation of bone tissue from mesenchyme without a prior cartilaginous model, characteristic of the flat bones of the skull and the lateral (acromial) end of the clavicle.

Endochondral ossification

The formation of bone tissue from a pre-existing hyaline cartilage model, characteristic of most bones of the extracranial skeleton and enabling the growth of long bones in length.

Diploë

The spongy, cancellous bone layer situated between the external and internal compact bone plates of the flat bones of the skull.

Apophysis

A bony outgrowth or projection that arises from a bone and serves as a site for muscle and tendon attachment and force transmission, such as a tubercle, trochanter, or tuberosity.

Gomphosis (dento-alveolar syndesmosis)

A specialized fibrous joint (synarthrosis) in which the root of a tooth is anchored into the alveolar socket of the jaw by the periodontal ligament.

Symphysis (secondary cartilaginous joint)

A cartilaginous joint in which the opposing bony surfaces are connected by fibrocartilage, such as the intervertebral discs and the pubic symphysis.

Hypomochlion

The fulcrum or fixed center of rotation around which movement occurs in a joint; for example, the patella acting for the quadriceps femoris tendon across the knee joint.

Rotator cuff

A functional group of four scapulohumeral muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis) whose tendons blend with the capsule of the glenohumeral joint to stabilize the humeral head in the glenoid cavity.

Supraspinatus muscle

A rotator cuff muscle originating from the supraspinous fossa of the scapula and inserting onto the superior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus; innervated by the suprascapular nerve and responsible for initiating the first $15^\circ$ of arm abduction.

Serratus anterior muscle

A muscle originating from ribs $1\text{--}9$ and inserting along the medial border of the scapula; innervated by the long thoracic nerve, it protracts and rotates the scapula to allow elevation of the arm above $90^\circ$.

Biceps brachii muscle

A biarticular, two-headed flexor of the anterior compartment of the arm; its long head originates from the supraglenoid tubercle and the short head from the coracoid process, inserting onto the radial tuberosity to act as the primary supinator and a powerful flexor of the flexed forearm.

Brachialis muscle

A monoarticular muscle of the anterior arm originating from the distal two-thirds of the anterior humerus and inserting onto the ulnar tuberosity; innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve, it flexes the elbow in all positions of forearm rotation.

Brachial plexus (plexus brachialis)

A somatic nerve plexus formed by the anterior rami of spinal nerves $\text{C5}\text{--}\text{Th1}$, organized sequentially into roots, trunks (superior, middle, inferior), divisions (anterior, posterior), and cords (lateral, medial, posterior).

Median nerve (nervus medianus)

A terminal branch of the brachial plexus formed by the union of medial and lateral roots from the medial and lateral cords ($\text{C6}\text{--}\text{Th1}$); it traverses the carpal tunnel to innervate the thenar muscles, lateral lumbricals, and skin of the radial three and a half digits on the palm.

Carpal tunnel (canalis carpi)

A fibro-osseous canal on the palmar side of the wrist bounded deeply by the carpal groove and bridged superficially by the flexor retinaculum; transmits the median nerve and the nine tendons of the long digital flexors.

Princeps pollicis artery

A branch of the radial artery arising as it enters the palm through the first dorsal interosseous muscle; provides the primary arterial supply to the thumb and produces a prominent pulse.

Acetabulum

The deep, cup-shaped socket on the lateral surface of the hip bone formed by the synostosis of the ilium, ischium, and pubis; articulates with the head of the femur to form the hip joint.

Gluteus maximus muscle

The largest and most superficial gluteal muscle, originating from the ilium, sacrum, coccyx, and sacrotuberous ligament and inserting into the iliotibial tract and gluteal tuberosity; innervated by the inferior gluteal nerve, it serves as the primary extensor and lateral rotator of the hip.

Femoral triangle (trigonum femorale)

A subfascial triangular space in the superior anterior thigh bounded superiorly by the inguinal ligament, laterally by the sartorius, and medially by the adductor longus; contains the femoral vein, artery, and nerve arranged from medial to lateral (mnemonic: VAN).

Adductor canal (canalis adductorius)

An aponeurotic tunnel in the middle third of the thigh extending between the vastus medialis and the adductor muscles, terminating distally at the adductor hiatus; conducts the femoral artery, femoral vein, and saphenous nerve.

Popliteal fossa (fossa poplitea)

A diamond-shaped space behind the knee joint containing (from superficial to deep) the tibial and common fibular nerves, popliteal vein, and popliteal artery (mnemonic: NIVEA).

Sustentaculum tali

A medial horizontal shelf-like projection of the calcaneus that supports the middle calcanean articular facet for the talus and features an inferior groove for the flexor hallucis longus tendon.

Sciatic nerve (nervus ischiadicus)

The largest nerve of the human body, arising from the sacral plexus ($\text{L4}\text{--}\text{S3}$); exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis muscle and divides near the popliteal fossa into the tibial and common fibular nerves.

Vertebra prominens (C7)

The seventh cervical vertebra, characterized by a long, prominent, non-bifid spinous process that is palpable at the base of the neck in approximately $70\%$ of individuals.

Carotid tubercle (tuberculum caroticum)

The prominent anterior tubercle on the transverse process of the $\text{C6}$ vertebra against which the common carotid artery can be manually compressed.

Foramen transversarium

An aperture located in the transverse process of each cervical vertebra ($\text{C1}\text{--}\text{C7}$); transmits the vertebral artery and vertebral veins (typically $\text{C1}\text{--}\text{C6}$ for the artery).

Zygapophysial joint (articulatio zygapophysialis)

A plane synovial facet joint formed between the superior articular process of an inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of a superior vertebra.

Ligamenta flava

Bands of yellow elastic tissue connecting the laminae of adjacent vertebrae from the axis to the sacrum that help preserve the upright posture and limit excessive forward flexion.

Erector spinae muscle

The massive intermediate intrinsic back muscle group innervated by posterior rami of spinal nerves, comprising three longitudinal columns: the spinalis (medial), longissimus (intermediate), and iliocostalis (lateral).

Triangle of auscultation (trigonum auscultationis)

A thinning of the posterior thoracic wall bounded by the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and medial border of the scapula (or rhomboid major), providing optimal auscultation of the lower lung lobes.

Sternal angle (angulus sterni)

The palpable transverse ridge formed by the manubriosternal junction at the level of the second costal cartilage, corresponding posteriorly to the intervertebral disc between $\text{T4}$ and $\text{T5}$.

Aortic hiatus (hiatus aorticus)

An aperture in the diaphragm bounded by the right and left crura and the median arcuate ligament at the level of $\text{L1}$; transmits the descending aorta, thoracic duct, and azygos vein.

Esophageal hiatus (hiatus oesophageus)

An opening formed primarily by the muscular sling of the right crus of the diaphragm at the level of $\text{T10}$; transmits the esophagus, anterior and posterior vagal trunks, and branches of the left gastric vessels.

Caval opening (foramen venae cavae)

An aperture located in the central tendon of the diaphragm at the level of $\text{T8}$; transmits the inferior vena cava and terminal branches of the right phrenic nerve.

Pulmonary acinus (acinus pulmonaris)

The basic anatomical and functional unit of the lung distal to a single terminal bronchiole, consisting of respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli where gas exchange takes place.

Costodiaphragmatic recess (recessus costodiaphragmaticus)

The largest pleural recess situated between the costal and diaphragmatic pleura along the inferior thoracic margin; it is never completely filled by lung tissue even during forced deep inspiration and is the earliest site of fluid accumulation in pleural effusion.

Mediastinum

The thick central connective tissue septum in the thoracic cavity between the two lateral pleural sacs, extending from the superior thoracic aperture down to the diaphragm.

Sinu-atrial node (SA node)

The primary physiological pacemaker of the heart, located subepicardially in the right atrium near the superior end of the sulcus terminalis and the opening of the superior vena cava, with an intrinsic discharge rate of $60\text{--}100\text{ bpm}$.

Septomarginal trabecula (moderator band)

A prominent muscular band in the inflow tract of the right ventricle extending from the interventricular septum to the base of the anterior papillary muscle; carries the right bundle branch of the conducting system.

Ligamentum arteriosum

The fibrous cord remnant of the fetal ductus arteriosus extending from the bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk (or left pulmonary artery) to the inferior concavity of the aortic arch.

Coronary sinus (sinus coronarius)

The primary venous collector of the heart, situated in the posterior portion of the coronary sulcus between the left atrium and left ventricle, draining directly into the right atrium.

Myenteric plexus (of Auerbach)

The major intrinsic nerve network of the enteric nervous system situated between the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers of the muscularis externa; primarily regulates gastrointestinal motility and peristalsis.

Linea terminalis (pelvic brim)

The oblique bony ridge on the inner pelvis formed by the sacral promontory, the arcuate lines of the ilia, the pectineal lines of the pubes, and the pubic crest; divides the greater (false) pelvis from the lesser (true) pelvis.

True conjugate (conjugata vera)

The shortest anteroposterior diameter of the pelvic inlet, measured from the sacral promontory to the most prominent point on the posterior surface of the pubic symphysis (approximately $11\text{ cm}$).

Omental bursa (bursa omentalis)

A large irregular peritoneal space (lesser sac) located predominantly posterior to the stomach and lesser omentum, communicating with the greater peritoneal sac solely through the epiploic foramen (of Winslow).

Medial plantar artery (arteria plantaris medialis)

The weaker medial terminal branch of the posterior tibial artery that supplies the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis muscles.

Lateral plantar artery (arteria plantaris lateralis)

The larger lateral terminal branch of the posterior tibial artery that passes between the flexor digitorum brevis and quadratus plantae muscles to form the deep plantar arch.