Anatomy & Physiology Study Guide: Body Cavities, Regional Terms, Histology, and Skeletal System

Body Cavities

Overview of Body Cavities

The human body contains several major cavities that house and protect vital organs. Understanding these cavities is essential for locating organs and describing anatomical relationships.

• Cranial cavity: Contains the brain.

• Spinal cavity: Contains the spinal cord.

• Thoracic cavity: Contains the heart and lungs.

• Abdominal cavity: Contains digestive organs.

• Pelvic cavity: Contains reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.

Regional Terms

Major Body Regions

Regional terms are used to describe specific areas of the body, aiding in precise communication in anatomy.

• Cephalic: Head

• Cervical: Neck

• Thoracic: Chest

• Axillary: Armpit

• Brachial: Arm

• Antebrachial: Forearm

• Abdominal: Abdomen

• Inguinal: Groin

• Femoral: Thigh

• Crural: Leg

• Patellar: Kneecap

• Orbital: Eye

• Plantar: Sole of foot

• Palmar: Palm

Nine Regions of the Abdomen

Abdominal Region Classification

The abdomen is divided into nine regions for anatomical reference and clinical assessment.

• Epigastric

• Umbilical

• Hypogastric

• Right/Left Hypochondrium

• Right/Left Lumbar

• Right/Left Iliac

Integumentary System

Structure and Function

The integumentary system protects the body and regulates temperature. It consists of skin and its derivatives.

• Skin layers: Epidermis, Dermis

• Glands: Sebaceous (oil), Sudoriferous (sweat), Arrector pili muscle

• Functions: Protection, sensation, thermoregulation

Hair and Nails

• Hair: Shaft, bulb, root, follicle

• Nails: Free edge, lunula

Cell Structure

Basic Cell Components

Cells are the basic units of life, containing organelles that perform specific functions.

• Lipid bilayer: Forms the cell membrane

• Organelles: Nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, etc.

Histology

Tissue Types and Functions

Histology is the study of tissues. The four basic tissue types are epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissue.

• Epithelial tissue: Simple squamous, simple cuboidal, simple columnar, stratified squamous, transitional, pseudostratified ciliated columnar

• Connective tissue: Areolar, adipose, dense regular, dense irregular, hyaline cartilage, osseous (bone), blood

• Muscular tissue: Skeletal, cardiac, smooth

• Nervous tissue: Neuron

Skeletal System

Skull Anatomy

The skull protects the brain and forms the structure of the face. It consists of several bones and landmarks.

• Frontal bone: Supraorbital foramen, glabella

• Parietal bone: Sagittal suture, coronal suture, lambdoid suture

• Temporal bone: Squamous suture, external auditory meatus, styloid process, mastoid process, zygomatic process, mandibular fossa, jugular foramen

• Occipital bone: Lambdoid suture, foramen magnum, occipital condyle, external occipital protuberance (EOP)

• Sphenoid: Greater/lesser wings, sella turcica, optic canal, foramen ovale

• Ethmoid bone: Cribriform plates, olfactory foramina

• Mandible: Body, mandibular condyle, coronoid process, mental foramen, alveoli

• Maxilla(e): Alveoli, intermaxillary suture, zygomatic process

• Other bones: Zygomatic, palatine, lacrimal, nasal, vomer

Vertebral Column

The vertebral column supports the body and protects the spinal cord. It is divided into regions based on vertebrae type.

• Cervical vertebrae: 7 (identify atlas, axis by name)

• Thoracic vertebrae: 12

• Lumbar vertebrae: 5

• Vertebral body, spinous process, transverse process, vertebral foramen, intervertebral foramen (IVF)

Thoracic Cage

• Hyoid bone

• Ribs: True ribs (7 pairs), false ribs (5 pairs, 2 floating)

• Sternum: Body, manubrium, xiphoid process

• Sacrum, coccyx

Upper Extremity

• Clavicle

• Scapula: Acromion process, coracoid process, glenoid fossa (cavity), spine, supraspinous fossa, infraspinous fossa, subscapular fossa

• Humerus: Head, greater/lesser tubercles, capitulum (round), trochlea (sleevy/gear glass), coronoid fossa, olecranon fossa

• Radius: Head, neck, styloid process

• Ulna: Olecranon process, coronoid process, styloid process

Pelvis

• Ilium: ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine), PSIS (posterior superior iliac spine), iliac crest, greater sciatic notch

• Ischium: Ischial spine, ischial tuberosity, lesser sciatic notch

• Pubis: Pubic symphysis

• Obturator foramen, acetabulum

Lower Extremity

• Femur: Head, neck, greater/lesser trochanters, medial/lateral condyles, medial/lateral epicondyles

• Patella

• Tibia: Tibial tuberosity, lateral/medial condyles, medial malleolus

• Fibula: Lateral malleolus, head

• Tarsals: (7 bones)

• Metatarsals

• Phalanges: Distal, middle, proximal

Summary Table: Major Bone Landmarks

The following table summarizes key bone landmarks and their locations.

Bone	Landmarks
Frontal	Supraorbital foramen, Glabella
Parietal	Sagittal suture, Coronal suture, Lambdoid suture
Temporal	Squamous suture, External auditory meatus, Styloid process, Mastoid process, Zygomatic process, Mandibular fossa, Jugular foramen
Occipital	Lambdoid suture, Foramen magnum, Occipital condyle, External occipital protuberance
Sphenoid	Greater/lesser wings, Sella turcica, Optic canal, Foramen ovale
Mandible	Body, Mandibular condyle, Coronoid process, Mental foramen, Alveoli
Maxilla	Alveoli, Intermaxillary suture, Zygomatic process

Additional info:

• Some terms and regions were inferred based on standard anatomical terminology.

• Bone landmarks and processes are essential for identification in lab and clinical settings.