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Anatomical Position and Terminology

  • Anatomical Position: Hands at side, palms facing forward.
  • Supine: Lying face up.
  • Prone: Lying face down.
  • Anterior: Toward the front of the body.
  • Posterior: Toward the back of the body.
  • Superior: Toward the head.
  • Inferior: Away from the head.
  • Proximal: Nearer to limb attachment to the trunk.
  • Distal: Farther from limb attachment to the trunk.
  • Lateral: Farther from midline.
  • Medial: Nearer to midline.

Sectional Anatomy

  • Sagittal Plane: Divides body left and right.
    • Midsagittal: Equal left and right.
    • Parasagittal: Unequal left and right.
  • Transverse Plane: Divides body into superior and inferior.
  • Frontal Plane: Divides body into anterior and posterior.
  • Oblique Plane: Cuts tissue at an angle.

Body Cavities

  • Thoracic Cavity:
    • Pleural Cavity: Contains lungs.
    • Pericardial Cavity: Contains heart.
    • Mediastinal Cavity: Space between apex of lungs.
  • Abdominopelvic Cavity: Contains peritoneal cavity, urinary bladder.
  • Membranes:
    • Parietal Membrane: Nearest to body wall.
    • E.g., parietal pleura, parietal pericardium.
    • Visceral Membrane: Nearest to organs.
    • E.g., visceral pleura, visceral pericardium.

Cell Organelles and Functions

  • Ribosomes:
    • Location: Free in cytoplasm or attached to rough ER.
    • Function: Protein synthesis.
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum:
    • Location: Surrounding nucleus, spread in cytoplasm.
    • Function: Protein transport, lipid synthesis, detoxification.
  • Golgi Apparatus:
    • Location: Near nucleus.
    • Function: Packages and ships proteins.
  • Lysosomes:
    • Location: In cytoplasm.
    • Function: Breakdown of waste.
  • Peroxisomes:
    • Location: Cytoplasm, many in liver and kidney cells.
    • Function: Breakdown of toxins and hydrogen peroxide.
  • Mitochondria:
    • Location: Cytoplasm.
    • Function: Energy production (ATP).
  • Centrioles:
    • Location: Near nucleus.
    • Function: Assist with cell division, form cilia.
  • Cytoskeleton:
    • Location: Throughout cytoplasm.
    • Function: Provides shape, support, and movement to the cell.

Cell Cycle Stages

  • Interphase: Cell growth and DNA synthesis.
    • G1 Phase: Growth phase.
    • S Phase: DNA synthesis phase.
    • G2 Phase: Final preparations for division.
  • Mitotic Phase:
    • Prophase: Chromosomes condense.
    • Prometaphase: Nuclear envelope breaks down.
    • Metaphase: Chromosomes align in the middle.
    • Anaphase: Chromosomes separate to poles.
    • Telophase: Nuclear envelopes reform.
    • Cytokinesis: Division of cytoplasm.
  • Meiosis: Similar phases but includes two rounds of division (Meiosis I & II).