Anatomical Terminology Lab Practical Review: Focus on Cavity and Region Names

Ventral

toward the front or belly

used in animals mostly

same as anterior

Cranial Cavity

contains the brain and pituitary gland

Anatomical Position

Body standing erect with hands to the side and palms facing forward

Sagittal Plane

Vertical plane that passes anterior to posterior, divides that body into left and right halves

Anterior

Forward, toward the ventral side

Ventral cavity

from the shoulder to pelvis

Cranial

Toward the head or superior end

Vertebral Cavity

contains the spinal cord

antecubital

Caudal

toward the tail or inferior end

patellar

lungs

Pleura

lines body cavities closed to exterior (serious)

Serous membrane

Superior

above, towards the top

Head is superior

Inferior

below, towards the bottom

feet are inferior

membrane that lines body cavities

Parietal layer

Medial

towards the midline

Pelvic Cavity

contains colon, rectum, urinary bladder, uterus

nasal

Posterior

backward, towards the dorsal side

Renal

pertaining to the kidney

covers outside of organs

Visceral layer

parietal pleura

outer layer of pleura lying closer to the ribs and chest wall

Pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

serous membrane

Membrane that lines a cavity without an opening to the outside of the body

thorax

anterior view

Distal

farther from the point of attachment or origin

Gastric

pertaining to the stomach

Abdominopelvic cavity

the abdominal and pelvic cavities together

surrounds lungs

Pleura

surrounds heart

Pericardium

Protection, heat loss/retention, excretion of urea/uric acid, makes vitamin D

4 functions of skin

Abdominal Cavity

contains stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and intestines

abdominal

Dorsal

Upper side or back of plant, animal, or human (sharks have a dorsal fin)

Pericardial cavity

contains the heart

tough skin cells

keratin

visceral pleura

inner layer of pleura lying closer to the lung tissue

Dermal papilla

Identify the projections.

Cranial

Relating to the skull

sagittal plane

vertical plane passing through the body from front to back at the midline, dividing the body equally into right and left halves

Lateral

toward the side

Deep

extending far down from the top or surface

Appendicular

upper and lower limbs

frontal

Proximal

closer to the point of attachment or origin

Directional terms

explain precisely where one body structure is in relation to another

serous cavity

potential space between parietal and visceral layer

cervical

femoral

Hepatic

pertaining to the liver

Superficial

closer to the body surface

dorsal body cavity

contains the cranial cavity and spinal column (CNS)

plantar

thoracic cavity

contains heart and lungs; contains the mediastinum and is a component of the ventral body cavity

interpleural cavity

space between lungs that contains heart vessels, esophagus and trachea

antebrachial

Spinal

pertaining to the spine

pleural

lungs

cardiac

pertaining to the heart

Anatomy

The study of body structure

supine

lying face up

prone

lying face down

transverse plane (horizontal plane)

divides the body into upper and lower portions

sural

coronal (frontal) plane

vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

Physiology

Study of function

gluteal

axillary

skeletal muscle

found next to bones and covered by fascia; functions in movement

parietal pericardium

lines the pericardial cavity

parietal peritoneum

the outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the interior of the abdominal wall

visceral peritoneum

covers abdominal organs

mental

occipital

brachial

calcanea

digital

inguinal

buccal

Midsagittal

vertical plane passing through the body from front to back at the midline, dividing the body equally into right and left halves

pectoral

mammary

popliteal

pedal

carpal

Axial

head, neck, trunk

otic

lumbar

oral

acromial

crural

palmar

Mediastinum

area between the lungs containing the heart, aorta, venae cavae, esophagus, and trachea

pubic

Diaphragm

Muscle that separates the thoracic portion of the ventral body cavity from the abdominopelvic portion

orbital

sternal

tarsal

facial