BIOL 109 LAB Practical 1 Study Guide - Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of anatomy vocabulary covering directional terms, planes, regional terms, body cavities, organ systems, integumentary structures, tissues, and the axial/appendicular skeleton with major bones and landmarks.

Superior

Toward the head; upper part of a structure (cranial/cephalic).

Inferior

Toward the feet; lower part of a structure (caudal).

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Anterior

Toward the front of the body (ventral).

Posterior

Toward the back of the body (dorsal).

Proximal

Near the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Superficial

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep

Away from the surface; internal.

Sagittal plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into left and right parts.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Midsagittal plane

Sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

Parasagittal plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into unequal left and right parts.

Anterior View

Front-facing view or description of the body.

Abdominal

Region of the body pertaining to the abdomen.

Crural

Shin/knee region; leg area.

Palmar

Palm of the hand.

Antebrachial

Forearm region.

Digital

Fingers or toes.

Patellar

Knee region.

Antecubital

Front of the elbow region.

Femoral

Thigh region.

Pedal

Foot region.

Axillary

Armpit region.

Frontal

Forehead region or the frontal bone area.

Pelvic

Pelvis region.

Brachial

Arm region.

Inguinal

Groin region.

Pubic

Genital/pubic region.

Buccal

Cheek region or mouth-related region.

Nasal

Nose region.

Sternal

Breastbone region.

Carpal

Wrist bones.

Oral

Mouth region.

Tarsal

Ankle region.

Cervical

Neck region or cervical vertebrae.

Orbital

Eye socket region.

Cephalic

Head region.

Occipital

Posterior skull region; occipital bone.

Gluteal

Buttocks region.

Plantar

Sole of the foot.

Lumbar

Lower back region.

Vertebral

Spinal column region.

Thoracic cavity

Cavity housing the heart and lungs within the rib cage.

Cranial cavity

Dorsal body cavity that houses the brain.

Vertebral (spinal) cavity

Dorsal cavity within the vertebral column that houses the spinal cord.

Dorsal body cavity

Back side body cavity containing brain and spinal cord.

Ventral body cavity

Front body cavity containing thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Pleural cavities

Two cavities surrounding the lungs within the thoracic cavity.

Pericardial cavity

Cavity containing the heart within the mediastinum.

Mediastinum

Central compartment of the thoracic cavity between the lungs.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Cavity that combines the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal cavity

Cavity housing organs of digestion.

Pelvic cavity

Cavity housing reproductive and some urinary organs.

Right upper quadrant (RUQ)

Upper-right quadrant of the abdomen (e.g., liver, gallbladder).

Left upper quadrant (LUQ)

Upper-left quadrant of the abdomen (e.g., stomach, spleen).

Right lower quadrant (RLQ)

Lower-right quadrant of the abdomen (e.g., appendix).

Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

Lower-left quadrant of the abdomen (e.g., sigmoid colon).

Integumentary system

Protective body system; includes skin and accessories; functions in protection, temperature regulation, and sensation.

Endocrine system

Glands producing hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

Digestive system

Organ system that breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste.

Skeletal system

Supports the body, protects organs, assists movement, stores minerals, and forms blood cells.

Cardiovascular system

Heart and vessels supplying blood throughout the body.

Urinary system

Organs that remove waste and regulate water and electrolyte balance.

Muscular system

Muscles that produce movement and maintain posture.

Lymphatic system

Returns fluid to blood and defends against infection; includes lymph nodes.

Reproductive system

Organs involved in producing offspring.

Nervous system

Fast-acting control system; responds to internal and external changes.

Respiratory system

Gas exchange system; supplies oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.

Epidermis

Outer skin layer; provides protection; avascular.

Dermis

Middle skin layer; contains vessels, nerves, and glands.

Hypodermis

Not part of skin; subcutaneous layer beneath the dermis.

Stratum corneum

Outermost epidermal layer of dead cells.

Stratum lucidum

Thin, clear layer in thick skin (palms/soles) between granulosum and corneum.

Stratum granulosum

Granular layer of epidermis; keratinization begins here.

Stratum spinosum

Spiny layer of epidermis; strengthens skin.

Stratum basale

Deepest epidermal layer; contains stem cells and melanocytes.

Papillary layer

Superficial dermal layer; contains dermal papillae and capillaries.

Reticular layer

Deeper dermal layer; contains dense connective tissue.

Dermal papillae

Fingerlike projections that strengthen the dermal-epidermal junction.

Sebaceous gland

Oil-secreting gland associated with hair follicles.

Merocrine (eccrine) sweat gland

Sweat gland widespread on body; produces watery perspiration.

Apocrine sweat gland

Sweat gland in specific areas; associated with hair follicles and odor.

Nail

Hard accessory structure protecting the dorsal fingertips.

Hair shaft

Part of hair that projects above the skin surface.

Hair root

Hair portion beneath the skin within a hair follicle.

Nail plate

Hard, visible nail at the tip of the finger or toe.

Nail folds

Folds of skin surrounding the nail plate.

Eponychium

Also called cuticle; skin at the nail border.

Lunula

Pale crescent area at the base of the nail.

Arrector pili muscle

Muscle that raises hair (goosebumps) when activated.

Meissner’s corpuscle

Touch receptor in the dermal papillae; detects light touch.

Pacinian corpuscle

Pressure and vibration receptor in the dermis.

Nail matrix

Tissue that produces new nail cells.

Simple squamous epithelium

Flat, single-layer epithelium; rapid diffusion (e.g., alveoli).

Simple columnar epithelium

Tall, single-layer cells; often with microvilli/goblet cells; absorption/secretion.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Multiple cell layer; protects against abrasion (e.g., skin, esophagus).

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Cube-shaped, single-layer; secretion and absorption (kidney tubules).