Important Terminology for Basics of Ch 1

Sagittal plane

divides body into left and right

midsagittal plane

divides the body into equal right and left sides

parasagittal plane

Divides body into unequal right and left sides

frontal plane (aka coronal)

Divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

transverse plane (aka horizontal or cross-sectional plane)

divides body into upper and lower portions

superior

above (an example: the head in relation to the neck)

inferior (word association tip: Dante's Inferno)

below (an example: the neck in relation to the head)

Anterior

in front of (an example: the canines in relation to the molars)

Posterior

behind (an example: the molars in relation to the incisors)

medial

Toward the midline of the body (an example: the nose in relation to the eyes; the word means what it sounds like)

Lateral

away from the midline (an example: the eyes in relation to the nose)

proximal (tip: think proximity)

Closer to the main axis of the body (an example: the shoulder in relation to the wrist)

distal (tip: think distance)

away from the point of attachment (an example: the wrist in relation to the shoulder)

intermediate (aka middle)

between two structures

deep

away from the surface/beneath another structure (an example: the ribs in relation to the pectoralis major)

superficial

closer to the surface than another structure (an example: the pectoralis major in relation to the ribs)

Cranial or Cephalad

toward the head

caudal

the tail; directionally, toward the tail

head

cranial or cephalic

neck

cervical

gills

branchial

trunk

thoracic

chest

pectoral

armpit

axillary

arm (shoulder to elbow)

brachial

forearm

elbow to wrist

wrist

carpal

stomach

abdominal

lower back

lumbar

sacral

buttocks

pelvic

hip and pubic area

thigh

hip to knee

popliteal

back of knee

leg

knee to ankle

tarsal

ankle

axial skeleton

structures on the main axis of the body; consists of the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage

appendicular (think appendages)

structures consisting of the limbs and associate girdles (pelvic/pectoral)

classes of cartilage

hyaline, fibrocartilage, elastic, calcified (aka mineralized)

osteology

Study of bones and the skeleton

long bones

bones that are longer than they are wide (examples: the femur and the humerus)

short bones

bones of the wrist (carpal) and ankles (tarsal); subclass is sesamoid bones (the patella)

sesamoid bones

subclass of short bones; indirect skeletal attachment; example: patella

flat bones

thin, flattened, and usually curved; examples are some bones of the skull and the ribs; can be easily confused with long bones

irregular bones

bones of the vertebrae; odd shapes that don't fit in the other categories

epiphyses

"heads" of a long bone

proximal epiphysis

the end of the bone closer to the axial skeleton

distal epiphysis

the end of the bone located further from the axial skeleton

diaphysis

shaft of a long bone

epiphyseal plate

where bone growth occurs

epiphyseal line

remnant of the epiphyseal plate, seen in adult bones

medullary cavity

cavity within the shaft of the long bones filled with yellow bone marrow (packed with adipose tissue)

compact bone tissue

the strongest form of bone tissue that makes up the outer layer of cortical bone

spongy bone tissue

hard, lightweight tissue of bone that has many spaces; where red marrow is found

foramen

"hole"

fissure

a long narrow opening

meatus

"canal"

fossa

a depression on a bone surface

fovea

pit in the surface of a bone

sulcus

groove on the surface of a bone

tubercle

small rounded projection/elevation on a bone

tuberosity

rough elevation on a bone

line

shallow linear elevation

crest

linear elevation; higher/more raised than a line

process

an extension/projection of a bone

condyle

flared extension of a long bone to allow for better attachment; add to strength/stability of a joint

condyloid

a condyle-like structure found on a bone that is not a long bone

epicondyle

Raised area on or above a condyle; anchoring points for ligaments

coronoid

a wave-like extension of a bone

malleolus

a flattened projection

ramus

bridge-like structure

ala

wing-shaped structure

articulating surface

a smooth area for bone to bone attachment

facet

articulating surface (full moon)

demifacet

half of an articulating surface (half moon)

cornu

horn-shaped extension of bone

apophyses

Projections on the vertebrae that articulate with ribs

pedicle

base of vertebral arch

lamina

roof and sides of vertebral arch

hemal arch

present in some vertebrates; located in tail; called chevron bones in amniotes

diapophyses (transverse process)

articulate with ribs; attach to tuberculum of rib in vertebrates with biccipital ribs

parapophysis

found in vertebrates with biccipital (2 headed) ribs; attaches to capitulum of rib

zygapophyses

articulating surfaces; attachment between successive vertebrae

prezygapophyses (cranial/superior articulating process)

allow one vertebra to attach to the vertebra in front of it

postzygapophyses (caudal/inferior articulating process)

allow one vertebra to attach to the vertebra behind it