Ch 1 Anatomy

Intro To:

Anatomy & Physiology

• Anatomy: The field of study that describes the locations, appearances, and relationships of body parts.
• Physiology: The discipline explaining the mechanisms that operate body activities

Directional Terms

Superior

• Toward the head end or upper or upper part of the body
• Example: The head is superior to the neck
• 

Inferior (caudal)

• Away from the head end or toward the lower part of the body
• Example: The neck is inferior to the head
• 

Anterior (ventral)

• Toward the front or the belly side
• Example: The eyes are on the anterior side of the head
• 

Posterior (dorsal)

• Toward the back
• Example: The vertebral column (backbone) extends down the posterior side of the body
• 

Medial

• Toward the midline, which is an imaginary line that extends vertically down the middle of the front outside surface of the body
• Example: The nose is medial to the ears
• 

Lateral

• Away from the midline
• Example: The ears are lateral to the nose
• 

Superficial (external)

• Toward the surface of the body
• Example: The location of the of the skin is superficial to the muscles
• 

Deep (internal)

• Inward from the surface of the body
• Example: The heart lies deep to the rip cage
• 

Proximal

• Toward a structure's origin or the point of attachment to the trunk
• Example: The upper arm is proximal to the wrist
• 

Distal

• Away from a structure's origin or point of attachment to the trunk
• Example: The Knee is distal to the thigh
• 

Body Planes

Level of Organization

• Cells
• Tissues
• Organ
• Organ Systems
• Organisms

Body Regions

Head

• Face and Cranium

Neck

• Anterior neck
• Posterior neck

Trunk

• Thorax
• Abdomen
• Pelvis
• Back
• 

Upper Appendages

• Shoulder
• Axilla (armpit)
• Brachium (upper arm)
• Elbow
• Antebrachium (Forearm)
• Carpus (Wrist)
• Manus (Hand)
• Palm
• Digits
• 

Lower Appendages

• Gluteus (Buttock)
• Femorus (Thigh)
• Knee
• Crus (Leg)
• Tarsus (Ankle)
• Pes (Foot)
• Sole
• Digits
• 

Body Cavities

• 
• DOrsal Cavity: Cranial Cavity & Vertebral Cavity
• Ventral Cavity: Thoracic Cavity & Abdominopelvic Cavity
• Thoracic Cavity: Pleural Cavity & Pericardial Cavity
• ​​​​​​​Abdominopelvic: Abdominal Cavity & Pelvic Cavity