Unit 2 Med-Term

Standard Anatomical Position

The agreed-upon reference posture used globally in medicine and biology to describe the human body.

Acromial

Pertaining to the acromion (point of the shoulder)

Antebrachial

Pertaining to the forearm

Antecubital

Pertaining to the area in front of the elbow

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front or belly-side of the body

Anteroposterior

Passing from the anterior (front) toward the posterior (back) of the body

Axillary

Pertaining to the armpit

Bilateral

Pertaining to two sides

Brachial

Pertaining to the upper arm

Buccal

Pertaining to the cheek

Calcaneal

Pertaining to the heel bone

Carpal

Pertaining to the wrist

Caudal

Toward the tailbone

Cephalic

Pertaining to the head, toward the head

Cephalocaudal

Pattern of growth and development that proceeds from the head downward to the feet

Cervical

Pertaining to the neck

Coxal

Pertaining to the hip

Cranial

Pertaining to the skull

Crural

Pertaining to the leg, specifically the shin bone

Cubital

Pertaining to the elbow

Deep

More internal, further inside the body, away from the body surface

Digital

Pertaining to the fingers or toes

Distal

Situated farther away from the center of the body, the trunk, or the point where a limb attaches to the body.

External

Outer part of the body

Femoral

Pertaining to the thigh

Fibular

Refers to the lateral side of the lower leg

Frontal

Pertaining to the forehead

Genital

Pertaining to the reproductive organs

Gluteal

Pertaining to the buttocks

Inferior

Positioned below or toward the feet

Inguinal

Pertaining to the groin

Internal

Inside the body

Lateral

Farther away from the midline, toward the side of the body

Left

The left-hand side of a person in standard anatomical position

Lumbar

Pertaining to the low back region and the 5 vertebrae between the chest and sacrum

Mammary

Pertaining to the breast region

Medial

Toward the midline, or center, of the body

Mental

Pertaining to the chin

Metacarpal

Pertaining to the hand bones

Midline

An imaginary center line splitting the body into right and left halves

Nasal

Pertaining to the nose

Occipital

Pertaining to the back of the head

Olecranal

Pertaining to the olecranon, or the bony tip/pointy part of the elbow

Oral

Pertaining to the mouth

Orbital

Pertaining to the eye or eye socket

Otic

Pertaining to the ear

Palmar

Pertaining to the palm of the hand

Parietal

Pertaining to the outer wall of a body cavity

Patellar

Pertaining to the kneecap (patella)

Pectoral

Pertaining to the chest

Perineal

Pertaining to the perineum (the patch of flesh between the penis or vulva and anus)

Plantar

Pertaining to the sole or bottom surface of the foot

Popliteal

Pertaining to the back (hollow) of the knee

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back or rear side of the body

Posteroanterior

Passing from the posterior (back) toward the anterior (front) of the body

Prone

Lying face down with palms downward

Proximal

Situated nearer to the center of the body, the trunk, or the point where a limb attaches to the body

Pubic

Refers to the genital region

Right

The right-hand side of a person in standard anatomical position

Sacral

Pertaining to the triangular bone at the base of the spine

Scapular

Pertaining to the scapula, or shoulder blades located on the upper back

Sternal

Pertaining to the sternum (breastbone)

Superficial

Toward the body surface, closer to the skin

Superior

Positioned above or higher than another part of the body

Supine

Lying flat on the back with palms facing upward

Sural

Relating to or located in the calf

Tarsal

Pertaining to the ankle

Thoracic

Pertaining to the chest (thorax)

Umbilical

Pertains to the navel or belly button

Unilateral

Pertaining to one side

Vertebral

Relating to the spine or backbone

Visceral

Pertaining to the internal organs

Anatomical planes

In anatomy, the body can be cut into three imaginary, flat sections

The transverse plane, horizontal plane or axial plane.

divides the body horizontally into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions.

The frontal plane, coronal plane.

divides the body vertically into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

The sagittal plane

divides the body vertically into right and left portions.

The midsagittal plane, or median sagittal plane,

cuts straight down the exact middle of the body, creating two halves, the left

and right side.

The parasagittal plane

cuts off-center, creating unequal left and right portions.

The oblique plane

is an imaginary flat surface that cuts through the body or organ at a slanted angle that is neither horizontal nor vertical.

Anatomy

the study of body structures.

Physiology

the study of the functions of those structures.

Pathophysiology

the study of disease.

Body cavities

spaces within the body that contain and protect internal organs and body structures. The two main cavities are the dorsal and ventral cavities.

The dorsal cavity

protects the organs and tissues within the back side of the body. It is divided into two separate cavities: the cranial and spinal cavities.

The cranial cavity

located within the skull and protects the brain.

Middle ear cavity

an air-filled space carved into the temporal bone, located between the ear drum and inner ear

Orbital cavity

a cone-shaped bony socket in the skull that houses and protects the eye

Nasal cavity

an air-filled space behind the nose, divided vertically by the nasal septum

Oral cavity

the mouth, bounded by lips, cheeks, palate, and tongue, extending into the pharynx (throat).

The spinal cavity

located within the spinal column and protects the spinal cord.

The ventral cavity

protects the organs and tissues within the front side of the body. The ventral cavity is divided into three separate cavities: the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities.

The thoracic cavity, or chest cavity

protects the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels that run through the chest.

The diaphragm

a large muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities; it plays an important role in breathing.

The pleural cavity

the space between the outside of the lungs and interior chest wall.

The mediastinum

the central compartment of the chest, located between the two lungs, and containing the heart, major blood vessels, trachea, esophagus, thymus,and nerves.

The pericardial cavity

the small, fluid-filled space surrounding the heart. This is located within the mediastinum and lies between the layers of the pericardium.

the pericardium

which is a protective sac around the heart where fluid helps reduce friction as

the heart beats.

The abdominal cavity

contains the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, and parts of the large intestine.

Iliac crests

form the upper borders of the largest pelvic bone.

The pelvic cavity

contains the urinary bladder, urethra, portions of the large intestine, and reproductive organs.