Anatomical Terminology Quiz
transverse
- a cut along the horizontal plane that divides the body or organ into superior and inferior parts - also called a cross section
frontal (coronal)
- a cut along the lengthwise plane that divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior regions
saggital
- a cut along the lengthwise/longitudinal plane of the body dividing the body or organ into right and left sections/pieces
median/midsaggital
- a cut along the longitudinal/lengthwise plane of the body and divides body or organs into equal right and left halves
spinal cavity
- a subdivision of the dorsal cavity - extends from the cranial to the end of the vertebral column - surrounded by vertebrae - houses the spinal cord
thoracic cavity
- a subdivision of the ventral cavity - separated from the rest by diaphragm - contains mediastinum - surrounded by ribs, sternum, vertebrae and diaphragm - houses lungs and heart, etc.
superior
- above - ex: shoulders are superior to elbows
tarsal
- ankel region - anterior body landmark
adbominal
- anterior body trunk inferior to ribs
patellar
- anterior knee
antecubital
- anterior surface of elbow
sacral
- area between hips (tailbone region) - posterior body landmark
lumbar
- area of back between ribs and hips - posterior body landmark
vertebral
- area of spine - posterior body landmark
pelvic
- area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
inguinal (groin)
- area where thigh meets body trunk; groin - anterior body landmark
brachial
- arm - anterior body landmark
axillary
- armpit - anterior body landmark
lateral
- away from the center of the body - know pic: stick figure with midline and arrows going away from line - ex: the arms are lateral to the chest
inferior
- below - ex: feet are inferior to the knees
anatomical position
- body erect - arms at sides with palms facing forward - thumbs facing upward - feet shoulder width apart and facing front
sternal
- breastbone area - anterior body landmark
gluteal
- buttock - posterior body landmark
buccal
- cheek area - anterior body landmark
thoracic
- chest - anterior body landmark
superficial/external
- closer to surface of the body - ex: muscles are superficial to organs
pelvic cavity
- contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum - is the inferior section of the abdominopelvic cavity
abdominal cavity
- contains the stomach, liver, intestines, and other organs - is the superior section of the abdominopelvic cavity
deltoid
- curve of shoulder formed by large deltoid muscle - anterior body landmark
orbital
- eye area - anterior body landmark
deep/internal
- farther from surface of the body - ex: the lungs are deep to the rib cage
digital
- finger, toes - anterior body landmarks
antebrachial (forearm)
- forearm - anterior body landmark
frontal
- forehead - anterior body landmark
pubic (genital)
- genital region - anterior body landmark
dorsal body cavity
- has two subdivisions: cranial and spinal cavities which are continuous with one another - is an internal body cavity
cephalic
- head
calcaneal
- heel of foot - posterior body landmark
coxal
- hip - anterior body landmark
ventral body cavity
- larger internal body cavity than dorsal - includes the abdominopelvic and thoracic cavities
fibular
- lateral part of leg - anterior body landmark
crural
- leg-- specifically the shin - anterior body landmark
oral
- mouth - anterior body landmark
umbilical
- navel - anterior body landmark
cervical
- neck region
nasal
- nose area - anterior body lankmark
cranial cavity
- one subdivision of the dorsal cavity - the space inside of the bony skull - houses the brain
open body cavities
- oral cavity (mouth): contains teeth and tongue; continuous with the cavity of digestive organs - nasal cavity: located within and posterior to the nose; part of the respiratory passageways - orbital cavities: house the eyes and present them in an anterior position - middle ear cavities: lie medial to the eardrums; contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to the hearing receptors int he inner ears
acromial
- point of shoulder - anterior body landmark
popliteal
- posterior knee area
olecranal
- posterior surface of elbow
occipital
- posterior surface of head
nine abdominopelvic regions
- r/l hypochondriac regions - epigastric region - r/l lumbar regions - umbilical region - r/l iliac regions - hypogastric region
distal
- refers to limbs - farther from body trunk - ex: the knee is distal to the thigh
proximal
- refers to the limbs - closer to body trunk - ex: the elbow is proximal to the wrist
scapular
- shoulder blade region - posterior body landmark
mediastinum
- the central region that separates the lungs into the right and left cavities in the thoracic cavity - it houses the heart, trachea and other organs
diaphragm
- the dome-shaped muscle that separate the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic one
abdominopelvic cavity
- the other subdivision of the ventral cavity - can be split into abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity - houses digestive system organs, reproductive organs, and urinary system organs
sural
- the posterior surface of lower leg; the calf
plantar
- the sole of the foot - is an inferior body surface
femoral
- thigh - anterior body landmark
dorsal/posterior
- towards the back - ex: spine is dorsal to the stomach
medial
- towards the center of the body - know pic: stick figure with midline and arrows going towards line - ex: the heart is medial to the lungs
ventral/anterior
- towards the front - ex: toes are anterior to the heels
carpal
- wrist - anterior body landmark