BIO120 ANATOMICAL TERMS, TORSO, ORGANS

gross anatomy

body structures visible to the naked eye

anatomical position

body erect, feet slightly apart, head and toes pointed forward, arms at side, palms facing forward; right is viewers left, left is viewers right

axial region

head, neck, trunk, runs along the vertical axis of the body

appendicular region

limbs/appendages/extremities

anterior/ventral

front

posterior/dorsal

back

superior

top

inferior

bottom

medial

toward midline; ex: umbilical region

lateral

away from midline; ex: arms

cephalad/cranial

toward head (superior in humans, anterior in animals)

caudal

toward tail (inferior in humans, posterior in animals)

ventral

belly side (anterior in humans, inferior in animals/quadrupeds)

dorsal

backside (posterior in humans, superior in animals/quadrupeds)

superficial

closer to surface of skin; ex: epidermis

deep

more internal than toward the surface of skin; ex: dermis

proximal

nearer to point of attachment; ex: elbow is proximal to fingers (elbow is closer to point of attachment)

distal

further from point of attachment; ex: fingers are distal to elbow

sagittal plane

longitudinal (left to right), cuts that produce equal parts. when it's exactly in the middle, it's called a median or midsagittal plane

frontal/coronal plane

divides body into anterior/ventral and posterior/dorsal parts (front and back)

transverse plane

runs horizontally (top and bottom), produces sections called cross sections

(a) cephalic area

head area

(a) frontal

foreheaed

(a) orbital

eyes

(a) nasal

nose

(a) buccal

cheeks

(a) oral

mouth

(a) mental

chin

(a) cervical

neck

(a) thoracic area

chest area

(a) deltoid

shoulder

(a) sternal

middle of chest

(a) axillary

armpit

(a) mammary

breast

(a) abdominal area

stomach area

(a) umbilical

naval, centermost part of abdominal region

(a) pelvic area

pelvis area

(a) inguinal

groin

(a) pubic

genital

(p) cephalic area

head area

(p) otic

ear

(p) occipital

lower back of head

(p) cervical area

neck area

(p) dorsal area

back area

(p) scapula

shoulder blades

(p) vertebral

middle back, spine region

(p) lumbar

lower back

(p) sacral

tail bone

(p) gluteal

glutes

(p) perineal

between anus and external genitalia

upper limb area

arm area

acromial

tip of shoulder

brachial

bicep part

(a) antecubital (anterior only)

anterior surface of the elbow, where you get blood drawn

(p) olecranal (posterior only)

back of elbow

antebrachial

forearm

(a) carpal (anterior only)

wrist

manus area

hand area

(a) palmar (anterior only)

palm

(a) pollex (anterior only)

thumb

digital

fingers

lower limb area

leg area

coxal

hip

femoral

thigh

(a) patellar (anterior only)

kneecap

(p) popliteal (posterior only)

back of knee

(a) crural (anterior only)

shin

(p) sural (posterior only)

calves

fibular/peroneal

outer side of crural/sural/lower limb

pedal area

foot area

(a) tarsal (anterior only)

ankle

calcaneal

heel, think calloused heels

(a) digital (anterior only)

toes

plantar

sole of foot

(a) hallux (anterior only)

large toe

umbilical

centermost region; small intestine and transverse colon of large intestine

epigastric

superior to umbilical region; stomach

hypogastric

inferior to umbilical region; urinary bladder

left and right inguinal/iliac

lateral to hypogastric region (away from bottom middle); cecum and appendix (right); initial part of sigmoid colon (left)

left and right lumbar

lateral to umbilical region (away from middle); ascending colon of large intestine (right); descending colon of large intestine (left)

left and right hypochondriac

lateral to epigastric region (away from top middle); liver and gallbladder (right); diaphragm and spleen (left)

dorsal cavity

cranial cavity (brain) + vertebral cavity (spinal cord)

ventral cavity

thoracic cavity + abdominopelvic cavity

thoracic cavity

heart + lungs

(superior) abdominal cavity

stomach, intestines, liver, etc.

(inferior) pelvic cavity

reproductive organs, urinary bladder, rectum

oral cavity

mouth, contains tongue and teeth, plays a role in digestive system

nasal cavity

within and posterior to the nose, a passage of the respiratory system

orbital cavity

contains the eyes and present them in an anterior position

middle ear cavity

medial to an eardrum. these cavities contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to the hearing receptors in the inner ears

synovial cavities

joint cavities like in knees, enclosed with fibrous capsules. membranes lining these cavities secrete synovial fluid that reduces friction

cell

basic unit/building block of life

tissue

group of cells that are similar in structure and function; ex: epithelial, muscular, nervous, connective

organ

2+ tissue types performing a specific function; ex: stomach

organ system

group of organs; ex: digestive system

lymphatic/immune

picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and returns it to the blood; cleanses blood of pathogens; contains spleen, lymphatic vessels

respiratory

keeps the blood supplied with oxygen while removing CO2, contains lungs, trachea, bronchi

digestive

breaks down food, abosrbs its nutrients, and excretes it; contains stomach, intestines, liver

urinary

rids of nitrogen-containing wastes like urea, uric acid, and ammonia; contains kidneys, bladders, ureters

reproductive

produces sperms and eggs; the uterus holds the developing fetus until birth; contains testes, sperm (males); ovary, ovum (females)