Skip to main content
Back

Anatomy & Physiology: Anatomical Terminology and Body Cavities

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/21

Terms in this set (21)

  • What is the anatomical position?

    The standard reference position where the person stands erect, feet parallel and flat, face and eyes forward, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward with thumbs away from the body.

  • What is the difference between supine and prone positions?

    Supine is lying face up; prone is lying face down.

  • Define superior and inferior in anatomical terms.

    Superior means toward the head or upper part of the body; inferior means away from the head or toward the lower part of the body.

  • What do anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) mean?

    Anterior means toward or at the front of the body; posterior means toward or at the back of the body.

  • Explain ipsilateral and contralateral.

    Ipsilateral means on the same side of the body; contralateral means on opposite sides.

  • What do proximal and distal mean?

    Proximal means closer to the origin or point of attachment of a limb to the trunk; distal means farther from the origin or point of attachment.

  • Define superficial and deep.

    Superficial means toward or at the body surface; deep means away from the body surface, more internal.

  • What are the three main anatomical planes?

    Coronal (frontal) plane divides body into anterior and posterior; sagittal plane divides into right and left; transverse (horizontal) plane divides into superior and inferior.

  • What is the difference between midsagittal and parasagittal planes?

    Midsagittal divides the body into equal right and left halves; parasagittal divides into unequal right and left parts.

  • What body cavities are included in the dorsal cavity?

    The dorsal cavity includes the cranial cavity (contains brain) and vertebral cavity (contains spinal cord).

  • What are the subdivisions of the ventral cavity?

    The ventral cavity includes the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity, separated by the diaphragm.

  • What organs are found in the thoracic cavity?

    The thoracic cavity contains the lungs (in pulmonary cavities) and the mediastinum, which includes the heart, trachea, esophagus, thymus, and major blood vessels.

  • What are the subdivisions of the abdominopelvic cavity?

    The abdominopelvic cavity is divided into the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity, with no physical separation between them.

  • How is the abdominopelvic cavity divided clinically?

    It is divided into four quadrants by a midsagittal and a transverse line through the umbilicus, or into nine regions using two sagittal and two transverse lines.

  • What is a serous membrane and its function?

    A moist, slippery membrane that surrounds some ventral cavity organs, consisting of a parietal layer lining the cavity and a visceral layer covering the organ, with a fluid-filled serous cavity between.

  • Name the three main serous membranes in the body.

    Pericardial membrane (around the heart), pleura (around the lungs), and peritoneum (around abdominal organs).

  • Describe the layers of the pericardial membrane.

    The parietal pericardium forms the outer wall around the heart; the visceral pericardium adheres to the heart surface; the pericardial cavity between contains fluid.

  • Describe the layers of the pleura.

    The parietal pleura lines the thoracic cavity; the visceral pleura covers the lungs; the pleural cavity between contains pleural fluid.

  • Describe the layers of the peritoneum.

    The parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity; the visceral peritoneum covers abdominal organs; the peritoneal cavity between contains fluid.

  • What does the term 'unilateral' mean in anatomical context?

    Refers to something occurring on only one side of the body.

  • In medical settings, how are right and left sides determined?

    Right and left always refer to the patient's right and left, not the observer's.