General Organization of the Human Body and Organ Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering body organization, anatomical position, directional and regional terms, body planes, cavities, serous membranes, abdominopelvic divisions, organ systems, and organ identification.

Anatomical Position

Standard body orientation in which the body is erect, feet are slightly apart, palms face forward, thumbs point away from the body, and right and left refer to the subject or cadaver.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; located above.

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; located below.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward or at the back of the body; behind.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of.

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface.

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Ipsilateral

Located on or referring to the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Located on or referring to the opposite side of the body.

Axial Division

Main body division consisting of the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Division

Main body division consisting of the limbs (appendages) attached to the body's axis.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts.

Midsagittal (median) Plane

A specific sagittal plane lying directly in the midline, dividing the body into equal left and right halves.

Parasagittal Plane

A sagittal plane offset from the midline, dividing the body into unequal left and right parts.

Frontal (coronal) Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Transverse (horizontal) Plane

A horizontal plane running from right to left, dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts; produces a cross section.

Oblique Section

A cut made diagonally between horizontal and vertical planes.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Internal cavity that protects nervous system organs; subdivided into cranial cavity and vertebral cavity.

Cranial Cavity

Subdivision of the dorsal body cavity located within the skull that holds the brain.

Vertebral Cavity

Subdivision of the dorsal body cavity located within the bony vertebral column that holds the spinal cord.

Ventral Body Cavity

Internal cavity that houses visceral organs; subdivided into thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Thoracic Cavity

Superior subdivision of the ventral cavity, surrounded by ribs and chest muscles, containing pleural cavities and mediastinum.

Pleural Cavities

Lateral subdivisions of the thoracic cavity that each envelope a lung.

Mediastinum

Medial region of the thoracic cavity containing the pericardial cavity, esophagus, trachea, and thymus.

Pericardial Cavity

Cavity located within the mediastinum that holds the heart.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Inferior subdivision of the ventral cavity separated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm, containing abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Abdominal Cavity

Superior division of the abdominopelvic cavity containing stomach, intestines, spleen, appendix, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Pelvic Cavity

Inferior division of the abdominopelvic cavity containing the urinary bladder, rectum, and some reproductive organs.

Parietal Serosa

The layer of thin double-layered serous membrane lining the walls of the ventral body cavity.

Visceral Serosa

The layer of thin double-layered serous membrane covering the outer surface of organs in the ventral body cavity.

Serous Fluid

Fluid that separates parietal and visceral serous membranes to reduce friction.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Four divisions of the abdominopelvic cavity (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ) used primarily by medical personnel.

Abdominopelvic Regions

Nine divisions of the abdominopelvic cavity resembling a tic-tac-toe grid, used primarily by anatomists.

Integumentary System

Forms the external body covering, protects deeper tissues from injury, synthesizes vitamin D, houses cutaneous receptors, and sweat and oil glands. Components: Skin, Hair, Nails.

Skeletal System

Protects and supports body organs, provides a framework muscles use to cause movement, forms blood cells within bones, and stores minerals. Components: Bones, Joint.

Muscular System

Allows manipulation of the environment, locomotion, and facial expression; maintains posture and produces heat. Component: Skeletal muscles.

Nervous System

Fast-acting control system of the body; responds to internal and external changes by activating appropriate muscles and glands. Components: Brain, Spinal cord, Nerves.

Endocrine System

Glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells. Components: Pineal, Pituitary, Thyroid, Thymus, Adrenal glands, Pancreas, Ovary, Testis.

Cardiovascular System

Blood vessels transport blood carrying oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, wastes; heart pumps blood. Components: Heart, Blood vessels.

Lymphatic System/Immunity

Picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to blood; disposes of debris; houses white blood cells (lymphocytes); mounts attack against foreign substances. Components: Red bone marrow, Thymus, Lymphatic vessels, Thoracic duct, Spleen, Lymph nodes.

Respiratory System

Keeps blood constantly supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide through the walls of the air sacs of the lungs. Components: Nasal cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchus, Lung.

Digestive System

Breaks down food into absorbable units that enter the blood for distribution to body cells; indigestible foodstuffs are eliminated as feces. Components: Oral cavity, Esophagus, Liver, Stomach, Small intestine, Large intestine, Rectum, Anus.

Urinary System

Eliminates nitrogenous wastes from the body; regulates water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance of the blood. Components: Kidney, Ureter, Urinary bladder, Urethra.

Male Reproductive System

Overall function is production of offspring; testes produce sperm and male sex hormone, while male ducts and glands aid in delivery of sperm to the female tract. Components: Prostate, Penis, Testis, Scrotum, Ductus deferens.

Female Reproductive System

Ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones; remaining structures serve as sites for fertilization and development of fetus; mammary glands produce milk. Components: Mammary glands, Ovary, Uterus, Vagina, Uterine tube.

Brain

Organ of the nervous system located in the cranial cavity of the dorsal body cavity.

Spinal Cord

Organ of the nervous system located in the vertebral (spinal) cavity of the dorsal body cavity.

Larynx

Structure of the respiratory system located superior to the trachea in the neck.

Thyroid Gland

Endocrine gland located in the anterior neck inferior to the larynx.

Heart

Cardiovascular organ located within the pericardial cavity of the mediastinum in the thoracic cavity.

Trachea

Respiratory airway structure located inferior to the larynx in the mediastinum.

Diaphragm

Skeletal muscle separating the superior thoracic cavity from the inferior abdominopelvic cavity.

Stomach

Digestive organ located in the abdominal cavity, primarily in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) / epigastric region.

Large Intestine

Digestive organ situated in the abdominal and pelvic cavities, framing the small intestine.

Pancreas

Glandular organ located in the abdominal cavity functioning in both the digestive and endocrine systems.

Liver

Large digestive organ located in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) / right hypochondriac region of the abdominal cavity.

Kidneys

Paired urinary organs located retroperitoneally in the posterior abdominal cavity.

Ureters

Paired urinary tubes extending from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

Spleen

Lymphatic organ located in the left hypochondriac region of the abdominal cavity.

Urinary Bladder

Urinary storage organ located in the pelvic cavity / hypogastric region.